It Is Official, Bloomberg Loses On LIFO As The State Budget Will Not Include Any Changes In Seniority-Based Layoffs For Teachers.

Well, it is now official Mayor4Life Bloomberg's bill to end seniority-based layoffs known as "last in, first out" (LIFO) is now dead as it pertains to the new State budget. Republican John Flanagan of Northport admitted that the new State budget will not include any change to LIFO and was quoted as saying this:

"There was no substantive discussions," said Senate Education Committee Chairman John Flanagan (R-LI). "The governor and the Assembly were not engaged on the LIFO issue."

This puts an end to this phase of Bloomberg's plan to get rid of teachers the DOE does not want and like and save money as a result. The question is what's next? It has been reported in the New York Post that Bloomberg is in discussion with the UFT dealing with the financial crises and I must admit that is a concern considering the union's past history of negotiating behind the back of its' members and are shocked when the City reneges on these agreements at the expense of the teachers affected. However, I do believe Michael Mulgrew is different from Randi Wiengarten and is more loyal in protecting the members than giving in to the City and the DOE.

I need not remind the union that the ATR crises was caused by the DOE who encouraged principals not to hire ATRs and to hire "newbie teachers" instead and then use the ATRs for their own political purposes. Therefore, the only negotiated item should be the requirement that Tweed require principals to fill their vacancies with the ATRs. No ATR time limit, no hiring of outside people when ATRs are available in the subject area. No changes in the contract that would endanger the ATRs.

The union should also take the offensive and run a new commercial showing that Bloomberg has proposed an increase of 10% for the DOE Administrative Budget along with increases in computer and consultant services while proposing 4,666 teacher layoffs and increasing class sizes. This is opposite of what the Governor has stated. Why the union has not done this yet is puzzling? To me this is a no-brainier, Bloomberg wants to increase Administrative bloated and consultant handouts while hurting the New York City Public School students by increasing class size and laying off teachers. Included in this commercial should include the sound bite that shows Bloomberg saying that teaching experience is irrelevant. We need to be more pro-active and not reactive and let the Bloomberg Administration and his Ed Deformer allies dictate the education agenda.

We also need to be vigilant and see what other tricks the Emperor has under his royal sleeve as he looks for more underhanded ways to gut the teachers union. I don't think for a moment that Bloomberg has given up. I am sure he has other devious methods to try before the end of the school year.

P.S. Michael Mulgrew should be given the credit he deserves in his lobbying effort with the Assembly and Governor in making sure LIFO stays the law of the State this year and that is no small accomplishment when unions and their collective bargaining rights are under attack nationwide.