Blog/205

Cheating @ MNPS?.

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 14:43:00 GMT

The Atlanta Journal Constitution names Metro Nashville Public Schools as a system that has "suspicious test scores" that could indicate cheating on standardized tests. MNPS denied the allegations and says there are "flaws" in the AJC's data.

Give the AJC article a read and find out for yourself what it all means.

Metro Council Weighs In On Jesse Register's Attack on School Employees.

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:52:00 GMT

The Metro Council is not pleased with Jesse Register's attacks on support staff working in Metro Schools. Councilman Bo Mitchell, along with 10 other members (as of this writing), are sponsoring a resolution denouncing Register's power grab and calling for the School Board and Register to comply with provisions outlined in the district’s existing labor negotiation policy, which has been in effect since 2000.

Read the full story in the Nashville City Paper.

Maybe He Should Have Signed a Union Card?.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:49:00 GMT

After sending out a sexist email to female employees who work for him, MNPS' Jay Nelson was reprimanded with a 3-day suspension without pay.

We have to wonder if Nelson will appeal the decision or have his case reviewed by the School Board. Oh wait... he can't! MNPS employees no longer have those rights per Jesse Register's new rules.

Seriously, though. It should be obvious to everyone, especially after this incident, that one of the reasons support staff voted overwhelmingly to form a union at MNPS was to make sure that things like this don't happen. People should be able to report to work and do their jobs without harassment or unprofessional behavior by their supervisors.

Jay Nelson's actions remind us that now more than ever, MNPS employees need and deserve the right to file grievances, appeal disciplinary hearings, and make their voices heard on the job without fear of retribution or retaliation. Our schools are, after all, public institutions and they should be setting the standard for professional behavior and fairness towards workers.

What MNPS Employees Can Look Forward To Without A Union.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:31:00 GMT

From a story in the City Paper and The Tennessean, the head of Metro Nashville Public Schools food services, Jay Nelson, is under fire for a sexist cartoon he circulated to female co-workers using Metro email during working hours.

Dean Tips His Hand on Metro Employee Benefit Cuts.

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:00:00 GMT

According to Metro's Finance Director Rich Riebeling and the Nashville City Paper, "'wide-ranging changes are possible for Metro employee benefits" over the next year.

MDHA Gets Both Barrels from Local & National Media.

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:59:00 GMT

While MDHA continues to maintain that they have no money to do right by its loyal employees, the local and national press discovers that the agency may be mishandling the money it does have.

It’s Time to Praise Our Public Employees, Not Attack Them.

Wed, 04 May 2011 11:13:00 GMT

Well, it's the one year anniversary of the Nashville Flood and in typical fashion, many of our local politicians are congratulating themselves for what a spectacular job they did during one of Middle Tennessee's largest natural disasters.

But we know that it was the hard-working people in the public service who risked life, limb, and health to dig the city out, not bureaucrats at the Courthouse.

One citizen gets it and wrote this opinion piece that was published in the May 3 print edition of The Tennessean. Give it a read.

The Top 7 Things You Need to Know About Governor Walker's Attack on Middle Class Families.

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 11:38:00 GMT

Governor Walker's reckless proposal to limit collective bargaining for nurses, teachers, EMTs, and other workers in Wisconsin would mean fewer nurses at the bedside and more crowded classrooms. We'd have fewer workers to process unemployment claims or make sure our seniors receive their Social Security checks on time.
Workers are already sacrificing to keep Wisconsin running. Workers agreed to take 16 furlough days equal to a three percent pay cut. These furlough days and other cuts have already saved Wisconsin taxpayers over $100 million.
Scott Walker created the budget shortfall himself with giant tax breaks to corporations.
Teachers, nurses, bus drivers, and other workers in Wisconsin earn 4.8% less than their private sector counterparts. Wisconsin's pension, which workers pay into, is also fully funded. And many public employees do not collect Social Security.
Walker's attacks are part of a national coordinated campaign by political attack groups funded by big banks, big oil, big insurance companies, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and right-wing billionaires. These attacks are political payback to these groups for spending billions on last year's elections.
What we need are good jobs, not political attacks. But Scott Walker's proposal will destroy 10 ,000 private sector jobs. And Walker already destroyed more than 13,000 jobs by rejecting funding for a high-speed rail line.
Instead of scapegoating teachers, firefighters, and nurses, we need to force Wall Street and greedy corporate CEOs to pay their fair share. 60 percent of Wisconsin corporations with revenues of $100 million or more pay no corporate income taxes. If large corporations in Wisconsin were paying taxes simply at the U.S. average, this would annually generate nearly $1 billion dollars in additional revenue.

Fiscal Irresponsibility: Repealing Health Care Reform Will Add $230 Billion To Deficit.

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:58:00 GMT

Never mind the moral implications of taking away health insurance coverage for millions of children and from those with pre-existing conditions. Never mind the fact that thousands of small businesses across the country will lose the tax breaks and subsidies to provide coverage for their employees. Never mind the fact that the "donut hole" in Medicare would have been filled. And never mind the fact that GOP leaders promised to reduce the debt if given control of the House of Representatives.

Let's skip all that and talk numbers about what repeal of the Affordable Care Act will mean to this country.

Repealing the Affordable Care Act will add $230 BILLION to the country's deficit in 10 years.

That's not some spin coming out of Democratic Party HQ or from SEIU. That's from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

So for those of you who thought you were voting for "fiscal responsibility" when you pulled the lever for the R's in the November elections... think again.

New Smoking Policy--Is It Time??.

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 01:05:00 GMT

On October 1st, 2007, it became illegal to smoke in Tennessee restaurants. In fact, if you get caught smoking in an area that is designated, you may be charged a civil penalty of $50.00. Following that lead, as of January 1, 2011, East Tennessee hospitals joined together to become smoke free. The announcement was made early in 2010, giving workers time to prepare for the new policy, and were offered help to quit the habit. Smoking areas were removed, and the ban extends to patients, visitors, and vehicles on campus. The initiative is being touted as health oriented, and was designed to encourage healthier lifestyles for the entire community.