It is illegal to strike. If they don't show up on Tuesday fire all of them !!!!

Lets stop Union strong holds over the community. If they strike, lay them all off and hire new teachers. This would not only weed out the bad teachers that because of tenor we cant fire but will also send a message to the unions that their bulling tactics wont work here in North KIngstown.

So the school department has been negotiating with the para-professional's representatives for a year and a half and then they, the school department, rejected the arbitrator's decision...So my question is what was in the decision that triggered this response? My understanding is that the majority of them do not make a whole lot of money currently... so are they asking for a bump to make ends meet or are they asking for the School Department to supplement their childs Ivy League education...

Mommy Dearest, (Sorry I just couldn't help myself I had to spell you name correctly). I know this is your first posting here, but generally you read the story first, then comment. "North Kingstown Educational Support Professionals" (The quotes mean I took it from the story above). The ESP union are not teachers. They are support staff.

"Professionals " are those who recognize that their career choice was to fully "support" the "education" of children who attend North Kingstown schools.

Professionally, that commitment ensures that the students remain a priority .

It is a puzzlement to those of us who don't stomp our feet , whine and demand pay increases....and then threaten not to show up if we don't get our way.

Great point POV. If the Union leadership would stand down, I think things would happen a bit more quickly. Union leadership only cares about union dues because thats how they get paid. Union leaderships only concern is to be sure union enrollment increases, increasing dues.

@MeanE then what are the reasons for the drawn-out negotiations and possible strike?

I feel sorry for the support staff...they are trying to make a living and their hours are cut so they loose their benifits. Meanwhile Auder gets a 5% pay increase. If outsourcing the custodians was a good thing why is everyone still upset? I think this article leaves a lot of unanswered questions. Parents should get more involved because in many ways this effects the children. Auder is going to slowly ruin NK's good school system.

Dear MeanE
Let me repeat:
a Pandora's box.

That 1% pay raise started a catalyst of exchanges that opened up a division.

I said nothing wrong.

Dear MeanE...I doubt if there will be a strike, but it will augment the start of a school year with animosity and a divisive, acrimonious attitude from the ESP.

It was NOT a good negotiating summer for them.

We hear all the time from many of our teacher friends and contacts that they do not agree with the union tactics, but for the most part have to remain silent in their opposition as they themselves feel bullied by the leadership. It will be quite interesting to see how this one plays out. Maybe an opportunity for the silent majority to stand together and be heard? If the union leadership attempts to pressure professionals into something they know in their hearts is not consistent with their deepest values, then this would be a chance to buck leadership. The teaching professionals I speak with share that they are very aware that 'somethings gotta give" They are fully aware of the fact that the vast majority of municipal budgets are in crisis mode because of the unfunded liabilities situation caused by promises made in better economic times. Certainly, in a perfect world none of this would be as anyone would choose, but budgets are squeezed to breaking point. Things must be redefined.

Wise words seed n soil.Unions must understand the taxpayers hours are also being cut,they are losing their jobs,children are moving back home not because they can't afford housing but so their parents can keep their homes.Now instead of 2 or 3 households paying taxes to support town services and schools,you now have them paying as one! Look around its the only way some of us are getting by.

What? No more school sports programs to cut? No more buses to cut? So, lets cut those over priced janitors? Really? If the Union doesn't stand up for these folks...no one does. I support what ever action the Union deems appropriate.

Maybe if any of you knew what it's like to work a stressful job as a para working just as hard as the teachers because my mom is one and I know what she goes through and to take away $3,000 away from their already low $20,000 salary is rediculous. Maybe if you knew what it was like you wouldn't be saying 'fire them all' because a lot of them have been in the school system for years and this is the thanks they get? If you were them only getting that much and having to support a family maybe you would go on strike too. Just saying.

I object to the using of the word outsourcing, that infers it was sent outside the USA, which it isn't. I also want to point out, this is exactly the problem with unions.... always with their nose in the air and throwing in the eternal monkey wrench.

Gee Meane aren't you just a ray of sunshine?

If they strike, fire the lot.
If any of the other unions support by not crossing picket line, with hold pay. Hold any and all union dues collect by NKSD put into escrow account!

They tell you "it's all about the kids", but when you break it down, it is all about them and very little to do with the kids.

@MeanE, the janitors will not be employed by the school district again. Their "best and final" offer presented to Auger right before the summer break did not come close to the savings provided under the GCA contract.
The ESP and NEA are desperately trying to reconcile this is because of the statewide ramifications to their union enrollment. If this sticks, it will send waves throughout the state.
I would suggest the ESP and NEA get their life preservers out.

No, I don't think the specifics were made public, but the dollars savings were and there was no comparison between the two.

Let's see the response provided by GCA and the school committee when the Norovirus comes to Town and pays a visit to our schools...

@MeanE, yes the GCA contract was finalized a while ago. I think it went into effect Aug. 1st,(maybe earlier) as the former school janitors were covered by the school healthcare through July. Check the video of the last SC meeting in June, I think it was discussed then.
RE ESP Best and Final: I was pretty clear in an earlier post. The specific line items were not made public to my knowledge, but the end results (proposed ESP savings and GCA savings) were, and the savings offered by the ESP could not come close the the savings offered by GCA. Those savings were outlined in a letter by Auger a while ago. Might not have been on the Patch but pretty sure it was in the N.E. Independent and the S.T.

Does anyone realize the hardship placed upon organizations like Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and the PTO's when they will have to deal with this outsourced company? When I ran Cub Scouts, the janitor would voluntarily switch his schedule so that we would not have to pay time and 1/2 to use the school cafeteria for meetings. With this company in charge, PTO's and other folks trying to run fundraisers or meetings will have to apply for permission to use the facility...and pay top dollar to these folks...in Tennessee...Keep our money local and in the pockets of locals who actually care about the kids.

Has anyone heard a status update on the negotiation talks?

Samantha- much appreciated!

You people have no clue to what this is all about. You see and hear only what you want to. Ivy League Schools???? I can't afford CCRI for my son on the pay that I now make. And Yes, I do have a Bachelors Degree and I CHOSE to work where I am! You think it is all about us? the union? Well, it's NOT. Guess what...It's NOT all about you either! It is pathetic how you think so little of us! It's time to take the blinders off and wake up!

Education support professionals? Maybe that's the problem, the long titles have gone to their heads. Maybe we could outsource the aides too. We don't have a clue what this is all about? Why don't YOU tell us instead of telling us we are clueless!

I have seen many schools in this state, North Kingstown's custodial staff have done their jobs with pride. Our schools look and smell clean.

Why do we as human beings always stick our noses into things that we do not know all the specifics about? While we can claim to have heard or seen or attended we do not know the whole story. These people may very well be willing to give up much, but there are always those who make decisions because of "the principle" rather than what is best for all concerned.

any news yet?

I'm a student at North Kingstown High School. I can sympathize with these men and women, the workers who unfortunately will receive a cut to their salary by taking a position outside the public domain. But I implore you to think about what you're doing. It is one thing to protest and to fight for better conditions; it is another idea altogether to strike and prevent school from starting.

The idea to strike, to stop working in protest, originated in this country with African slaves participating in work slow downs. Please do not try to relate the situation these workers find themselves in to anything remotely associated with the hardships those bound in slavery faced. Strikes again appeared in the early 20th century. Workers walked away from their jobs because the conditions were so deplorable that they were becoming physically ill or injured. Conditions such as inhalation of toxic fumes or locked doors that prevented escape in the event of an emergency, such as in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. These early strikers were motivated by life-threatening conditions. So, please, I beseech you to take a step back and truly assess this situation.

As a student enrolled in four Advanced Placement classes, I can tell you that the College Board does not know nor care about individual school's problems. So when the AP tests take place in May, I can assure you that this missed class time will leave myself and my peers less prepared than other students.

is there a strike or not?

MeanE is clearly articulate and aware of the actual process. POV is apparently unaware on the other hand of the importance of paraprofessionals. And probably stole lunch money as a kid. O' doyle rules. Right?

Daughter just called me FROM THE SCHOOL BUS that school is cancelled and the bus will be bringing her back home!!! I asked if I would be notified BEFORE 6am when the bus came, and was assured I would at the HS freshman orientation last night - so a problem like this could be averted!!!! Unreal!!!!

This whole thing has been handled very poorly on all sides. We were lucky enough to get the call 5 minutes before my son was about to leave for the bus stop. The lack of communication is ridiculous.

See what happens when the Dolan-Hueston-Stamm Town Council chokes the school budget and there are no more cuts you can make so they privatize the janitorial work and the union gets mad and breaks the schools. The town council and the unions using our kids as their pawns.

wish ESP could have notified bus drivers BEFORE their shifts. If talks broke down at 11pm, no excuse for them not to contact Dr. Auger of intent to strike in a timely manner.

The economics of the unionized janitorial service was
examined, and determined to be too costly to sustain.

Calling the education support folks "professional" is disingenuous. What is the point of closing down the schools today?

We taxpayers who are paying to educate YOUR CHILDREN are concerned about America's standing in Reading, Math and Science.

Some of these posts border on hysterical, and completely ignore the focus of what a school is charged to do.

Clearly, MATH skills are lacking for a lot of our citizens if they can't comprehend a budget.

This is an emotional outburst...sort of like a temper tantrum. ....and yet, other than being angry ....why is there a strike today?

The NEA crowd and the rest of the AFL-CIO in this state are on life support. If the outsourcing does stick, which I believe it will, then other districts will pick up on it. The unions use this tactic when they win a position in one district and go to others to get another. The big nut is that court battle in Providence. The unions are in a no win situation with that case - if they prevail, they will break municipalities. If they lose, it will send a chill through the rank and file members and they will know it's over. Unions are falling out of favor with the public because they advocate higher taxes for their services. These people know there is no money but they have to make an effort to show support.

North Kingstown Mission Statement:

EDUCATE

INSPIRE

CHALLENGE

and then there is this: Because of a decision of the NK Educational Support Professionals to strike, school will be closed on Tuesday, August 28. This will include all before and after school programs.

Apparently, the purpose of our schools has been muddled.

The goal of our tax dollars is to give our students academic excellence .

The strike is about a janitorial service (???)....

.....explain please, because I am not seeing any win-win for this hijacking of an EDUCATION system.

"wish ESP could have notified bus drivers BEFORE their shifts. If talks broke down at 11pm, no excuse for them not to contact Dr. Auger of intent to strike in a timely manner." Very good point. The aim here is to use disruption to get pay for themselves. Nothing more. No way this would work at my job, we would just be replaced. Hmmmm

Who says they didn't notify P Auger in a timely manner perhaps he chose to wait until 6:30 am to say anything....................
Perhaps to make the school committee and himself look better.

The ESP or any public union could care less about the public. They will do what they want to get what they want! The school department should fire them all and starting hiring replacements right away, if their contract has expired. That was done in EP. Time to get tough with these people.

8:52 am on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The union intentionally waited until high school children were already picked up by school buses before they called the strike. buses had to turn around and drop kids back off at there bus stops. this is the same union that says they are about the kids and protecting the Health and safety of kids. Predictably and ironically they use the kids as pawns and jeopardize their safety and waiting for them to get on those buses before they called their strike. These scumbags should all be fired!

To Steve Decollibus :
On your comment:

Factually, you are wrong... on your own street, lawn service, termite service, cleaning service, trash service and plowing services do the jobs that a homeowner won't do.

Our economy is based on business acumen, not union protest.

Let's not bankrupt our school system by switching our education priorities to placating the whims of the service unions.

If an outsourced janitorial service proves to be adequate, I hope you'll revisit your remarks.

Let's evaluate the "outsourced" value of this janitorial service a year from now before you make a rash judgement.

The union credibility was lost when they used dues to put out that inflammatory, threatening postcard suggesting that the outsourced service would hire rapists.

Taxpayers who don't have children in the school system are expecting student achievement for their dollar investments...and a prudent fiscal budget.

That rapist postcard was a big mistake.

An honest Union should send out information showing the DOLLAR comparison of Union pay/ benefits vs. Outsourced.

That's the way to convince the public...though I'm guessing that in this case, the DOLLARS would not be in the Union's favor.

STUDENTS FIRST

THE UNION WAITED UNTIL THE BUSES PICKED UP YOUR KIDS BEFORE THEY CALLED A STRIKE! THE BUSES HAD TO TURN AROUND AND TAKE KIDS HOME! THEY USED YOUR KIDS AS PAWNS! PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS NEED TO GET SOME GUTS AND COME OUT TO TONIGHTS MEETING AND STAND UP TO THE UNION FOR WHAT THEY DID TO YOUR KIDS!!!! IT'S TIME TO GET SOME GUTS PEOPLE AND STOP COWERING FROM THE UNIONS! THE UNION TIMED IT THIS WAY TO MAXIMIZE THE DISRUPTION OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN, WAKE UP PEOPLE!

This has gotten ugly and personal on both sides! Is it possible for these negotiations to be broadcast live for all to see? I want to know who the liars are! As each side has a completely different story to tell. I would like to see the SC & the union in a room with cameras & audio so that we can all see what is happening. I honestly don't trust either of them at this point! Transparency is needed NOW!

@MeanE - The unions don't want these negotiations broadcast as they don't want the taxpayers to see what goes on behind the scenes. They have never been for transparency!! The unions are pressing their demands and they could care less about the taxpayers or the students for that matter....i.e., the bus tour this morning. I can only imagine what the parents are doing right now - probably calling out of work to sit for their kids. Isnt' that nice!
The administration should be in court this morning for a back to work order. If these people don't report to work tomorrow, fire them. Period! If the School Committee goes forward with their meeting tonight, there should be a police presence to keep the union hacks under control. If they don't, clear the room and arrest those who are disorderly. The town runs the schools, not the unions!

AS a taxpayer am tired of paying above market taxes to pay above market wages to people who hold kids hostage so they can keep taking more than market compensation! This was timed and someone in the union should be ARRESTED!
-
Thank you school committee for not cutting more kids programs which they really enjoy and benefit from and went after overcompensation instead. Even in the new deal with GCA these thankless greedy union people were given preferential hiring, and preferential pay and look how they reply... by damaging the schools, parents, kids and community! Fire them all now.

@ POV or Lynda, Larry, Dick, or John which ever SC member you are: Hiring a company that has had proven legal actions taken against them for hiring felons is NOT in the best interest of our children or school employees in regards to their safety.
So stop trying to defend the SC’s very bad decision to outsource!

NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE NSBA # ADD
POLICY MANUAL
SAFE SCHOOLS POLICY Definitions: A safe school provides a climate where students, staff and community members in the school system are free from harm and the physical environment is well maintained.

Those postcards that were sent weren’t suggesting anything, they were FACTS!

Union North Kingstown Janitors:
About some of the ESP union members:

How about the one who wrote on the walls that there was going to be a bomb explosion in one of our schools,

Or the bus driver, who flunked a drug test but the union said that she promised not to do it again.

Or the Union guy who left his position to go home during a snow storm to shovel his driveway.

Or the School UNION employee who refused to stop smoking on school grounds and was found with his pants down in the janitors closet.

Hypocritically, the union sends out a postcard suggesting that it will be the GCA acting inappropriately.

@NKPARENT NK ESP does not hire people; the School committee approves all hires. You are a very angry and insulting person. The “NK” custodians are loyal and hard working employees who did many things off the clock for our kids. GCA is A FOR PROFIT, OUT OF STATE COMPANY WITH A PROVEN TERRIBLE HIRING HISTORY. Key word "PROVEN". I believe you are a SC member or are connected with them in some way. I believe if you have children they are probably grown and you don’t give a fig about the safety and well-being of the children in this town.

How foolishly ridiculous to suggest that those of us who have put our kids through the school system YEARS AGO do not care a fig about kids today.

Your remarks are way off base and no credit to the ESP or to OUR children.

Yes, I'm offended by your insensitive nonsense.

Support staff do a lot more than people as a parent with two children with disabilities they would not have been able to go to school. Their pay is public look it up it is not much. Kids need clean schools as well. Where my children lived there were many support staff as our neighbors none off them would strike if they didn't feel they needed to. Maybe money could have been saved in other ways like avoiding recent lawsuits and reconfiguring administrator costs and salaries. This did not just come out of the blue and could have been dealt with better

Hey, fellow bloggers, now we know who POV is.
Mr. Welch , I so glad you want to blog. Remember this:
I'm a single mother with two jobs. Why should I vote for you? I care that you have to work two jobs to try to make ends meet. Any changes in the cost of living need to take you into account Pushing people onto the public assistance roles is not what I would be trying to do but rather training you to be able to hold down one good paying job with benefits so that you could spend more quality time with your family.
Mr. Welch, Didn’t you and the 4 SC members that voted yes on June 25th put most of NKESP in poverty? Now many of them (who use to be tax payers) are receiving public assistance from the state taxpayers!
http://northkingstown.patch.com/articles/meet-the-candidates-richard-welch-house-of-representatives-district-32
Mr. Welch, since you have been elected to the SC you major goal was to break the unions. You’re a self-serving hypocrite! Who’s next? The firefighters. If you ever get elected to the TC. BIG IF!!!!!!!
PS How’s your two day a week job @ the General Assembly? Aren’t your health benefits pay for by the state taxpayers?

By the way, Mr. Welch, everything bad written about GCA, is true. Unlike the SC, the NKESP has provided documentation to prove all information about this despicable company. GCA, the company that the SC gave complete power to hire people that will be in the school buildings with our children. There are only 15 "NK" custodians left and more are planning to leave very soon. They simply can not work for this disgusting company who treats their employees like farm animals. That a fact! Here's the truth- you do not care about the safety of the town's children or school employees!!!! Guess what? I voted for you, fool that I was. I now have no respect for you or the other 4 SC members, including Dr. Auger.