I will protect your pensions. Nothing about your pension is going to change when I am governor. - Chris Christie, "An Open Letter to the Teachers of NJ" October, 2009

Sunday, April 12, 2015

War On Teacher Pensions = War On Women

I've seen this meme going around on social media today:


Whoever made this isn't blowing smoke:


From NJ school staffing data. The pensions vest in 10 years in New Jersey, which is comparatively long and not particularly generous

By more than three-to-one, more women will suffer than men if pensions for teachers who are already vested are slashed.

Keep in mind that New Jersey public employees are under-compensated compared to similar employees in the private sector, and that New Jersey teachers' salaries have been falling behind relative to other similarly educated employees.

This is actually more than a war on women; it's a war on middle aged women, as the average age of a female teacher with 10 or more years experience is 46.

I know they're going after the cops and the firefighters and other public employees as well. But teachers have been bearing the brunt of this jihad against public employee compensation for a good long while. I remain convinced that all the crap teachers have been forced to take over the last few years -- including the attacks on our pensions -- is largely driven by an unspoken sexism.

But please, go ahead and try to tell me I'm wrong. 

Believe it.

May 25, 2010 - Christie and Kearney teacher Rita Wilson had words after Wilson tells the governor that teachers are not paid enough. 
"Your're not compensating me for my education and you're not compensating me for my experience," she told the governor during a town hall meeting in Rutherford.
Christie did not take the rebuke lying down, responding "You know what then? You don't have to do it." The governor received a round of applause for his remark. [emphasis mine]
Yeah, that's right, honey -- you don't have to work to feed your family. That's a man's job...

Oh, golly, am I reading too much into this?



Go ahead. Tell me I'm wrong. I dare you.



ADDING MORE: "You're not being bullied!"



Right...

3 comments:

Eaglevalley 1304 said...

And so it goes... I think the reason Christie took on teachers from the beginning is he thought we would be an easy target, being mostly women and citizens who in general follow rules without making a fuss. He expected big political points without a lot of kick-back.

Unknown said...

Absolutely correct!

Barb McFarland said...

Right on target!