Bob Castelli Comes Through While the Teachers Union Does Not

Bob Castelli, out newly elected State Assemblyman, has followed through on two key campaign promises, one of which was made directly to our “Mad as Hell” crowd. He has introduced legislation to repeal both the Triborough Amendment, and the odious MTA tax. Way to go, Bob! Everyone should understand the guts it took to do this. The teachers union is by far the most powerful – and destructive – force in this state. Bob has now become a target, and he’s up for re-election this November. Expect money to flow into our district to beat him. He will need our support.

For those who have forgotten, the Triborough Amendment – a law unique to our state – says that if the teachers union in any school district doesn’t like whatever new contract the school board is proposing, they can simply keep their old contract for as long as they want. This includes raises every six months (although they call them “steps” so they don’t sound like…raises). In a nutshell, it leaves school boards zero negotiating leverage.

This is where Bedford finds itself now. As of last June, the board and the union have officially been at an impasse, so the union is perfectly happy to do nothing. Adam Yuro seems to think that if they just sit tight for a while, everything (i.e. the economy) will be back to normal. Only it won’t. Our county and state are in horrific shape, and it’s difficult to see how we pull out of it soon.

Parents also have to understand how destructive the union’s position is to their children’s interests. Last year, in order to pass a budget the town could afford, the system had to fire 40 teachers. I would argue that this hasn’t affected things too much, because there was lots of fat, although of course one feels for the teachers who lost their jobs. This year, to bring in a budget that is up approximately 1%, my understanding is that they will have to fire roughly another 45 teachers.

How can this be, you ask? If the budget is 1% higher, than why does anyone need to be fired at all? Short answer: all those built in raises – er, steps – have to be paid for.

I’m suspect another 45 layoffs will start to get painful. The thing is, it can totally be avoided if the union makes some pretty minor concessions (minor, especially, compared to the concessions most of us are making in the private sector right now.

What is the board asking for?

• That teachers pick up 20% of the cost of their health plans instead of 10%, which would then make them consistent with district administrators. Federal employees typically pay 25%, and private sector employees often 50%.
• That teachers accept pay raises of 3.2%, 2.2%, and 2.2% for the next three years. This is a slight moderation from what they would otherwise get.
• That the school be allowed more flexibility with regards to teachers schedules, including the right to ask teachers to work six periods per day (out of nine) instead of just five. Six is closer to the national average.
• Eliminate automatic raises for the first 15 years of a teacher’s career. Tie raises to performance and professional development, like in the real world. The union says they want to be treated like professionals so they should know that real professionals don’t get automatic raises for just showing up every year.

(I may not have these details precisely right, but I believe they are close. Perhaps a board member can correct me if there’s a mistake.)

The bottom line is that Adam Yuro and the other senior union members are willing to throw 45 teachers under the bus so they can get, in Yuro’s case, a roughly $7000 raise. And because of tenure (another insane aspect of our public education), most of the fired teachers will be those hired within the last three years, the ones who are the freshest and most enthusiastic. Still think the union is all about kids?

School budget season as well as board elections are upon us. There will be much to discuss.