Poll Results: 109 Trying to Reduce Union Strength

A majority of Patch readers believe is trying to harm the in the ongoing contract talks between the two groups.

Of the 134 readers who took the survey, 97 believe they District wants to water down the union while 37 disagree.

A regular reader, John Russillo, takes issue with Patch’s use of the word harm but feels the District is using rough tactics. “Harm is probably not the right word. But "reduce the strength" is spot on,” he writes.

There was plenty of support for the District 109 School Board as well despite the numbers reflected in the poll. Marci Spielman wants the Board to continue with its existing strategy.

“Hats off to a School Board that takes its role seriously and is not willing to bend to the normal teachers’ union self preservation negotiating tactics,” Spielman writes “I commend you all.”

Mark Chester also took the side of the Board. “Can someone explain why every time a governmental employer takes a stand against runaway budgets, it is construed as union busting,” Chester wrote? “As a taxpayer, I think that they are just doing what they were elected to do.”

A reader writing under the pseudonym of Kipling Mom does not think the teachers are out of line in their demands when administrators are so well paid.

“School board members: Are you going to continue to give administrators raises, hidden benefits, fully paid insurance, etc. while at the same time trying to get rid of the teacher pay scale and increase their insurance costs,” she writes?

When the union and District negotiating teams met Thursday, . Though the details may not be known to the public for another week they can share them with each other.

Russillo hopes it will help the process. “The March 15 negotiating session will tell the tale,” he wrote. “We will see who shows up to negotiate in good faith.”