NYC Union Chief Proves Gov. Walker Right: Tougher Teacher Evaluations Must Be Negotiated Into Contract

by Larry O'Connor


Next time you hear sanctimonious wails from the left about how Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) and Republicans want to take collective bargaining rights away from workers, remember that basic evaluations and disciplinary actions for awful teachers is something these union believe need to be negotiated and are not, in fact, the built in right of the employer (that’s you, the taxpayer).

Here’s “Exhibit A”:

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo stressed the importance of officials agreeing on a new statewide teacher evaluation system at yesterday’s State of the State address. Michael Mulgrew, President of the United Federation of Teachers, tells WOR’s John Gambling, Cuomo showed real leadership, but until Mayor Bloomberg negotiates the law the union will not act outside of those parameters. (Audio after the jump)

Mulgrew has already refused to give principals ultimate authority to remove ineffective teachers. And he has failed to select arbitrators for existing disciplinary cases, presumably to throw a wrench in the gears of the current teacher-removal system.

Basic evaluations and disciplinary measures that should be the right of any employer, let alone a government exercising responsibility and oversight over the public education system have been reduced to bargaining chits that union bosses use as leverage for “give backs” and goodies. That’s what Gov. Walker and the courageous lawmakers in Wisconsin put an end to. The result is a balanced budget without raising taxes and local governments able to manage out of control benefits packages negotiated in by corrupt politicians in the pocket of big labor.

Make no mistake, despite the sound of conciliation you hear in this interview with Mr. Mulgrew, the fact remains he and his fellow union bosses are standing by the unacceptable practices of teachers receiving full salaries as they sit all day in “rubber rooms” while union red tape keeps them from being fired despite outrageous rule violations. And any reasonable attempt to give the City of New York the right to deal with lousy teachers in a meaningful and effective way have been blocked by Mr. Mulgrew at every step.

This is what big labor means when they say Walker has “taken away their rights to collectively bargain.” Just look at New York to see what the net results of those precious bargaining sessions.


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Posted Jan 18th 2012 at 9:53 am in Uncategorized | 64 Comments