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"
More money is put into prisons than into schools.
That, in itself, is the description of a nation bent
on suicide. I mean, what is more precious to us than
our own children? We are going to build a lot more
prisons if we do not deal with the schools and their
inequalities."
--Jonathan
Kozol |
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Today
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LATEST
NEWS FROM:
 THE REAL COST OF PENSIONS
A new report released by the Pension Modernization Task Force shows that Illinois’ current pension system is actually more affordable than retirement benefits provided by comparable companies in the private sector. An actuarial report prepared for the task force by the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) shows that the state’s pension cost for a new teacher hired this year will be 5.4 percent of salary. (page 154) This is below the 6.2 percent every private employer is required to pay for Social Security alone. Studies by the 401(k) Council of America and other groups show that private sector companies pay an average 3 percent match to an employee’s 401(k) contribution, bringing average private sector employer costs to 9.2 percent of salary.
“When you get past the rhetoric and look at the data on pension costs for employees hired today, it’s clear that Illinois’ public pension systems are actually a good deal for the taxpayer,” said IFT President Ed Geppert, Jr. “It’s important to separate the normal everyday cost of the pension systems from the massive debt caused by the unfunded liability. Even the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club agrees that pension benefit levels aren’t the primary cause of the unfunded liability. Changing pension benefits would do nothing to help pay off the debt owed on benefits already earned by employees.”
The task force report also found that the state's pension benefits are not out of line when compared to benefits earned by public employees in other states. (page 28) A comprehensive review of 85 public employee pension systems showed Illinois pension benefits in the statistical median, just about average.
That benefit analysis also states that 78% of public employees in Illinois do not receive Social Security benefits. Benefits provided by public employee pension plans are the only source of retirement income for the vast majority of public employees in Illinois.
The task force report also analyzed Governor Pat Quinn's proposal to make massive cuts to pension benefits for teachers, university faculty and staff, and state employees The report found that significant savings would not be realized until 25 to 30 years after the reforms had been adopted (page 29).
“Every employer in the private sector contributes at least 6.2 percent of an employee’s salary to Social Security; most comparable employers contribute more than that," said Geppert. "Illinois' pension contributions should be in line with what the private sector pays towards an employee’s retirement. The task force report confirms that public pensions in Illinois provide a decent, moderate benefit at a reasonable cost. The burgeoning pension debt is not caused by normal pension costs or employee benefit levels, but is the result of Illinois elected leaders of both parties raiding state pension funds over decades to pay the state's bills."
The members of the task force did find agreement on the data cited above and the subcommittee reports, but the report in its entirety was not approved by a majority of the members.
Follow this link to download the full report.
 AStatement by Randi Weingarten,
President, American Federation of Teachers,
On the ‘Race to the Top’ Grant Finalists
Education Secretary Arne Duncan today announced 16 finalists in the first round of the$4.35 billion “Race to the Top” federal grant competition program, which rewards states for, among other things, working closely with unions.
WASHINGTON—Today’s list of finalists includes states that took to heart the need for true collaboration among all stakeholders as part of the Race to the Top application process. It also includes states that could have—and should have—done better to work in true partnership with teachers, their unions and other stakeholders.
Talking about reform and collaboration may make us all feel good but if it is not matched by action it does nothing to help students achieve or to provide them and their teachers with the supports they need to succeed. It’s long past time that we walk the walk—not just talk the talk. As the process moves forward, we hope that every state will work to ensure that teachers’ participation and input is not simply sought but actually incorporated as an integral part of every stage of this process.
This program’s goal is a good one: to spark smart and sustainable improvements in public education, particularly for struggling schools and struggling students. We and our affiliates have consistently urged states to work collaboratively with teachers and their unions to ensure that educators were full partners in Race to the Top applications and in the process of developing and implementing solid programs designed to help improve teaching and learning. We know that real change can succeed only if teachers and school administrators work together.
In these tough economic times, the infusion of grant funds offered through Race to the Top will be seen as help for states and school districts facing budget shortfalls. However, this money is not intended to be nor should it be a substitute for adequate and sustained funding to support all our students and schools.
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2009-2010 SALARY SCHEDULE
The 2009-2010 salary schedule is now online; you can find it in the Members' Only section of the site.
AFT MEMBERSHIP CARDS
AFT membership cards are in the mail, and all members should receive their card by March 31st. If you do not or have not received your card, here's what to do:
log on to www.aft.org/members and select “Contact Membership” under the GET HELP menu. Fill out all pertinent information and select “I need a replacement membership card”. Local name or number is a required field (Harlem Federation of Teachers Local 540). Membership number is optional. Once your membership status has been validated, a card will be mailed and should be received within three to four weeks after the request have been made. Members without access to the web may contact AFT membership by phone at 1-800-238-1133, ext. 3421.
Members who have already created their account at www.aft.org/members may log on and print a temporary card directly from their account. You are also given the option to request that a replacement card be sent to you. If you need it, the HFT can provide you with your unique ID number for creating your account. Please use our contact page to request your ID number.
MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES
The meeting minutes for the March 1st, 2010 Building Representative meeting are now online; you can read them by logging in to the Member Area. |
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HFT TONY BABCOCK SCHOLARSHIP
During March’s BR meeting, Duffey Ainsworth, HFT treasurer, indicated that approximately $795.00 was raised for this year's scholarship, which does not include any outstanding money from BR’s as of March 1st. There was $2400.00 carried over in the scholarship fund from last year. We can award at least 3 scholarships this year. The number awarded will be, as always, based on the quality of the applicants and the monies available.
AFT CONVENTION IN SEATTLE, WA
During March’s BR meeting, Duffey Ainsworth reported that the AFT convention will be held in Seattle, WA in July. We are entitled to 11 delegates, but we have not sent that many in the past when the convention is so far away. In the past, the president and maybe 1 or 2 delegates have attended a convention outside of the Midwest. All delegates to the convention must be elected by the general membership. A motion passed to send up to 3 delegates to this summer's AFT convention. Ballots and elections will follow in the coming months.
NON-RENEWAL/PINK SLIP PROCEDURES
During March’s BR meeting, Dan Ralston, HFT Co-President, reviewed the timeline for pink slipping and non-renewal. As the Union understands it, the Board will be asked to vote on budget reductions at the March 8 Board meeting. Many of these reductions will affect staffing levels. After the Board votes, each affected member is supposed to be notified personally. The Board will likely take action on these matters at its quarterly review on March 22. Dan Ralston and Lenny Nieves attended a meeting with Dr. Morris last week to get an initial look at the recommended changes, but the changes will not be made public until after affected members are contacted personally.
More news...
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Keep
Tabs on Your Elected Officials
Our
civic duties don't stop with
just voting. All citizens have
a duty to keep informed of what
elected officials are up to,
how they're voting on issues,
and what issues they're giving
voice to in the legislative
process.
The
HFT has made it super-easy for
its members to keep tabs on
our elected officials! Below
the navigation menu on this
page is a small form that will
help you search for your elected
officials' contact information,
find issues currently up for
debate in the legislation, and
even help you contact the media
in our area. Stay involved in
our governmental process --
start searching today! |
Become
an AFT e-Activist
You
will be part of a powerful network
that connects you to the union's
political and legislative program.
Clicking the banner below will
take you to a form to fill out
to join the AFT e-Activist Network.
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Think
YOU'VE had a bad evaluation? Check
these out! These are actual quotes
taken from Federal Government employee
performance evaluations.
1. "Since my last report, this
employee has reached rock-bottom and
has started to dig."
2. "I would not allow this employee
to breed."
3. "This employee is really not
so much of a has-been, but more of
a definite won't be."
4. "Works well when under constant
supervision and cornered like a rat
in a trap."
5. "When she opens her mouth,
it seems that it is only to change
feet."
6. "This young lady has delusions
of adequacy."
7. "He sets low personal standards
and then consistently fails to achieve
them."
8. "This employee is depriving
a village somewhere of an idiot."
9. "This employee should go far,
and the sooner he starts the better."
10. "Got a full 6-pack, but lacks
the plastic thingy to hold it all
together"
11. "A gross ignoramus -- 144
times worse than an ordinary ignoramus."
12. "He doesn't have ulcers,
but he's a carrier."
14. "I would like to go hunting
with him sometime ."
15. "He's been working with glue
too much."
16. "He would argue with a signpost."
17. "He brings a lot of joy whenever
he leaves the room."
18. "When his IQ reaches 50,
he should sell."
19. "If you see two people talking
and one looks bored, he's the other
one."
20. "A photographic memory but
with the lens cover glued on."
21. "A prime candidate for natural
de-selection."
22. "Donated his brain to science
before he was done using it."
23. "Gates are down, the lights
are flashing, but the train isn't
coming."
24. "He's got two brain cells,
one is lost and the other is out looking
for it."
25. "If he were any more stupid,
he'd have to be watered twice a week."
26. "If you give him a penny
for his thoughts, you'd get change."
27. "If you stand close enough
to him, you can hear the ocean."
28. "It's hard to believe he
beat out 1,000,000 other sperm."
29. "One neuron short of a synapse."
30. "Some drink from the fountain
of knowledge; he only gargled."
31. "Takes him 2 hours to watch
'60-minutes'."
TIRED
OF THOSE HIGH PAID TEACHERS?
I,
for one, am sick and tired of those
highly paid teachers. Their hefty
salaries are driving up taxes, and
they only work nine or ten months
a year!
It's
time we put things into perspective
and pay them for what they do...baby-sit!
We can get that for less than minimum
wage. That's right...I would give
them $3.00 an hour and only the hours
they worked, not any of that silly
planning time. That would be 15 dollars
a day. Each parent should pay 15 dollars
a day for these teachers to baby-sit
their children.
Now,
how many do they teach in a day...maybe
25? That's 15 x 25=$375 a day. But
remember they only work 180 days a
year! I'm not going to pay them for
any vacations. Let's see...that's
375 x 180=$67,500.00. (Hold on, my
calculator must need batteries!)
What
about those special teachers or the
ones with master's degrees? Well,
we could pay them minimum wage just
to be fair. Let's round it off to
$6.00 an hour. That would be $6 an
hour. That would be $6 times 5 hours
times 25 children times 180 days=$135,000.00
per year. Wait a minute, there is
something wrong here!!! There sure
is, duh!!!
The
dinner guests were sitting around
the table discussing life. One man,
a CEO, decided to explain the problem
with education. He argued: "What's
a kid going to learn from someone
who decided his best option in life
was to become a teacher?" He
reminded the other dinner guests that
it's true what they say about teachers:"Those
who can...do. Those who can't, teach."
To
corroborate, he said to another guest:
"You're a teacher, Susan. Be
honest. What do you make?"
Susan,
who had a reputation of honesty and
frankness, replied, "You want
to know what I make? "I make
kids work harder than they ever thought
they could."
"I
can make a C+ feel like a Congressional
Medal of Honor and an A- feel like
a slap in the face if the student
did not do his or her very best. I
can make kids sit through 40 minutes
of study hall in absolute silence.
I can make parents tremble in fear
when I call home.
"You
want to know what I make? I make kids
wonder. I make them question. I make
them criticize. I make them apologize
and mean it. I make them write. I
make them read, read, read. I make
them spell definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful, and definitely beautiful
over and over and over again, until
they will never misspell either one
of those words again. I make them
show all their work in math and hide
it all on their final drafts in English.
"I
make them understand that if you have
the brains, then follow your heart...and
if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you make, you pay them no
attention.
"You
want to know what I make? I make a
difference."
-Shared
through the Internet ~ Author Unknown
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The Illinois House of Representatives could consider legislation that creates a two-tier pension system as early as this week. Legislation could affect all state and local public employee pension systems. Call your state representative now and urge him or her to vote NO on any pension legislation that has not been agreed to by the IFT and other public employee unions. 
