Letter: Open up teacher union negotiations

As teachers' contracts begin to expire, the unions have all the leverage under the current provisions of the Taylor Law's Triborough Amendment. This provision gives public employee union members, with the exception of the most senior and highly paid, automatic salary increases even after the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement. As a result, teachers unions can simply hold out indefinitely, because they still get step (longevity) increases, plus level increases (raises for taking courses for extra credit), with no contract in force.

Now that residents have the protection of a property tax cap, it is important that school tax revenue be properly utilized. Limited funds must be carefully spent and "business as usual" can no longer stand if the tax cap is to succeed. Current law regarding teacher contract negotiations must be altered to help school boards stay within the cap.

Taxpayers have a right to know exactly what is being offered and demanded in contract negotiations. Residents have an interest in maintaining the quality of education and should be able to voice their opinions on negotiations to ensure that children are properly educated and money is well spent. Therefore, negotiations should be public, and residents should be apprised of agreements and disagreements between the parties at set intervals.

In addition, when and if an agreement is reached, the terms of the agreement should be made public prior to final ratification, so residents can weigh in.

Andrea Vecchio, East Islip

Editor's note: The writer is an activist with the East Islip TaxPAC and Long Islanders for Educational Reform.