Pennsylvania: Teacher Union Tactics Worsen Popular Discontent
According to The Daily and Sunday Review:
Those who provide collective bargaining advice to public school teachers in Pennsylvania will win few friends among the increasingly disaffected populace by shamelessly bragging about union tactics that result in high salaries and benefits, in Bradford and Sullivan counties, as well as elsewhere.
Today's dedicated public school teachers have a difficult job. Right-thinking people understand the necessity of having effective schools and the importance of a well-compensated staff in achieving that goal. But, at a time when student academic performance has been eroded while property owners and taxpayers in general are increasingly hard hit with taxes, one might conclude that success at the bargaining table would be enough for the teachers' union.
But, in the case of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, lording it over the people who will have to vote on school board members and school district projects - not to mention pay the bills - can only be interpreted as arrogance that runs the risk of offending even the sympathetic among the general population.
Listen to James P. Testerman, a teacher, union member and president of PSEA: "Collective action, often equated with strong unionism, has never been more important or critical to our success. The simple truth is, the more we collectively act to bargain better salaries, to protect employee benefits, to protect retiree pensions, to promote safe and healthy schools, and to assist each child to reach his or her full potential, the stronger our education system and our democracy will be."...click to continue.
