I'm a Union Worker...I am not the Problem

I'm taking a break from living the city life to vent for a moment. I just watched the most disgusting commercial ever and I'm livid!!!

I'm a public employee; I'm not the problem. Teachers, police officers, paramedics, firefighters, etc. are not the enemy. If you have an issue with our benefits, fight for your OWN, not against ours. The rich who created this crisis are putting middle class families against each other. We live here, pay taxes, work hard, and try to support our families too.

This has been really bothering me ever since everything started happening in Wisconsin. I am not at fault for what is happening to town and city budgets. If you broke down my pay by the amount of time I work both at school and at home it wouldn't even equal minimum wage. Yes, I get lots of vacation time but I still do work on vacation and I might even take a class or two in the summer. I am required to take courses to earn points towards my re-certification. Most districts only reimburse a portion of this expense but I'm expected to take them.

What about classroom supplies? What about all of the money I spend to ensure that my students have what they need to learn the best way possible?

My retirement is not tied to the city at all! I have to pay 11% each paycheck to the MTRS (Mass Teacher's Retirement System) but my district pays nothing. It's like that all over. In addition, I should (but can't afford to) get a 501b (or whatever the public version is) to supplement my MTRS money.

My union fights for me and for fair working conditions. Without a union I could be totally taken advantage of. Unions are not the problem! Unions fought for minimum wage, fair working hours, safe working environments, etc. If you have a 40 hour work week thank a union member!

Ughhh!!!! I love teaching (even when my kids get on my nerves) and can't imagine doing anything else but lately I don't want to tell people I'm a teacher. Everywhere I look I'm being attacked for being money grubbing, lazy lumps!