Kids-first pol stands tall amid UFT's arrows
A NY Post article about NY Assemblyman Jonathan Bing (a great guy!), who sponsored a bill to end last-in-first-out layoffs – and was re-elected in a landslide despite being targeted by the unions:
He stood up to the teachers union. Other legislators could, too -- and, like him, live to tell the tale.
That's the message from state Assemblyman Jonathan Bing (D-Manhattan), who handily won re-election last fall after the United Federation of Teachers tried to end his political career for sponsoring legislation to scrap the "last in, first out" law for school layoffs.
The East Side assemblyman said yesterday he's as determined as ever to overhaul the seniority-based policy and hopes other lawmakers join the cause.
"My overwhelming victory backs my position on the issue," said Bing, chief sponsor of the proposed legislation to overturn LIFO.
"It's racially discriminatory."
…Bing won his primary with 85 percent of the vote against the UFT-backed challenger, high-school teacher Gregg Lundahl. UFT President Michael Mulgrew had told union activists at a conference that Bing was "dead" to the union.
…Still, other legislators are intimidated by the UFT.
"Most of the senators are afraid of the UFT," said state Sen. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx), who is carrying the LIFO reform bill in the upper house and is trying to garner support from his colleagues.
Diaz said it's time to stand up for the kids, not the union.
Kids-first pol stands tall amid UFT's arrows
posted by Whitney Tilson at 7:24 PM
<< Home