Anthony Weiner took one of his strongest shots yet against Mayor Michael Bloomberg Sunday afternoon, criticizing the mayor’s attitude dealing with teachers and the teachers’ union.
“Would any business treat its employees—meaning teachers—as badly as their boss is treating them?” the ex-congressman said following a Memorial Day service in Co-op City in the Bronx.
“It’s frankly just not a productive way to be a boss. I’m not going to do that,” he said. “I honor the teachers and contributions they make.”
The comments came in response to a question from retired city math teacher Ted Wachtel, 64, who said he has been deeply frustrated by the mayor’s attitude toward teachers. He asked Mr. Weiner for his thoughts on the city’s expired labor contracts.
“It’s reprehensible how the union members have been taking the brunt of all the problems in the city,” Mr. Wachtel said.
But instead of bemoaning the situation like many of his rivals, Mr. Weiner said he was excited by the idea.
“The fact is that being this long without a contract is an opportunity for the next mayor. It really is,” he said. “I mean, to be honest with you, I like the idea that if I’m fortunate enough to get elected, I’m going to have a chance to engage in these conversations fresh.”
Mr. Weiner has proposed forcing city employees to pay a percentage of their health care premiums, which as he told Mr. Wachtel, would give him more leeway to boost salaries. Mr. Wachtel said he appreciated the approach.
“He makes some substantial points,” Mr. Wachtel said of the former congressman, who was forced to resign from office two years ago in the wake of a sexting scandal. “People deserve a second chance … America is a forgiving country. And they forgave Clinton. And you have to just bone up and acknowledge when you do something wrong.”
I'm going to leave aside Weiner's proposal here for a moment and focus on Ted Wachtel, the retired teacher who "appreciates" Weiner telling him it's time for city employees to pay for their health care if they want salary increases.
Mr. Wachtel, you do know teachers missed out on the 4%/4% that every other union got as part of the pattern without having to give any concessions on health care?
And yet you're all right with Weiner telling you if teachers want raises, they need to concede on health care?
Sorry, Mr. Wachtel, I and tens of thousands of other working teachers are not all right with that nor do we appreciate Weiner promoting that as one of his campaign platforms.
As for Weiner and his proposal, it's a non-starter with me and every teacher I have spoken to at my school has said it's a non-starter with them.
We have been working five years without a raise, we did not get the 4%/4% that every other city union got as part of the pattern and we will not be appreciate making concessions on health care to the next mayor.
That message needs to get out to both Anthony Weiner and Ted Wachtel, the retired math teacher who "appreciates" Weiner's approach to the next teachers' contract.
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