As reported in the Sacramento Bee a few days ago the teacher's union in Rocklin has resorted to using Children to advance their cause.

We see behavior like this in third-world countries but why in Rocklin? It is not about the Children - it is about Money.

This issue has now transcended the Rocklin School Board, who these same union thugs helped install in their offices. (Camille Maben is a liberal Democrat activist that used to work for Delaine Eastin. Republicans Paul, Dailey and Lowell each received $6,000 or more from the union)

Apparently, the Teacher's Union is angry because the Republican Board members are forestalling a demanded 8.8% Pay Increase EVEN THOUGH ENROLLMENT IS STAGNANT AND PROPERTY TAX REVENUE ARE DECLINING.

STEP AND COLUMN

The Union tells you that the Teachers have not gotten a raise in the last two years. What is the "Step and Column" system anyway? This is a Union negotiated system of AUTOMATIC PAY RAISES - 70% of the teachers get them every year. (The other 30% are maxed out, cut hours, transfer etc...) These raises have been 1.65% each of the last two years while many in the private sector have lost jobs or seen their income go down.

Only in Government jobs are raises automatic and guaranteed - they can't use the, "we get paid less" argument either. (Have you seen the salaries they are paid?)

ROCKLIN TEACHERS ONLY WORK 186 DAYS A YEAR

That would make the French blush. That equals 37.2 5-day weeks out of a 52 week year. This gives the average Rocklin teacher 14.8 weeks per year off!!!

At retirement, Teachers get a GUARANTEED PENSION FOR LIFE. Have you figured out why the State of CA is broke every year? Have you figured out why School Districts have to go to bonds to build new facilities? There is no money left due to the sweetheart deals they got at the state level.

Benefit mandates are unfunded and forced on School Districts meaning that 85% of their money is spent before they take their seats on the School Board.

All this and the Teacher's Union is now using Children to spread the disinformation of how mistreated they are by the Rocklin USD School Board. Friends of mine have reported getting flyers on their windshields distributed by children as young as Sixth grade!

IF IT WAS ABOUT THE CHILDREN...

Then why have teachers refused to staff clubs? They did not have to quit doing club staffing - they chose to in order to get students upset for leverage. (This is the same tactic used in Sacramento during budget negotiations - the Dems refuse to pass emergency appropriations deliberately to hurt people and apply pressure to Republicans)

Then why have teachers refused to staff after-school help? I have received several reports that teachers are leaving campus as quickly as possible - deliberately harming children's education to assist their cause in trying to get more money.

UNION THUGS

On August 21st - armed with Helium Baloons - teachers disrupted the meeting, Shouting down board members.

For five hours, the Baloons hovered at the ceiling.

In that same meeting for 1 1/2 hours, one angry tirade after another at the podium to make demands. When the superintendent, Kevin Brown tried to answer - guess what, they shouted him down. (I am no fan of Kevin Brown - but he deserves to be treated better than this)

THE UNION "BELIEVES" THE DISTRICT HAS THE MONEY

In the end, the Union leader said in the Placer Herald on August 28th that she "believes" that the District has the money.

You have got to be kidding me. Why hasn't the Union opened the books - the district's finances are a matter of public record.

The stagnant enrollment is public record. The declining tax revenue is public record. The effects of Union Backed mandates are public record. (Like being forced to replace school buses at the cost of $150,000 each every five years or only being able to use union labor for maintenance with no competitive bidding allowed.)

Congratulations to the Rocklin teacher's union - you have single-handedly taken one of the best cities to live in and thrown its' school system into chaos because of your greed.

Take a good, long look at those students you supposedly care about - you're holding them hostage over 8.8%, the Rocklin equivalent of 30 pieces of Silver.