It's good to see the head of the NYC City Council come out against LIFO:

As for how to conduct teacher layoffs, should they be necessary, Quinn said that selecting instructors for dismissal solely through seniority, rather than on teacher effectiveness, is plainly nuts. Bloomberg had pleaded with Albany to end the so-called last in, first out system, but Albany told him to take a hike.

"Having a system that is based exclusively on seniority does not make any sense," Quinn said.

She also backed the concept of letting go teachers who are paid to do nothing because they were excessed from positions and have been unable to find new jobs in the school system.

Quinn said they should be removed from the payroll after they have had a fair chance to look for work - perhaps after a year, certainly after two.

Finally, Quinn said New Yorkers are going to get hammered unless municipal labor leaders are willing to make sacrifices.

"The unions are going to have to come to the table," she declared, and she was dead-on right.

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City Council Speaker Christine Quinn understands hard budget choices she, Mayor Bloomberg must make

Editorials

Friday, June 10th 2011, 4:00 AM

www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2011/06/10/2011-06-10_quinn_gets_real.html#ixzz1OvO7ZiCU