New York State Minimum Wage is set to increase to $16.50 per hour in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island on January 1. New lunch aides are earning less than $16.50 and new teacher aides are earning slightly more. I am surprised a school district would be paying minimum wage to an employee that works directly with students that have been identified as needing assistance per NYS guidelines.
Every year I am astounded by the astronomical salaries of school superintendents and administrators. They are paid like corporate CEOs while denying the lowest workers a fair wage. This is unfortunately a sign of our unfair times, when the chasm between the rich and everyone else grows deeper and wider.
Meanwhile Walker makes close to $300k a year and does precisely NOTHING for the district's stakeholders. He is an empty suit. If I were as poorly performing at my job as he is at his, I would have been fired years ago.
Ms. Avolio working on her unit’s behalf is very respectable and much power and credit to her.
With that said and with how things are going, I think that their unit needs to organize under the CSEA umbrella I think that’s the only way they will get a fair deal. As I understand it, they are totally independent from any outside Union representation, which is rare. Although I have seen instances of a school’s teachers’ union including other units in their organization (so that the same leadership represents both teachers and aides and there is a lot of negotiating power in that). For a unit (other than teachers) to represent themselves is just not feasible in most cases. I would have been on the phone with CSEA months ago.
I believe by default every NYS school union and member is under the NYSUT umbrella, but I think that is more for general governing and oversight. At the specific school level, they are not necessarily negotiating on a specific union’s behalf. They are making sure rules and such are upheld, but they aren’t doing anything to help Ms. Avolio in nitty gritty negotiations like a CSEA unit would; where lawyers would be involved and CSEA leadership would actively negotiate with the District.
Some other Croton units have CSEA representation, but it looks like the Teachers represent themselves (similar to the Aides). The difference is that the teachers have enough size and power so as to not be taken advantage of by the board.
This continues to disappoint me on the District end.
Thank you for this disappointing yet not surprising update on the aides contract. Next time the school decides to virtue signal and hold some protest or walk, I would encourage students with signs to show up and support the teacher aides.
For the record, I know people working for temp agencies, sitting at a table stuffing envelopes for $20 an hour regular pay (not overtime). Our school has a culture of bullying and unfair treatment from the top down. I hope things change and the aides get fair pay and benefits. The aides are also working in hot classrooms in the Summer months. Under-paid and treated neglectfully. Sad. Croton-Harmon Schools are fast developing a very unfavorable reputation.
New York State Minimum Wage is set to increase to $16.50 per hour in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island on January 1. New lunch aides are earning less than $16.50 and new teacher aides are earning slightly more. I am surprised a school district would be paying minimum wage to an employee that works directly with students that have been identified as needing assistance per NYS guidelines.
The pay for aides in our district is significantly lower than in most surrounding districts.
Every year I am astounded by the astronomical salaries of school superintendents and administrators. They are paid like corporate CEOs while denying the lowest workers a fair wage. This is unfortunately a sign of our unfair times, when the chasm between the rich and everyone else grows deeper and wider.
This is their new definition of "equity"---all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
Meanwhile Walker makes close to $300k a year and does precisely NOTHING for the district's stakeholders. He is an empty suit. If I were as poorly performing at my job as he is at his, I would have been fired years ago.
Ms. Avolio working on her unit’s behalf is very respectable and much power and credit to her.
With that said and with how things are going, I think that their unit needs to organize under the CSEA umbrella I think that’s the only way they will get a fair deal. As I understand it, they are totally independent from any outside Union representation, which is rare. Although I have seen instances of a school’s teachers’ union including other units in their organization (so that the same leadership represents both teachers and aides and there is a lot of negotiating power in that). For a unit (other than teachers) to represent themselves is just not feasible in most cases. I would have been on the phone with CSEA months ago.
The ACU is affiliated with the NYSUT.
I believe by default every NYS school union and member is under the NYSUT umbrella, but I think that is more for general governing and oversight. At the specific school level, they are not necessarily negotiating on a specific union’s behalf. They are making sure rules and such are upheld, but they aren’t doing anything to help Ms. Avolio in nitty gritty negotiations like a CSEA unit would; where lawyers would be involved and CSEA leadership would actively negotiate with the District.
Some other Croton units have CSEA representation, but it looks like the Teachers represent themselves (similar to the Aides). The difference is that the teachers have enough size and power so as to not be taken advantage of by the board.
This continues to disappoint me on the District end.
It disappoints me as well but comes as no surprise, Clearly the district does not value the aides in any way, manner, shape or form.
Thank you for this disappointing yet not surprising update on the aides contract. Next time the school decides to virtue signal and hold some protest or walk, I would encourage students with signs to show up and support the teacher aides.
For the record, I know people working for temp agencies, sitting at a table stuffing envelopes for $20 an hour regular pay (not overtime). Our school has a culture of bullying and unfair treatment from the top down. I hope things change and the aides get fair pay and benefits. The aides are also working in hot classrooms in the Summer months. Under-paid and treated neglectfully. Sad. Croton-Harmon Schools are fast developing a very unfavorable reputation.