en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2505141 Comments by petercrissgirl http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Utica-School-District-and-teachers-union-negotiating-150028995.html#IDComment353712747 Don't worry, no matter what spiel the Union tries to sell you...the teachers in most districts continue with generous yearly pay increases. For example, a new teacher in my district (who was a substitute up until 2009) started out with a yearly pay of: $40,126, 2010: $42,009 and for 2011: $44,204....So, don't be fooled by Union rhetoric, the teachers (at least in MY district) continue to get nice pay increases! Not too shabby in these tough economic times! Fri, 4 May 2012 02:43:27 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Utica-School-District-and-teachers-union-negotiating-150028995.html#IDComment353712747 http://www.wktv.com/news/public-safety/Common-Council-proposes-deeper-cuts-to-public-safety-143025935.html#IDComment318078706 Well, as long as they get to drive cop cars back and forth to work on the taxpayer's tab...Guess what PUBLIC SERVANT Unions??? Can't always have it all....file grievances over driving cars for personal use, make continuous demands that the taxpayers just cannot afford to keep up with....well something has to give...It's not the first time public servant union demands take precedence over keeping jobs. Sat, 17 Mar 2012 04:52:31 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/public-safety/Common-Council-proposes-deeper-cuts-to-public-safety-143025935.html#IDComment318078706 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Missing-girl-found-after--142755055.html#IDComment318075581 I'm not sure how happy this little girl is right now...the only life she has known has been torn away from her. Yes, absolutely happy ending for those who were looking for her but put yourself in the shoes of the child. She's probably pretty scared and sad over losing her Dad. Sat, 17 Mar 2012 04:45:41 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Missing-girl-found-after--142755055.html#IDComment318075581 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Missing-girl-found-after--142755055.html#IDComment317159561 I know Jeff Shipman and I can tell you he is decent man. This was a situation of him fearing the mother would take the child back to Russia, where the mother is from. Sadly, sometimes when a parent feels they could lose their child and never see him or her again, they do drastic and extreme things.That being said, I certainly don't condone what Jeff has done and it was incredibly stupid and selfish.I feel badly for what the poor mother has gone through these last 4 years, not knowing where her beautiful daughter was. It must have been horrible for her. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. I feel most sorry for Deonna, who more than likely is scared out of her mind, not knowing what is going on....having the only life she has known to be yanked out from under her. Stories like this should remind parents who are locked in ugly custody battles (like this one was), PUT YOUR CHILDREN FIRST. Work together, make for the best life you can collectively provide for your children. Fri, 16 Mar 2012 01:01:33 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Missing-girl-found-after--142755055.html#IDComment317159561 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Unions-filing-grievance-after-mayor-asks-them-to-take-their-own-cars-home-at-night-to-save-city-funds-141060803.html#IDComment305938290 Ahhhh, yet another example of PUBLIC UNION Greed! And we sit and wonder why our state is so crippled economically??? The taxpayers have to pay for all the demands of the Public Sector Unions. Fri, 2 Mar 2012 03:07:16 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Unions-filing-grievance-after-mayor-asks-them-to-take-their-own-cars-home-at-night-to-save-city-funds-141060803.html#IDComment305938290 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/About-50-Occupy-Utica-protesters-spend-the-night-in-tents-131875448.html#IDComment208386519 Why don't they protest public sector union greed? Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:59:03 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/About-50-Occupy-Utica-protesters-spend-the-night-in-tents-131875448.html#IDComment208386519 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/No-word-if-job-cuts-at-The-Hartford-will-affect-positions-131001113.html#IDComment202779707 Exactly, Barbi...won't they just call it what it really is? OUTSOURCING!!! Tue, 4 Oct 2011 01:06:37 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/No-word-if-job-cuts-at-The-Hartford-will-affect-positions-131001113.html#IDComment202779707 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/No-word-if-job-cuts-at-The-Hartford-will-affect-positions-131001113.html#IDComment202755801 Ahhh, even a company that supposed to be all about ethics and integrity, ships off jobs that are desperately needed here in the United States. Wonder if this will affect their customer loyalty? Mon, 3 Oct 2011 23:47:51 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/No-word-if-job-cuts-at-The-Hartford-will-affect-positions-131001113.html#IDComment202755801 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Judge-gives-attorneys-until-end-of-day-to-file-motions-in-Waterville-teacher-case-130567183.html#IDComment200013771 Yeah, agreed SJH80! This guy was paid $70,184.00 for the 2010 year, up almost $3000 from the prior year...Way to spend the taxpayer money...money spent for pedophilia.... Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:37:40 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Judge-gives-attorneys-until-end-of-day-to-file-motions-in-Waterville-teacher-case-130567183.html#IDComment200013771 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Forestport-man-electrocuted-helping-motorist-124395749.html#IDComment165996732 How dare you condemn a man for trying to help someone in need? Yes, there are still people like this man out there, immediately trying to help...I remember when I was about 16, my mom, brother and I were traveling home from my grandparents home in West Winfield, we came across a young boy being cradled by his mother in the road, he had been hit by a car. Now, my Mom could have turned around and disregarded the situation with indifference but she didn't...she pulled over and went to that mother to see if she could do anything to help...If anything, the comfort of my mom's arm at least made this poor woman not feel so alone on that country road. I think we should be THANKFUL that there are people left in this world who DON'T turn away to someone who needs help...We definitely need more honorable and compassionate people like this man. Although his death is a tragedy, he left this world trying to help someone. Fri, 24 Jun 2011 01:33:45 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Forestport-man-electrocuted-helping-motorist-124395749.html#IDComment165996732 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Autopsy-Results-Medical-condition-did-not-play-role-in-fatal-Verona-crash-124372364.html#IDComment165630089 I went down this road during the winter and it is DEFINITELY not well marked! The "sign" is right before you get to the actual barricade!!! This road should be marked as closed MUCH, MUCH sooner. Very dangerous, especially so for a person who may have used the road in the past but was unaware of it now being barricaded (as was my case). Thu, 23 Jun 2011 01:24:44 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Autopsy-Results-Medical-condition-did-not-play-role-in-fatal-Verona-crash-124372364.html#IDComment165630089 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Police-Suspect-hospitalized-after-pointing-gun-at-trooper-124338309.html#IDComment165444915 The truth of the matter is you can have all the gun control laws you want but do you think that is going to stop criminals from getting guns? Nope, sorry. Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:20:17 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Police-Suspect-hospitalized-after-pointing-gun-at-trooper-124338309.html#IDComment165444915 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Groups-seek-halt-to-NY-sale-of-polluting-boilers-122183849.html#IDComment154119318 Yes, once again thank you environmentalists for helping us maintain our dependency on foreign oil...We can't have OTC inhalers because they "are bad" for the air around us...cows produce dangerous toxic gases that will kill us....more environmentalist rhetoric that costs hard-working people more money! Thu, 19 May 2011 21:37:18 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Groups-seek-halt-to-NY-sale-of-polluting-boilers-122183849.html#IDComment154119318 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Large-union-opposes-a-2-property-tax-cap-in-New-York-State-120394164.html#IDComment146331390 Wow, you seriously want to us to swallow that union "underpaid teacher" myth Kool-aid??? Actually New York State teachers are the 5th HIGHEST paid in the country! When you factor in actual days worked, the teacher makes about $31.00 per hour....UNIONS are CRIPPLING this state. Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:49:04 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Large-union-opposes-a-2-property-tax-cap-in-New-York-State-120394164.html#IDComment146331390 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Cuomo-signs-legislation-to-extend-federal-unemployment-benefits-through-2011-118836509.html#IDComment138498207 If we can afford to pay state worker pensions and benefits for the rest of their lives, I would hope we could pay out unemployment benefits... Wed, 30 Mar 2011 01:25:10 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Cuomo-signs-legislation-to-extend-federal-unemployment-benefits-through-2011-118836509.html#IDComment138498207 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/118536529.html#IDComment137220430 You can thank your Teacher's Unions... Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:24:40 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/118536529.html#IDComment137220430 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/No-acceptance-of-wage-freeze-by-union-could-mean-70-layoffs-for-Rome-school-118441074.html#IDComment137220155 Unions like to perpetuate the "UNDER PAID TEACHER MYTH", unions actually are a disservice to students as they allow "bad" teachers to continue working under the cloak of union protection. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:22:37 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/No-acceptance-of-wage-freeze-by-union-could-mean-70-layoffs-for-Rome-school-118441074.html#IDComment137220155 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/No-acceptance-of-wage-freeze-by-union-could-mean-70-layoffs-for-Rome-school-118441074.html#IDComment136899813 The average annual pension across the state for all retired educators was $36,222 in 2009, according to the latest teachers' retirement system annual financial report. Not too shabby for retirement pay per year... Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:28:07 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/No-acceptance-of-wage-freeze-by-union-could-mean-70-layoffs-for-Rome-school-118441074.html#IDComment136899813 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/No-acceptance-of-wage-freeze-by-union-could-mean-70-layoffs-for-Rome-school-118441074.html#IDComment136898619 Just imagine teachers actually getting paid based on their OWN merits (not what a union dictates)...Imagine HOW GOOD our education would be then!!! Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:21:35 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/No-acceptance-of-wage-freeze-by-union-could-mean-70-layoffs-for-Rome-school-118441074.html#IDComment136898619 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/No-acceptance-of-wage-freeze-by-union-could-mean-70-layoffs-for-Rome-school-118441074.html#IDComment136897201 The starting average teacher salary in NY is $37,321 and the average salary is: $57,354. NY has the 5th highest average teacher salaries in the country. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average public elementary school teacher in the United States earns about $30.75 an hour....HMMM, that's underpaid??? Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:12:33 +0000 http://www.wktv.com/news/local/No-acceptance-of-wage-freeze-by-union-could-mean-70-layoffs-for-Rome-school-118441074.html#IDComment136897201