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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Press: Workers aren’t created equal

In this morning's editorial, the Coeur d'Alene Press looks at contract negotiations for the Coeur d'Alene School District:

From the Quaker faith to the U.S. Constitution, there’s broad agreement that all people are equal. But when it comes to employment, aren’t some more equal than others? Or at least, their services are more valuable? This editorial is not meant to demean anyone, nor to artificially elevate others. But there’s a reason some people are paid more than others; it’s because what they do is more meaningful in the organization’s quest to reach its goals. That reality isn’t universally agreed upon, as we were reminded during the ongoing Coeur d’Alene School District contract negotiations. Closed-door meetings are no longer the province of union-district negotiations over pay and benefits. The public can attend and even though most don’t, the sessions offer intriguing insights into who’s fighting for what. One of the revelations this time around is that classified employees — those without education credentials — want whatever the teachers get. More here.

Question: Do you think classified personnel at the Coeur d'Alene School District should be paid as much as teachers?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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