Here we go. It's starting here now: Strib - GOP faces off with union teachers

[geardaddy]

http://www.startribune.com/politics/local/118055389.html

Union teachers are feeling the heat at the State Capitol.

On the heels of Wisconsin's volatile debate over collective bargaining rights, Minnesota Republican lawmakers are waging a fierce campaign to scale back the scope and power of the state's teachers union. They say change is needed in part to stop teacher pay increases from consuming precious dollars in cash-strapped school districts.

Three bills winding through the Legislature would prevent teachers from striking in some fashion, while others would limit negotiating time and impose a two-year pay freeze.

"We've got a structure that continues to raise the cost of employment, the cost of teaching, without any connection at all to any improvement in results," said Assistant Senate Majority Leader David Hann, R-Eden Prairie. Hann, a sponsor of many bills targeted at the teachers union, said he does not believe public employees ought to unionize at all.

Roseville Rep. Mindy Greiling, a ranking DFLer on the House Education Committee, said the bills were like "Chinese water torture against collective bargaining."

It's not just bargaining. Other bills would virtually eliminate teacher tenure and would offer private school vouchers to students at failing public schools.

[CatholicEdHead]

1. Thank goodness for Governor Dayton

Who will stop these things in their tracks.

[geardaddy]

2. I agree.

[Mister Ed]

3. 8,000 votes. That's all that spared us the fate of WI, MI, OH, FL, IN...

Anyone who thinks their vote doesn't count for much should look to those states, where criminals - not conservatives, but genuine criminals - are in the process of seizing the publicly-held infrastructure and giving it away to their corporate patrons.

The reason that public employee's unions are under attack is that they happen to be in the way of this massive plunder of the public's wealth.

[glinda]

6. We need to keep on Dayton. He got a little Koch money through one of

their "hidden" named Companies.

[Mister Ed]

7. You're right. Dayton, Obama, you name 'em..we gotta presure 'em 'cause others sure will. n/t

[loveable liberal]

4. I fired off an e/mail to my republican representative.

Carol McFarlane sponsored the bill that would make it illegal for teachers to strike. Very, very disappointing.

[glinda]

5. Chip Crack is our Rep. Ugggh. I don't even bother. We have no representation at all.