Unfair union bashing

Re “A teacher-union gap,” editorial, Feb. 11

You base your editorial on a forum at Cleveland High School attended by 16 members. You fail to mention that once a month, at the West Valley-area meeting, that same hall is filled to capacity with United Teachers Los Angeles members elected at their school site to represent them. The same meetings occur monthly in all areas of the city. Every month, meetings are held at union headquarters, where a room is filled to capacity with representatives elected by the members in each area of the city. Every time there has been a meeting to ratify the contract between the Los Angeles Unified School District and UTLA, a hall must be rented to house the hundreds of teachers who attend.

I have worked with unions the greater part of my work life. UTLA’s participation rate far exceeds most unions as well as the general population in most elections.

I am proud to have been president of UTLA from 1980 to 1984. The Times should remember that the new teacher of today is the more senior teacher next year -- and that it is the union’s duty to fight for wages, rights and working conditions.

Judy Solkovits

Northridge

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Finding solutions to ailing schools is never an easy task, but pitting two unions against each other is not the answer. The various things we’ve done in New York are the result of commitments made on both sides of the negotiating table, with the overriding goal being what’s in the best interest of our children. Our work with charter schools grew out of a belief that a more professional and respectful workplace -- where educators have a real voice -- is a prerequisite for student success.

Although we run two charter schools, we profoundly disagree with siphoning public money to private charter operators. Although we initially supported mayoral control, we oppose the lack of transparency and checks and balances. Although no one can yet assess whether mayoral control works, what is clear is that Mayor Michael Bloomberg did take responsibility. Despite many protracted battles, this has resulted in stable funding for our schools and a 43% increase in teacher salaries.

Even with all of our disagreements, there has always been an effort to find common ground. That’s an important lesson that policymakers, before bashing the union, should heed in Los Angeles.

Randi Weingarten

President

United Federation of Teachers, New York