“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.”

Samuel Adams

Wednesday, May 06, 2015

Union officers paid with tax dollars; ‘Release time’ not unusual in Illinois school districts – Illinois News Network

Union officers paid with tax dollars; ‘Release time’ not unusual in Illinois school districts – Illinois News Network

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is why the teacher's unions are against empowerment zones. I bet if you ask the front line teachers, particularly the new ones, they would say "dump the unions"!

Anonymous said...

A wonderful evening bit of news. I wonder if our local papers would investigate whether this occurs in any of our local schools? Nah.......never happen.

Anonymous said...

the only mention of release time in the Peru Public Schools contract is 3 days for special education teachers to prep parent meeting.

Anonymous said...

So, what other industry allows the employee to be hired to do a job and then be diverted by an external entity to work against the employer all the while maintaining pay and benefits provided by the employer?

This is downright crazy! The inmates are in charge of the asylum! The prisoners are running the prison!

Here is how this is cured. First and foremost, a school superintendent should have an advance degree in business and proven leadership skills developed in the private sector. Second, do not vote for teachers or retired teachers if they run for school board. The school board needs to be average citizens with some knowledge of finance. Third, pass right to work legislation!

Anonymous said...

12:47 Last we looked nobody in the immediate area runs for school board, thank god we have some very good ones that stay. How many average citizens have a working knowledge of finance within a school district?

The other point is that school administrators come from the school background and they are trained for the purpose of education. If you find any that have a business degree with private sector leadership skills than can get hired as Superintendents you have violate the laws! Its not possible.

If you vote for retired teachers on the school boards you get what you choose. Don't expect salary cuts, or retirement wages to drop.

The right to work legislation has much more than taking away teacher unions. It also gives the chance that out of area, out of state workers can take away your job and rights you may have at your place of employment. Its not only about government unions, its about all unions.

Anonymous said...

The school superintendent needs to understand how finance work, how to manage a workforce, and how to manage a facility. No different than a factory superintendent. What happens in the "Education Industry" is, forgive my reference, incestuous. The entire industry lives in an eco chamber - no dissenting views allowed... the only direction the budget goes is up. Mission expanding infinitely beyond education into child rearing and social indoctrination.
I'm sorry - the system is broken. We may be better than average around here - but, overall the system is broken. It needs to refocus on completing the core mission using finite resources that don't automatically increase just because costs are forced up.

Anonymous said...

Unions are ruining public education: Every few years, it's the same old story. The teachers’ unions claim that public education in this country is dramatically underfunded and if they just had more money, they could turn it around. Taxpayer money then pours into our schools like a waterfall and....there's no improvement. A few years later, when people have forgotten the last spending spree on education, the process is repeated.
However, the real problem with our education system in this country is the teachers’ unions. They do everything possible to prevent schools not only from firing lousy teachers, but also from rewarding talented teachers. Merit pay? The unions hate it. Private schools? Even though everyone knows they deliver a better education than our public schools, unions fight to keep as many kids as possible locked in failing public schools. In Wisconsin, whole schools shut down for days so that lazy teachers can waste their time protesting on the taxpayers’ dime. Want to improve education in this country? Then you've got to take on the teachers’ unions.

Anonymous said...

Unions have served their purpose. We don't need them any more.

Anonymous said...

Are you union complainers crazy? If the employers treated their workers properly and with respect and didn't make slaves out of them ...then we wouldn't need unions. But we need unions now and for a long time to come. Take the wages from the high paying big wigs. Starting with Gov. Rauners employes he's now hiring !!
A union family and proud of it. At least we made enough to raise 5 kids and buy a house.

Anonymous said...

I work in a Non-Union shop:

I haven't seen any chains and whips in the workplace. I haven't seen any 20 hour days. I have great insurance which is reasonably priced. I'm not paid in company script that can only be spent at the company store. I make a pretty good wage - doubly so if you consider our lower than average cost of living. I get weekends off. Paycheck never bounced. What the heck do I need to give money to some over paid stuffed shirt that is only going to give it to a political candidate that supports things I'm against?

I'm from a Proud & Independent NON-Union Home!

Right to work in 2015! Send the Trade Unionists Packing.

Unionism = Socialism & Communism!

Anonymous said...

Have you seen the Peru parks lately? They're in desperate need of cutting. Will this be outsourced again this year?

Anonymous said...

What job in the public sector will let you tell your employer that you will quit in five years and let you qualify for higher pay in those five years so your pension will grow enormously? First one with the correct answer can also grab his tax bill and stomp it on the floor. Educated people with no conscience.

Anonymous said...

6:57; President of the University of Illinois.
Salary = $479,000
"Bonus" = $167,000 this year, $180,000 last November.

This is just crazy! No way in hell can you justify paying anyone that amount of money to run a college! That, my friends, is what happens in our "Education Industry."

Anonymous said...

Anon 6:44 AM The package received by the President of the U of I or any other President of a major university is enormous to you and me.
Have you recently read anything about the President of COD junior college. It is another example of tell me what you want you'll get it.
Now for every cost of a college president tell what you find that their football coach is compensated yearly? Who do you really believe should be paid more, even if the coach has a winning record?

Anonymous said...

8:49, thank you for mentioning that. I overlooked it. I believe the Illini coach makes about $1.6 Million Dollars. Yes. $1,600,000 to coach a football team. My solution is simple: Cut all organized sports from the "Education Industry."

College Football and Basketball is nothing more than an entertainment program funded by the government. Our universities are "farm teams" for the NFL and NBA. So let them fund it. Remove all pretext of education for the "student athletes." They are not students. They are front line sports workers. They can't do their job while going to basket weaving classes. Remove the requirement altogether. If they wanted to, the universities could pay a fee to put their brand on a team. Just like a can of chewing tobacco on a NASCAR team.

Anonymous said...

Here are some facts about Illinois Income Tax as it applies to retirees.

Social Security benefits are not taxed. Illinois does not tax distributions from qualified employee benefit plans, including 401(k) plans; IRAs or self-employed retirement plans; traditional IRAs that have been converted to Roth IRAs; the redemption of U.S. retirement bonds; state and local government deferred compensation plans; government retirement or government disability plans, including military plans; Railroad Retirement income; retirement payments to retired partners; and lump-sum distributions of appreciated employer securities.

Illinois charges a flat rate tax based on the Adjusted Gross Income as calculated using the Federal Income Tax return.
So at the Federal Level, contributions to qualified retirement plans are taken “pre-tax” unless it is made into a “Roth” plan. The assumption is that this will incentivize people to save. But, the government still gets its cut – only it is “deferred.” Meaning – you pay taxes on your retiring savings when you start using them.

Under the Illinois tax system – they lose the tax on the money that is excluded from the Federal AGI. Years later when the person retires, Illinois continues to lose the tax money because they don’t tax the distributions either.

So, the solution to the Illinois Pubic Pension Crisis – the one manufactured by the Illinois Democrat Party who has controlled state budgets for decades – the solution is to tax retirement income at the same flat rate as regular income. But, instead of dumping that money into the general fund for the Legislature to do with as they please… use it to make good on the Public Pensions. If the political will is not there to charge grandma income tax, they could just add the retirement contributions back into the adjusted gross income and do the same thing.

FYI – only 12 States are income tax free when it comes to retirement income.

Anonymous said...

I am a Senior Citizen and I deserve my status and I should not be taxed as high as others. We have Junior Citizens - those kids between 18 and 30 that don't know what life is all about. They need to be taxed the highest. Then there are the Associate Citizens. They are in the prime of life, raising kids and working. They are between 30 and 65. The Associate Citizens use most of the services - so they should be taxed substantially - but not as much as the kids. Once your reach Senior Status -all taxes should STOP. We have earned this status and have been paying taxes for along time. We should be allowed to use the services we paid for and should not be required to pay ANY taxes.

Anonymous said...

Everyone and every corporation and any entity that uses what the tax system supports should have to pay their fair share. All who do not financially support our tax system should have severe penalties to pay when caught up to.
If the above was followed it would be surprising how much less each individual would have to pay.

Anonymous said...

3:13 PM,

You are adorable. Senile, and adorable.

Anonymous said...

9:16
i make a very small pension as do a lot of us seniors - why should my pension be taxed to pay the bloated pensions of teachers & state workers?

Anonymous said...

10:31, I agree - there are two things that will help dig Illinois out of the present hole:

1. Tax retirement income.
2. abolish the senior homestead exemption.

Anonymous said...

10:08

Wow. You have created a buzz and you will never get elected to anything. Attack seniors in the name of fair play? The IRS already does tax your pay, it's now the state that wants to follow suit. That will happen and the tax rate will increase, the pensions will stay the same and the right to work zones are not going to be a topic.

Anonymous said...

What's with the little yard signs I see popping up in Peru that say "we support stare workers"? We ALL support state workers. Where do you think their pay comes from? So why the need for the signs? Why not say something like "proud state worker home"?

Anonymous said...

12:22 Freedom of free speech is what that is called. Do you want to eliminate free speech? Would you rather have some political signs up? The next city election is just 23 months away.

Anonymous said...

Thank you 12:22... You are so correct that we all, at least those that pay taxes, support state workers. Posting of signs saying what is obvious? Get over yourself.

Anonymous said...

11:37 - how do you propose the state gets the money to fix years worth of underfunding everything? One fifth of the Illinois population is 55 or older. While Illinois is aging slower than the nation as a whole, other states have not made such a shambles of their pensions and overall budgets. Putting an state income tax on retired income is a way to increase revenue without raising the tax rate for everyone else. Before you say tax the rich people. Not many of them actually call Illinois their home - or at least claim it as their residence for tax purposes. It is very easy for the "rich people" to get a house in another state.

Anonymous said...

12:22 here. No I don't want to eliminate free speech. I'm just curious why that wording. Is somebody attacking state workers as if they are bad, so people feel the need to have signs in support of state workers? Kinda like the pro Union signs??

Anonymous said...

5:19, it is probably an initiative from AFSCME or one of the other unions. Any budget cut is an attack on workers. Any budget cut is an attack on the poor.
Hold on to your wallets! Its going to be a fun run!

Anonymous said...

Illinois should have an equalization tax - meaning that if your parents declare you as a dependent and take the deduction, you have to pay it once you enter the work force.

Anonymous said...

4:45

Here is the solution.

Place a higher burden on the employee state pensions. Bring the employee contribution up to 13%. In addition charge the employer---State, City, School a equal share of the pension contribution of 13%. Then change the retirement age to 60 for full retirement. Abolish the salary jumps for the last five years and utilize a new method in which all new employees will have there own pension account to contribute along with the employer contribution in which annuity will be granted according to the account amount. The employee union can be active on how the fund is managed and be able to collectively fire the account manager if the investments are not within the expectations. That is where the union can be of assistance.
The other solution is in which all local taxing bodies will be in charge of the pensions. This will create much more oversight and your residents will make sure responsible decisions are made on a local level. The State will be out of the business and schools, governments will consolidate.

Anonymous said...

Illinois does not have a revenue problem. Illinois has a spending problem. Whenever the politicians talk about cuts, they go after stuff that will hurt people instead of combing through the budget and fining actual waste.

Anonymous said...

Actually there are independent non-partisan economists who will show you that Illinois does have a revenue problem. That flat tax is the worst part and despite the rhetoric Illinois has a top tax rate that is lower than most of our neighbors. Some also tax services, which is smart because that is where the economy is growing. We have less state employees per capita than any state. The issue is the pension debt, which was completely caused by the state not paying its share over the years. Very sad situation that could have been avoided but saying "Illinois does not have a revenue problem. Illinois has a spending problem" is just a talking point that has no basis in fact. It is fine if you believe it but that doesn't make it true.

Anonymous said...

Anon 5:46 PM On one hand we have less state employees per capita than any state. On the other hand we have more state employees than our state can afford and knowing this for many years still nothing has been done about it. As for the pension debt this is a issue between the state and its employees. The state employees average pension is what in comparison to comparable jobs that are non state. Maybe the state employees should realize that their pay master, you and me are continuously told we are now in the world market and must compete as such. How often has a state employee been told this and when is he going to start listening?
If the state cannot afford its employees pensions it should outsource and do only work that is a must until the courts and union stop playing games.

Anonymous said...

5:46 - Please name the "independent non-partisan economists." I will tell you which union, state school, or special interest groups that commissioned their reports.
The Illinois Budget mess is caused by politicians like Michael Madigan and his "down state" lap dog Frank Mautino. Remember, Frank Mautino is a senior member of the Revenue and Finance Committee, stratigecly placed by Madigan to carry out his bidding.

Anonymous said...

I see Ottawa has passed a resolution against the creation of empowerment zones. This is a perfect opportunity for Peru to step up to the plate and pass a resolution in support of Empowerment Zones and send it to Springfield - maybe get our lobbyist working on the issue!

How does the new Peru Council feel on this subject? - or will they refuse to take a stand either way, feeling out the middle to fool the Peru voters.

This is a major issue for our state. I expect our local politicians to step up to the plate and demand an end to Forced Political Associations through employment. Stand up for Freedom of Choice! Stand up for Freedom of Association or Disassociation! Put an end to inflated prevailing wage rules that increase the cost of government projects and increase taxes!

Power to the People! Demand Empowerment Zones!

Right to Work in Illinois 2015!

Anonymous said...

Just saw on the news that some Chicago Public Schools employees have been charged with steeling over $800,000 from several schools. Some kind of false billing scam. They are not teachers. I wonder which union they belong to... just saying.

Anonymous said...

Just saying what? What does that have to do with unions? What are you saying except that it must have been union members if a crime was committed? I'm pretty sure theft of that nature is usually NOT union members. Someone stole some money. Leave your union politics out of it.

Anonymous said...

I'm willing to bet that if they work for CPS they are a member of a union.

Anonymous said...

Next to Illinois Politicians, Illinois Union Leadership is next in line when it comes to the numbers in prison.

Anonymous said...

Here are some Head Lines from around the country. These are all from 2015.

Transportation Union Treasurer in Houston Pleads Guilty to Theft

Security Officers Union President Charged with Embezzling $300K+

Feds Probe Free-Spending Boilermakers Local in Pittsburgh

Illinois Laborers Local Bookkeeper Indicted for Embezzlement

UTU Financial Secretary in Washington State Pleads Guilty

New York MTA Police Union President Charged in Theft

Laborers Secretary-Treasurer in Oklahoma Charged; Pleads Guilty

AFGE Local President in Indiana Pleads Guilty to Theft

Chicago BLET Secretary-Treasurer Sentenced for Records Fraud

Virginia Fire Fighters Secretary-Treasurer Pleads Guilty

It keeps going on and on and on...