Teachers "work to rule"

[Observer]

Well, here we are again. The Marlborough teachers are working the minimum hours they are contracually obligated to as a show of force to support their demands that they get their Step and Lane increases in salary back.

Well here in the dreaded PRIVATE sector, where we don't get to suck on the teet of taxpayer money, we have ALL had to make concessions. Many folks have lost their jobs entirely, and they would've gladly taken a pay cut instead.

The attitudes of some people never cease to amaze me. YOU WORK FOR ME, I am a property tax payer in town. When things get better you absolutely deserve the pay you earned. We aren't there yet. There is a FINITE amount of money to go around, and we are tired of the "Tax And Spend" policies of our Liberal hack leaders. I salute Mayor Stevens for keeping the budget in line and not "sticking it" to the people who actually work a FULL DAY.

[Marlborough Mom]

Lovely! If you don't like it go teach in a district that isn't full of such white, stupid-trash... Then your jobs wouldn't be so difficult. For a state that boasts Harvard, MIT.. we sure as hell have some of the biggest idiots in New England and they obviously breed to much!

[Another Kim]

OH! MM...your a** stinks!!!!!!

[wow]

the mayor is refusing to abide by a legal contract. The teachers have not asked for a raise this year. The teachers got killed with their last contract. I wish the city would abide by thie contract as bad as it was.The teachers gave in on this last contract. At least abide by it.

[yes]

Finally a person who makes sense. Why did the city agree to the terms of the last contract if they are not going to stand by it. Poor form by the mayor and others especially when MHS is getting a visit by the accreditation board soon. If one wants to lose it on someone, it should be on the mayor. Honor the teachers by honoring the contract!!

[itsme]

I sign a contract with my lawn mowing guy. He mows all summer and sends me a bill. I decide I can no longer pay the full amount (rough economic times)so I discount his service and send him what I can afford. How is that different than what the city is doing to the teachers. "Sorry we won't honor the contract anymore." If a contract is negotiated in good faith it should be adhered to plain and simple until a new one is in place. The Mayor hasn't even begun negotiations on a new one and the old one has been expired for a month.(law dictates the old one continues till a new one is negotiated) That can't be good for sitting down at the bargining table on good terms. She's pretty much sabatoged future bargining sessions and created an antogonistic atmosphere. The city cannot just void a contract that was in existance and signed by both parties in good faith. That's unlawful.
People are upset because the teachers don't just say okay we'll cut out everything you told us you would honor because it's tough economically right now. They work for a city and town governments, when is it not tough economically?

[Damien]

If your job only paid you for 1/2 of the week, then you would only do 1/2 the work. I agree, the teachers should only do what is necessary and not go out of their way to do more...

On the other hand, in corporate america, you are only an expense to your employer. What are companies doing to raise profit...lowering their expenses...this is the same thing the local government is doing. They too are trying to cut expenses...

Looks like we are in a catch 22 situation! Maybe Marlborough should raise their taxes...ouch!!!!!