Latest District Offer Is A Joke

In what is just the latest of a series of Unfair Labor Practices committed by Greg Baracy (already the Eduction Association has filed more than 75 against district negotatiors), Wayne Westland minions have posted their last contract offer on the internet.

It's a joke, and their commentary on it is full of lies and half truths.

Lie #1 : The district claims their offer includes 6% raises for half the staff.

Not true. The so-called 6% raises are not raises, but step increases for teachers with less than twelve years. It takes twelve years for a teacher in Wayne Westland to earn a full salary. Teachers in other districts reach that in half the time.

Here are the real numbers, straight out of the published contract:

The starting salary in 2007/2008 was $34,409.

The proposed starting salary for 2008/2009 is $34,753.

That's ONE PERCENT, not SIX.

The top salary for a Masters Degree Teacher in 2008/2009 was 77,160.

The propose starting salary for a Masters Degree Teacher in 2008/2009 is 77,931.

Where's the six percent in that?

If you read carefully, you'll see that the actual raise is 1%. That works out to $14.80 a week for a teacher receiving a full salary.

Lie #2 :

The district claims
the new contract will reduce class sizes.

What a joke. It reduces classes by one student. Next year.

So elementary schools will go from 31 students to 30. High school classes will go from 38 to 37.

Parents and teachers all know that's absurd. Reducing classes by ONE student will not result in any improvements in learning.

Lie #3:

The District claims the new contract will contain health care costs.

In fact, in spite of the various plans offered, the teachers' still is cheaper -- by $300,000.

Lets be clear on that. The District is willing to pay for a plan that will cost $300,000 more than the one the teachers are asking for.

But here's the irony. The District's MORE EXPENSIVE plan actually provides LESS coverage than the cheaper teacher MESSA plan.

But there's more. If you read carefully, the proposal doesn't specify which of the plans the district actually will pay for -- just that it will be one of those listed. And there is no information on what that one plan will cover.

Three lies.

And here's the truth:


The truth is that Greg Baracy is a small and petty man, who is more interested in getting his way than in helping the school district. If the teachers want a particular helath plan, then he doesn't -- even if it costs the taxpayers of Wayne Westland more money. If the teachers and parents want smaller classes becuase it will improve education for the students -- Baracy has no interest. And if better pay will attract better teachers -- and help retain those we have; he doesn't care about that either.