The Cost of Monopoly Bargaining

It’s time to call a halt to teacher union power over the education process and eliminate the root of compulsory unionism:  monopoly bargaining.  A bigger mess brought on by monopoly bargaining has never been seen. Things are likely to get worse if teacher unions lose their ability to force teachers to pay dues. Their forced-dues money chests will dwindle and they will be unable to pay politicians to do their bidding. David Cantor has the continuing story of the so-called Absent Teacher Reserve, or Dance of the Lemons, or The Rubber Rooms of New York City.

A problem that has vexed New York City for years emerged again this week with news that educators who lost their positions but remain on payroll will receive average salary increases of more than 19 percent next week, bringing the cost of paying them this year to $136 million.

The Citizens Budget Commission, a watchdog group that published a report on ATR spending this week, hopes its tally of rising costs will add pressure to the city as it turns to negotiate a new teachers contract in the fall. The group’s report urges Mayor Bill de Blasio to find a cheaper solution to a challenge facing school districts across the country: how to ensure that principals aren’t forced to accept teachers simply because they have more experience.