Wisconsin Aftershocks Hit MA Unions
The state’s largest teachers union has struck a deal in which it would give up significant seniority rights for members in exchange for a commitment from an education reform group to withdraw a far more sweeping ballot initiative proposal.
Paul Toner, the president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, confirmed today his group has been meeting with Beacon Hill legislative leaders to brief them on the deal and present them with a draft bill that would curb the influence of seniority in the placement and firing of teachers.
The MTA’s move comes after weeks of negotiations with a group called Stand for Children/ Massachusetts, which is collecting voter signatures in effort to get its reform plan on the November ballot.
“All along we have been trying to avoid a divisive ballot initiative,’’ said Toner. “We don’t think broad complex issues that are included in the initiative should be decided by a yes or no vote at the ballot box. A long, complicated ballot question is not something a voter should have to digest in a matter of moments in the voting booth.’’
On behalf of easily-befuddled voters across the Commonwealth, let me be the first to thank Mr. Toner and the MTA for looking out for us.
Then again... coming as it does a mere two days after the good voters of fellow Blue States Wisconsin and California dealt public employee union bosses their biggest polling place set-backs in recent memory, it is at least possible that this move by the MTA is motivated by something other than Mr. Toner's stated concern.
Maybe - just maybe - the MTA isn't worried so much about the possibility that we silly voters won't understand the pending education reform ballot initiative, as they are terrified of the possibility that we will understand perfectly well.
Check out Stand With Children's website for yourself. Pretty straightforward stuff, it seems to me. I'll bet it seems that way to the MTA too; which is precisely why the union bosses are so anxious to cut a negotiated deal and avoid the kind of voter judgement of their positions and their agenda that the unions in California and Wisconsin suffered this week.
Addendum: Whenever touching upon the caustic effect of teachers unions on education in this country, I feel remiss if I do not again recommend Waiting for Superman. If you care enough about education to have read this post, then it is a must-see.
Bill, thanks for your reply. I actually had other links to other organizations in my previous comment, but the comment was edited (or accidentally truncated). No matter. I simply invite everyone to carefully investigate the many non-profit, social "welfare" groups that, on the right-wing side, are often corporate-funded and exist to propagandize secretly for corporate interests (which means profits).
Dianna Vosburg | 2012-06-22 09:55:24
Come on Dianna. Is that all you've got? PURE and Pure Parents are nothing but apologists for the teachers union and the continuation of a disgraceful status quo. Legislatures and citizens have finally figured out what stands between us and the quality education our kids deserve. Even the teachers in Wisconsin, who've abandoned their own union in droves, know that it's union work rules, union seniority and union protection of the very worst teachers out there that render unions and their "leadership" practically irrelevant. Now we just need to get the law changed here. Unions were and could be important organizations. But they've lost their way. Those who front for them only perpetuate failure. Bring on the ballot question!
Bill Dowd | 2012-06-18 16:23:44
The group, "Stand With Children," (you meant Stand For Children) is not as straightforward as one might hope. Yet again, when conservatives appeal to expertise, to nice sounding groups like "Americans for Prosperity," you must take a closer look. The grassroots turn into astroturf fairly quickly: http://pureparents.org/?tag=stand-for-children
Dianna Vosburg | 2012-06-15 16:58:44