Teachers' bullying is going too far

Every tax is a pay cut. Every tax cut is a pay raise.
Citizens for Limited Taxation

Teachers' bullying is going too far thursday, May 6, 2004

Tom Moroney Metrowest Daily News

Schoolyard bully has a new name: teacher.
This is no exaggeration in Framingham. Just ask Susan Tsantes.
She's one of those very active, very caring, very concerned PTO mothers who, by the way, absolutely adores teachers, especially those who have worked with her two children.
But recently Tsantes, the newly elected co-president of the Walsh Middle School PTO for the fall, was quoted in the newspaper on the subject of Framingham teachers and their protests over the lack of a contract.
Negotiations have been under way for a year with no resolution. As a result, late last month the 750-member teachers' union decided to add to its protest by voting a work-to-rule initiative.
This means they now show up for school when it starts and leave right when it's over. Gone is any before-school and after-school help for the students.
Tsantes said of the tactic: "I support the teachers but I don't support what the teachers union is doing." The work-to-rule, she said, "is highlighting how little they have to do under the contract."
And finally: "If I want a raise, I work really hard. I don't cut back."
By the anger she generated, you might have figured Tsantes had just said Osama isn't such a bad guy.
The calls and e-mails were ugly enough. But one teacher -- and here's the new schoolyard bully at work -- called Tsantes' employer.
Tsantes is a Realtor who sells houses. At her request, I am not using the name of her real estate company.
But the teacher in question knew the name and took the time to locate the regional supervisor.
The teacher said to the supervisor: No Framingham teacher will ever buy a house listed by your company, ever.
Tsantes' offending quotes were also photocopied and distributed in the middle school with her employer, the real estate company, scrawled in the margins.
Was this over the line? I'd say. It's one thing to engage in heated debate on the issues. It's quite another to go after someone's livelihood.
It is, in a word, shameful.
Tsantes was shocked. For the record, I should also say she did not contact me. I called her.
I also remember her being quite careful so as not to offend all the teachers she respects when she was finding the words to express her reaction.
She finally said of the call placed to her boss: "I would expect a professional teacher would be able to keep their emotions in check."
I did call the teacher I was told had done the deed. But as of last night I received no call back.
Lisa Merloni, a Framingham teacher who heads up the negotiating team, said she was aware that the phone call had been made but did not know the teacher's name. Merloni also said she talked to Tsantes about it.
"I told her that she had to understand our teachers were really upset by the comments, that they were quite insulting," Merloni said.
But wasn't it over the line to call someone's employer?
"That's a hard question to answer," she said. "I can't say I would do it."
Neither would I, especially now that I have a little more information about the negotiations.
School Superintendent Chris Martes confirmed that his side is offering teachers a 1/2 percent increase in salary in the first year, and 2 1/2 percent in each of the second and third years of a proposed three-year deal.
Talks did begin with the administration offering no increases at all. The new numbers I quoted from Martes were a compromise. And a generous one, I'd say.
While no one would go on the record with what the teachers are asking, sources told me they are looking for a 1 percent increase in the first year, 3 1/2 percent in the second year and 4 percent in the third year.
It seems to me the administration has gone more than halfway.
Not only that, about 45 percent of Framingham's 750 teachers get what are known as "step increases," yearly boosts in pay above and beyond the contract. And those step increases are 5 percent of the base pay.
That means, if the teachers took what's on the table right now, a good portion of them would see a 7 1/2 percent boost in pay in each of the last two years of the deal.
Who else is getting that kind of a bump in this economy?
And to think, one teacher had the nerve to call the place of business of a mother who spoke out.
The word "bully" may be too kind.

Teachers' bullying is going too far	thursday, May 6, 2004
Tom Moroney	Metrowest Daily News
Schoolyard bully has a new name: teacher. This is no exaggeration in Framingham. Just ask Susan Tsantes. She's one of those very active, very caring, very concerned PTO mothers who, by the way, absolutely adores teachers, especially those who have worked with her two children. But recently Tsantes, the newly elected co-president of the Walsh Middle School PTO for the fall, was quoted in the newspaper on the subject of Framingham teachers and their protests over the lack of a contract. Negotiations have been under way for a year with no resolution. As a result, late last month the 750-member teachers' union decided to add to its protest by voting a work-to-rule initiative. This means they now show up for school when it starts and leave right when it's over. Gone is any before-school and after-school help for the students. Tsantes said of the tactic: "I support the teachers but I don't support what the teachers union is doing." The work-to-rule, she said, "is highlighting how little they have to do under the contract." And finally: "If I want a raise, I work really hard. I don't cut back." By the anger she generated, you might have figured Tsantes had just said Osama isn't such a bad guy. The calls and e-mails were ugly enough. But one teacher -- and here's the new schoolyard bully at work -- called Tsantes' employer. Tsantes is a Realtor who sells houses. At her request, I am not using the name of her real estate company. But the teacher in question knew the name and took the time to locate the regional supervisor. The teacher said to the supervisor: No Framingham teacher will ever buy a house listed by your company, ever. Tsantes' offending quotes were also photocopied and distributed in the middle school with her employer, the real estate company, scrawled in the margins. Was this over the line? I'd say. It's one thing to engage in heated debate on the issues. It's quite another to go after someone's livelihood. It is, in a word, shameful. Tsantes was shocked. For the record, I should also say she did not contact me. I called her. I also remember her being quite careful so as not to offend all the teachers she respects when she was finding the words to express her reaction. She finally said of the call placed to her boss: "I would expect a professional teacher would be able to keep their emotions in check." I did call the teacher I was told had done the deed. But as of last night I received no call back. Lisa Merloni, a Framingham teacher who heads up the negotiating team, said she was aware that the phone call had been made but did not know the teacher's name. Merloni also said she talked to Tsantes about it. "I told her that she had to understand our teachers were really upset by the comments, that they were quite insulting," Merloni said. But wasn't it over the line to call someone's employer? "That's a hard question to answer," she said. "I can't say I would do it." Neither would I, especially now that I have a little more information about the negotiations. School Superintendent Chris Martes confirmed that his side is offering teachers a 1/2 percent increase in salary in the first year, and 2 1/2 percent in each of the second and third years of a proposed three-year deal. Talks did begin with the administration offering no increases at all. The new numbers I quoted from Martes were a compromise. And a generous one, I'd say. While no one would go on the record with what the teachers are asking, sources told me they are looking for a 1 percent increase in the first year, 3 1/2 percent in the second year and 4 percent in the third year. It seems to me the administration has gone more than halfway. Not only that, about 45 percent of Framingham's 750 teachers get what are known as "step increases," yearly boosts in pay above and beyond the contract. And those step increases are 5 percent of the base pay. That means, if the teachers took what's on the table right now, a good portion of them would see a 7 1/2 percent boost in pay in each of the last two years of the deal. Who else is getting that kind of a bump in this economy? And to think, one teacher had the nerve to call the place of business of a mother who spoke out. The word "bully" may be too kind.

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