The June 4 editorial “Unions held Massachusetts schools hostage. Now the bill has come due.,” suggested that collective bargaining agreements are to blame for budget challenges facing Massachusetts school districts.
Before the Boston Teachers Union’s current contract was enacted, many paraprofessionals earned wages so low that some struggled with homelessness. Correcting that injustice was necessary and long overdue. The staffing and pay improvements won in towns like Boston, Marblehead and Brookline through educator action have similarly corrected grave inequities in our profession and provided greater resources for local students.
The possible need for layoffs is not because Massachusetts districts chose to raise educators’ salaries. No one should accept the false choice between fair compensation and fully staffed schools. It’s because Washington has not reined in skyrocketing health care costs, leaving cities like Boston to absorb massive annual price increases that are crowding out investments in schools and public services. The implication that budget challenges are primarily the result of educators being compensated at levels that still trail other professions ignores that fiscal reality.
The real conversation should be about why cities are being forced to shoulder exploding health care costs while insurance companies post massive profits and working people are told to accept cuts.
Erik Berg, Boston
The writer is president of the Boston Teachers Union.