Letter: The trouble with Triborough
This will be the second time in in less than four years that the parent company of Reader's Digest has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Credit: Newsday, 2003 / Jim Peppler
This is in response to the letter "Controversial law protects workers" [April 23]. The letter defended the Triborough Amendment, noting that it gives public employees protection in the absence of the right to strike. All of the provisions of a labor contract remain in full force until a new contract is agreed to. What it didn't mention is the huge problem school districts face because of this amendment.
In virtually every New York school district, contracts with teachers have provided "step" increases. These guarantee that almost all teachers receive annual salary increases for the first 20 or 25 years of employment.
Since salaries and benefits are the largest part of every school district's budget, these annual increases, even if the contract has expired, constitute a powerful engine. Year after year, the step increases force total school spending ever upward.
James E. Stubenrauch, Massapequa
