If they want the cap lifted, let them allow ananymous card checks in their schools, so that working teachers can choose whether or not they want unions.

If they’re unwilling to do that, they’re simply anti-union. I’d rather stand with 80,000 NYC teachers than all by myself. I suspect those who teach at charters feel the same.

And if they don’t, let them vote no.

The problem here, as with most of the country, is that emplyers don’t want them to vote at all.

I’m a tenured full professor and a proud union member. Thirty years ago our faculty voted to organize. The issue wasn’t economic: it was governance, having the degree of control over curricular issues which our professional training demanded. It was a radical step back then. Some of my colleagues thought Unions were for “them”…you know, the blue collar drudges, and not for “us”–the elite of the meritocracy. But we recognized, ultimately, that without collective bargaining we were all drudges, regardless of the colors of our collars.

When the rest of the nation awakes to its vulnerability in a corporate finance dominated global economy, regardless of education, regardless of professional skill, perhaps we’ll see a resurgence of the union movement. Teachers have provided a model. I hope the Union movement devotes some energy to organizing other “professionals” who may think of themselves as managers but who are as managed as any other working stiff.

Think about being moved from your normal job duties and being told your performance is under evaluation upon return from successful surgery. Think about another spot being seen on your first CT scan. Think about being terrified you’re going to lose your job and be without insurance facing the entire $300,000 of testing again.

It happens. Think about it.

Peace!

But another ongoing issue here is the financial management of the school. The missing 401k money is a bad sign.

Everyone is waiting for Spitzer to be elected, then they will make their move on some onerous work rules.

But that’s not what I want to point out. My Aunt, who’s a nurse, was never union before, is getting ready to go out on Strike for the first time in her life. She’s the angel of the family. Although she’s real close to retirement, she’s fighting for working mechanical beds for her patients. It drives her crazy to see them suffer, because the Hosptial at which she works, won’t spend the money where it needs to be spent. Management individually tried to pressure these nurses and they threatened to fire her and she laughed at them, as she’s close to retirement and flat out told them that the money was not why she’d be striking! Meanwhile, the hospital administrator makes $500,000.00 annually! Her union is fighting for not only themselves, but for the patients they serve. They’d be on strike right now, if Hillary hadn’t stepped in and asked Management and the Union to extend negotiations till next Monday. This is going to get ugly, as management has already arranged for contract (SCAB) nurses. But local deliveries won’t take place, because those who know these nurses won’t cross the picket lines. They had a 1 day “informational strike” and nearly all of delivery guys stopped and asked and only when assured, drove in with the goods the Hospital needed. The reason I point this fact out is that sometimes union members benefit more than just themselves.

Then again, we all should thank unions for what USED TO BE a 40 Hour Work Week and the few protections we have now–like child labor laws.