The NY state teachers union is making a big push to unionize charter school teachers – while simultaneously trying to kill charter schools. Talk about a conflict of interest and speaking out of both sides of your mouth! Great quotes from Sam Hoyt and Peter Murphy:

Amid fierce controversy, New York State United Teachers slowly is making headway in unionizing charter school teachers.

The outcome will depend in considerable measure on NYSUT's ability to convince charter school teachers that it can stand up for their interests while representing teachers in practically all of the state's roughly 700 traditional public school districts.

More broadly, the unionization effort will go a long way toward defining wages and job protection for charter school teachers, and ultimately determining just how charter schools will differ from traditional public schools.

Statewide, 21 of about 140 charter schools have unionized.

…Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, a Buffalo Democrat, said NYSUT faces the dilemma of representing a growing number of charter school teachers after backing actions or proposals on funding, licensing and growth that were harmful to charter schools.

"They're in an awkward position," he said. "Do they throw a growing number of their members under the bus, or do they morph into a position that's more tolerant and more moderate, and be willing to work with charter schools?"

…Murphy, of the State Charter Schools Association, said NYSUT's high-powered organizing effort is illustrated by a Public Employment Relations Board ruling it obtained directing that Niagara Charter School allow NYSUT to represent its teachers. That order was based on a state law mandating union representation at charter schools with initial student enrollments of more than 250 students.

"You have a union that's forcing itself on a faculty that doesn't want it or need it," Murphy charged.

He said he objects to NYSUT's organizing efforts because "they're peddling pure fiction" to teachers. But he insists he's not opposed to unionization in general.

"That is purely up to the teachers," Murphy said. "It's a right of teachers to decide to do it or not to do it. It's been a very gradual process. Where it ends up is anybody's guess."

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