Selfish

Do you know what the average salary of a teacher in Wilmington was in 2008? $61,603! That was an increase of $13,490 with 24 fewer teachers from just 4 years earlier. This doesn't include the amazing health insurance, summers off, and pensions.

Today's Lowell Sun reports that the Wilmington Teacher's Union is angry at the town for hanging up Christmas lights!! They say that money should be spent on the town's employees like them. What a bunch of crooks. These bums make a ton of money for working 9 months a year and what is their response? Give me more.

The unemployment rate in the state is 8.4%, people are being laid off left and right and these people have secure, high paying jobs and they're asking for more!!! Not only that, they want the people of Wilmington to sacrifice things like Christmas lights so the teachers can get more money.

The union recently rejected a contract which would have given them no raise this year but a 2.25% raise next year. Are you kidding me? This the problem with government workers. They have no concept of the real world and just want more and more and more. Michael Widmer agrees, telling the Sun:

Massachusetts Taxpayers Association Executive Director Michael Widmer said many unions don't believe municipal officials when they tell them that the situation is only bound to get worse.

"There is a misunderstanding that some things will return to normal in fiscal 2011. That's just not the case," he said. "The unions have been slow to understand that we're talking about fundamental changes. Collective benefits always increasing, 3 to 4 percent raises, step increases -- those are products of an era that is ending. But eras don't end placidly."

Widmer predicts the union's continued resistance to changes in the financial landscape may worsen budgets in the long run, especially in communities that will seek to raise new revenue through Proposition 2 1/2 overrides.

"There will be resistance and resentment from taxpayers that the unions haven't done more," he said. "In terms of public support for local government, it's a problem."