Wvw Administrators 
Offered 20% Pay Hikes 
Pay Proposal Exceeds 
Teacher Raises By 1 Percent 
Per Year

Aloysius Green 
Nov. 29, 1993 
Aloysius J. Green, 69, Of Regina Street, Lee Park, Hanover Township, Died 
Monday At Home.

Wednesday, December 01, 1993 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





`Those darn teachers,' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 bus drivers may grumble &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With anger rising, tempers stewing, a strike possibly in the offing, and
the future of Luzerne County's bus system darkening, tonight would be a great
time for the local bus union members to talk about ... schoolsThat's right,
schools. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The 67 members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 164 will gather
tonight for one of their most important meetings ever. The union will vote on
whether to accept an admittedly weak contract, one that sets in stone pay
cuts, vacation cuts and other concessions to management, according to a story
in Tuesday's Times Leader. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Accept the contract and keep your jobs, management is saying. Reject it --
and early next year, the authority's buses may be parked for the last time. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So the union members will have a lot on their minds at tonight's meeting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 What better time to talk about the recent Wyoming Valley West School
District contract dispute? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We're serious. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As Valley West teachers learned to their chagrin, the public showed them
little sympathy in the recent dispute. Few taxpayers openly supported the
teachers' demand for 18 percent raises over three years. To use just one
measure, this newspaper got very few letters backing the teachers' position,
while letters denouncing that position came in daily. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The resentment toward teachers seemed to cut across class and neighborhood
lines -- and picket lines, as well. Trade-union members and the children of
trade-union members were among those angered by the teachers' "outrageous"
demands. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Did transit-union members get mad, too? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Being human, they probably did. No doubt some members of Amalgamated
Transit Union Local 164 gritted their teeth during the dispute, frustrated and
dismayed by the teachers' stubbornness. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Can't those teachers admit they're licked? the members probably said at the
time. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Can't they see that times have changed? Can't they give taxpayers a better
"return" -- such as striving to become the best school system in the state --
before asking for fat raises? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Can't they see that without that return, taxpayers simply aren't going to
cough up vast new sums of cash? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Can't they, for once, work hand-in-hand with management for the benefit of
the "customers?" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And lastly, can't those shortsighted teachers see that -- public opinion
being what it is -- if they decide to strike, they'll lose? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The transit union members should discuss their feelings toward teachers
tonight. They should discuss them long and hard. The words could be spirited;
the arguments, sincere. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But the silence that falls when the members start talking about their own
situtation might be most enlightening of all.

`those Darn Teachers,' 
Bus Drivers May Grumble 
With Anger Rising, Tempers Stewing, A Strike Possibly In The Offing, And The 
Future Of Luzerne County's Bus System Darkening, Tonight Would Be A Great Time 
For The Local Bus Union Members To Talk About ... Schools.

`those Darn Teachers,' Bus Drivers May Grumble With Anger Rising, Tempers Stewing, A Strike Possibly In The Offing, And The Future Of Luzerne County's Bus System Darkening, Tonight Would Be A Great Time For The Local Bus Union Members To Talk About ... Schools.