Comments on: Why Public Sector Collective Bargaining Should Be Public http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2009/10/29/why-public-sector-collective-bargaining-should-be-public/ A listening post monitoring public education and teachers' unions. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:02:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jim Stegall http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2009/10/29/why-public-sector-collective-bargaining-should-be-public/comment-page-1/#comment-2927 Jim Stegall Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:26:29 +0000 http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/?p=2253#comment-2927 Mr. Elliot, do you know what happens when one assumes? I'm a taxpayer, and that money my elected officials are bargaining away is very much indeed MY money. I earned it, turned it over to the government in the form of taxes with the expectation that it would be used for legitimate public purposes only, and its distribution open to public inspection and subject to public comment. There is only one reason why elected officials and union bosses would want to conduct negotiations in private, and that is to keep taxpaying citizens such as myself from knowing what kinds of deals they're really making and why they're making them. It's rotten business, and it ought to be against the law. Mr. Elliot, do you know what happens when one assumes?

I’m a taxpayer, and that money my elected officials are bargaining away is very much indeed MY money. I earned it, turned it over to the government in the form of taxes with the expectation that it would be used for legitimate public purposes only, and its distribution open to public inspection and subject to public comment. There is only one reason why elected officials and union bosses would want to conduct negotiations in private, and that is to keep taxpaying citizens such as myself from knowing what kinds of deals they’re really making and why they’re making them. It’s rotten business, and it ought to be against the law.

]]> By: S Elliot http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2009/10/29/why-public-sector-collective-bargaining-should-be-public/comment-page-1/#comment-2924 S Elliot Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:34:04 +0000 http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/?p=2253#comment-2924 hate to bring up a sore point, Jim, but it's not your money until you earn it. Before that it's mine, my neighbor's, and anyone else other than exempted Democrats, who pay taxes. By the way, so are the taxpayers' kids who are the reason you are in the classroom in the first place. hate to bring up a sore point, Jim, but it’s not your money until you earn it. Before that it’s mine, my neighbor’s, and anyone else other than exempted Democrats, who pay taxes.
By the way, so are the taxpayers’ kids who are the reason you are in the classroom in the first place.

]]> By: Jim Stegall http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2009/10/29/why-public-sector-collective-bargaining-should-be-public/comment-page-1/#comment-2923 Jim Stegall Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:26:33 +0000 http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/?p=2253#comment-2923 When my elected officials sit down to bargain away my money I DEMAND to see EVERY step of the process. The fact that the media, or the public at large, is not enthralled by the proceedings (shame on them--especially the media) is absolutely irrelevant. When my elected officials sit down to bargain away my money I DEMAND to see EVERY step of the process. The fact that the media, or the public at large, is not enthralled by the proceedings (shame on them–especially the media) is absolutely irrelevant.

]]> By: Rich http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2009/10/29/why-public-sector-collective-bargaining-should-be-public/comment-page-1/#comment-2922 Rich Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:06:09 +0000 http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/?p=2253#comment-2922 Why do you assume that making teacher bargaining public will do any of the things you cite? I was the president of a large urban local that bargained in public several times and the response from the public was a gigantic yawn. I am generally in favor of public bargaining, though all the posturing on both sides extends the process quite a bit. Having said that, I do not share your illusions that making bargaining public has more than a minimal impact on public awareness or public interest. Whether bargaining is open or closed, folks who want to know what is going on at the table can generally find out. Why do you assume that making teacher bargaining public will do any of the things you cite? I was the president of a large urban local that bargained in public several times and the response from the public was a gigantic yawn.

I am generally in favor of public bargaining, though all the posturing on both sides extends the process quite a bit. Having said that, I do not share your illusions that making bargaining public has more than a minimal impact on public awareness or public interest. Whether bargaining is open or closed, folks who want to know what is going on at the table can generally find out.

]]> By: Ed is Watching » Transparent Negotiations: Bringing the Public into Public School Districts http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2009/10/29/why-public-sector-collective-bargaining-should-be-public/comment-page-1/#comment-2917 Ed is Watching » Transparent Negotiations: Bringing the Public into Public School Districts Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:32:13 +0000 http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/?p=2253#comment-2917 [...] of the best and brightest, Mike Antonucci, today says yes — citing a series of cases of re-appropriated funds, school calendar changes, grievance [...] [...] of the best and brightest, Mike Antonucci, today says yes — citing a series of cases of re-appropriated funds, school calendar changes, grievance [...]

]]>