Last week, Enfield teachers were notified as to whether they would be laid off or recalled. It is anticipated that 26 teachers will be laid off under the current budget. Undoubtedly, the current budget was a difficult budget, but it reflects the tough choices that families in town are making to survive.

I have hard from friends of mine who are Enfield teachers. They know full well that the only way to save jobs at this point is to offer concessions (contractual give-backs). Unfortunately, the so-called “leaders” of the Enfield Teachers’ Association win will not even allow their membership to vote on any kind of concessions. The teachers facing layoffs have been abandoned by their union, which has sold them down the river for the sake of increased pay and benefits. That the ETA would so obstinately persist in this position is offensive to basic notions of justice and common sense. Untenured and new teachers pay the same dues that all the other teachers are being deprived of for honest representation by their union.

There is one “Hail Mary Pass” left in the rules, that teachers could use to save their jobs. I have been told that in the union’s by-laws, that if 10% of their membership signs a petition, they can force their union to have the entire membership vote on concessions.

Is the union hierarchy an entity unto itself or do they represent the teachers of Enfield? Right now, they appear poised to accept scores of layoffs. Of course the teachers most hurt by this policy are the newest hires, among whom young teachers predominate. Many of them are friends and former classmates of mine. It makes me sick to my stomach to think that their union bosses could be so blinded by greed that they won’t let union members vote on a concession to save jobs. Where is the loyalty? Where is the spirit of union brotherhood?

If I were among the 80+ teachers who had their names read off at the March 23 B.O.E. meeting, I would certainly try to get my fellow colleagues to sign a petition to help save jobs. This would be good for teachers, for kids, and for the community. It would behoove the teachers and the union to see the merits of give-backs to help preserve the jobs. A step freeze, a percentage freeze and some furlough days for next year would go a long way in holding down class-sizes.. Plus, many teachers would keep their jobs. Teachers, read the by-laws in your contract to do what is good for all.

Private businesses have already implemented massive lay-offs and pay-cuts. As a concerned citizen— one whose views are shared by many— I am asking the teachers to help. Massive layoffs will help no one.

For more info on the Enfield Teachers’ Association’s refusal to offer concessions, see these earlier posts:
http://carpetcity.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/greed-sacrifice/
http://carpetcity.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/eta-concession-rejection-greed/

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