We Are On Strike!

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Specializes in Emergency.

Hello to all! I haven't posted in awhile, but here I am. I am a school nurse who is a member of MESPA (Moline Educational Support Personnel Association). Our support staff union is going into its 2nd day of a strike. We are demanding fair pay and benefits.

Yesterday they found 34 people to fill 170 positions. These included 3 agency nurses. It is illegal for a district to do this though. Gov. Blagojevich signed a law last year forbidding agency employees to fill striking positions.

It is getting ugly in Moline. Words of support would help!

Thanks!

MomNRN AKA Laura

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" MESPA's 170 full- and part-time employees include teacher, library and special-education aides; computer-lab managers; monitors; office clerks; interpreters; accompanists and school nurses. MESPA wants pay and family health-insurance benefits that compare to what district secretaries and custodians get.

Links about the Moline Educational Support Professionals staff strike:

http://www.qconline.com/archives/qco/sections.cgi?prcss=display&id=186514

http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1025178&t=Iowa+%2F+Illinois&c=24,1025178

http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1025215&l=1&t=Local+News&c=2,1025215

Hello to all! I haven't posted in awhile, but here I am. I am a school nurse who is a member of MESPA (Moline Educational Support Personnel Association). Our support staff union is going into its 2nd day of a strike. We are demanding fair pay and benefits.

Yesterday they found 34 people to fill 170 positions. These included 3 agency nurses. It is illegal for a district to do this though. Gov. Blagojevich signed a law last year forbidding agency employees to fill striking positions.

It is getting ugly in Moline. Words of support would help!

Thanks!

MomNRN AKA Laura

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I am from the QC and miss it so much! Am so sorry that you are on strike. My husband works at the school district here in Peoria and strikes are becoming a reality in Illinois for the schools. Its too bad too! Take care...Alleman HS grad 1977

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More power to you and your fellow/sister strikers!

I am from a right-to-work state where unions are unheard of. I am so envious of nurses who have union protections and a voice through their unions.

Wishing you victory!

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Good Luck to you and all your fellow strikers. I am a school nurse in Sterling, IL and our support staff contract is up this year also, so it will be interesting to see what happens with that. I commend all of you for your courage, fighting this long overdue battle. There are so many issues for support staff, not only financial, but also the big issue of respect. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for taking this giant step for all of us working as the lowly support staff in our school systems. It's time that parents and taxpayers understand where their dollars are going, and it's time that administration and teaching staff understand that educating our children is a team effort. Please continue to post and keep us informed. My thoughts and prayers are with you every day.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Thank you for the kind replies. We head into day 4 of our strike today. It is getting ugly.

We are hoping that a bargaining session will be held tonight. I know our school board is rocking from all of the media attention and the phone calls from angry parents.

Sometimes you just have to say enough is enough and stand up for what you believe in!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

How are you holding up? Make sure you are kind to yourself and dress warmly on the line.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

:yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap:

You Go Girl ! We are pulling for you !

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Specializes in pediatric, geriatric, med-surg.

You have a degree and get paid LESS than a custodian???? That is horrible! I am disgusted! I wish you much luck! I am from one of those crazy right-to-work states so I don't have any "rights"...but I'm pretty sure I get paid more than the person who sweeps the floors! But maybe I should investigate?

" MESPA's 170 full- and part-time employees include teacher, library and special-education aides; computer-lab managers; monitors; office clerks; interpreters; accompanists and school nurses. MESPA wants pay and family health-insurance benefits that compare to what district secretaries and custodians get.

Links about the Moline Educational Support Professionals staff strike:

http://www.qconline.com/archives/qco/sections.cgi?prcss=display&id=186514

http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1025178&t=Iowa+%2F+Illinois&c=24,1025178

http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1025215&l=1&t=Local+News&c=2,1025215

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Specializes in Emergency.
You have a degree and get paid LESS than a custodian???? That is horrible! I am disgusted! I wish you much luck! I am from one of those crazy right-to-work states so I don't have any "rights"...but I'm pretty sure I get paid more than the person who sweeps the floors! But maybe I should investigate?

I encourage you to investigate. This thread is a year old, so our strike has been over for awhile. It was very enlightening to say the least.

Unfortunately the contract we re-negotiated will expire the end of May. I am hoping our contract talks are more positive this time around.

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That was funny.......the year old post thing :rotfl:

Still not funny is the tentative situation though. Good luck!

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