The Milwaukee Teachers Education Association  (MTEA) has voted  52% to 48% n against offering  to make contributions to teacher pensions that could have saved the jobs of about 200 teachers.   The lay-offs  are the result of a reduction of  $80 million in  state aid and the expiration of a federal stimulus grant.  Mayor Tom Barrett commented that "children would suffer the most from the decision..." (1)  It is only fair to note that  the four-year contract between MTEA and the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS)  provides  for  teacher  payments of up to 2% of salary for health insurance, saving the district up to $25  million per year, but no payments for pensions.

Of the 5,500 teachers in MPS, only  354  will lose their jobs, so the vast majority  (93.6%)  will not be affected by the lay-offs.  Moreover, due to union-negotiated seniority rules,  only non-tenured teachers  (those with less than 3 years experience) will be laid-off. But  pension concessions would have affected all the teachers,  so it was in the self-interest  of the tenured  members of MTEA   to reject  re-opening the contract.  So, it is gratifying to note that even 48% of  the union members were willing to share the sacrifice.

Aside from the teachers who will lose their jobs, the biggest losers in this decision are Milwaukee Public School students, who will  be in larger classes.  Some elective courses will also be eliminated.    If  MTEA  members  had really put the interests of  school children above their  own net-pay,  the union  would have offered  enough concessions to save the jobs of all 354 terminated faculty, not just the 200  that could have been saved by pension concessions alone.   Mayor Barrett, who tried to take over MPS  himself in 2009 is right about this, but where was he before   MTEA  rejected the deal, when  the Mayor might have rallied public pressure  on the union to save these jobs?  

The Board of School Directors could also have  rallied the public to demand the concessions, but did nothing.  Could the fact that every school board candidate endorsed by MTEA in 2011 won have  cooled any inclination the Board  might have to confront the union ? (2)  The City PTA Council and Greater Milwaukee Committee, who owe nothing to MTEA,  could have spoken out for the interests of the kids, too, but also did nothing.

The State could have dealt with the budget deficit by raising taxes, but instead cut  aid to schools.  The MTEA could have dealt with the aid  cut by giving back some hard-won benefits, but chose not to take the hit.   Elected officials and civic leaders could have pressured MTEA, but chose not to do so.    The ultimate losers were the ones with the least power  to affect events:  the  non-tenured teachers and the students.   There  is enough blame, and shame, to go around.

Gerald S Glazer

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 (1) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,  July 28, 2011, pages 1A and 8A.

(2) The endorsed winners were directors  Falk, Holman and Sain.  Board President Bonds was unopposed for re-election, and  MTEA declined to endorse  anyone  in the contest between incumbent Director Jeff Spence and me.