Ironic Contrast It is upsetting to see the senator from Tennessee dressing down the leaders of the U.S. car industry. Why? Because he has a large Nissan Auto Plant in Smyrna, Tenn., along with others who have the same vested interest. The Republicans who voted against the loan know the huge amount of hourly, salary and related services will destroy the U.S. economy and saddle President-elect Barack Obama with the result, and we will forget Bush's war and the $80 billion Iraq has put away. ...more

December 18, 2008

SEBRING — One school bus driver hopes the district's support workers vote down the tentative contract agreement Sunday so a better salary increase can be negotiated. According to the School Board of Highlands County, the tentative agreement reached Nov. 9 calls for an average salary increase of 4 percent and a total salary and benefit package increase of 5.86 percent. According to the tentative agreement, each pay step will increase by 2 percent. Each year everyone moves up a step, except the senior employees, who have reached the top pay step. About one-third of the 700 support staff are at the top of the salary schedule and will be getting a 2 percent raise. "When we vote on our contract, we are voting on a 2 percent increase — period," said Mary Hein, a bus driver. "We are not voting on 4 percent. It would be nice if they increased my step by 4 percent, but they are not." The substitute drivers would only get a 2 percent raise because their pay is solely based on hourly salary, she said. ...more

November 28, 2007