Unions Push Ballot Initiatives Against Reform In Three States

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Breitbart:

BOISE, Idaho – Millions of voters will go to the polls this year to choose between a more performance-based, accountable approach to public education, and the failed system supported by Big Labor.

In Michigan, North Dakota and Idaho, state teachers unions are working to convince voters to overturn long-overdue collective bargaining limits, school spending reforms, teacher and school accountability measures and other changes that have been good for students but bad for unions.

In Idaho, state officials eliminated early retirement bonuses and phased out teacher tenure, among other sweeping changes. Lawmakers in North Dakota want to give bonuses to top-performing teachers and eliminate continuing teacher contracts - a form of tenure.

The Michigan legislature granted emergency financial managers authority to restructure school finances and trash expensive union contracts in districts with chronic budget problems.

In each state, teachers unions are dialing up the propaganda as members push petitions to put these changes up for public votes. It’s Big Labor’s last-grasp attempt to regain control over public education by restoring the union-first mentality that has produced mediocre academic results and a steady flow of tax dollars into union coffers for decades.

Will union bosses be able to convince taxpayers to turn back the clock, or will the public stand by elected leaders who are making the difficult, necessary reforms that will improve education for our nation’s students?

It’s all on the line in Idaho

Union officials in Idaho collected over 74,000 signatures for each of three referendums that would reverse important education reform bills adopted in 2011.