Excesses Of Union Power

To the Editor

This is not a diatribe against constructive and responsible unionism. However, I will cite examples why some changes are needed desperately for teacher unions to protect the public at large.

In Bay City, Mich., a teacher’s contract calls for the following causes for dismissal: for appearing drunk in class five times, for using drugs three times, for dealing drugs to students a reprimand, firing at the second conviction. Do we have to wait until a teacher is convicted for dealing drugs to our children?

Do you think this is a joke, think twice. Do we have to experience this or other ludicrous demands before we take action? We, the public, have had it with outrageous demands at the bargaining table because of political clout or the vital nature of the service. Unless relief is forthcoming, the end will be privatization. I might add that parochial schools and charter schools have beat the public schools by a mile and at much lesser cost. The reason: proper motivation and full control of the teaching staff and students.

Under our present system the laggard, the misfit, the incompetent are all protected by the same umbrella of tenure and contract as good teachers, and all reap the same rewards. So much for incentive.

In Camden, N.J., the city voted to abolish the police department and replace it with a private security agency. Nobody, including labor unions and governments owing their allegiance to unions, can defy forever the laws of economics or the end result will be flight of capital and finally bankruptcy.

In liberal California, yes my friends California, the cities of San Jose and San Diego held a referendum to reduce pension benefits of its employees. The referendum won by margins of 60 and 75 percent. I believe the time has come for this town to hold a referendum at the next opportunity on teachers’ benefits and place health benefits, automatic pay increases, reasons for firing, and extra pay for overtime on the ballot. Pension benefits to teachers are paid by the state, the reason for the most recent volley of state tax increases. The pension obligations to teachers are not in millions, but in billions for the state.

Talk about a mess! No wonder the taxes keep increasing. Let’s have our referendum!

Oscar Berendsohn

34 Appleblossom Lane, Newtown                            October 12, 2012