Exploitation and Extortion… NTU’s Favorite Tools

I have been quiet as of late, due to the collapsed lung and other issues, but I think I can make up for my absence. I think I want to open up my favorite can of worms, the Nashua Teachers Union contract negotiations. We are called cruel, heartless, and frequently have our intelligence questioned if we disagree with the teachers union here in Nashua. So let me once again put my neck on the line, and call it like I see it: The Extortion artist are at it again.

Last year, a great number of teachers found religion and observed "Good Friday." Amazingly, there are quite a few teachers who no longer observer "Good Friday". School was right on time, and all the "religious" teachers of last year seem to care very little for their "Christianity" this year. I find this rather insulting as I am a Christian (practicing…. Meaning I haven't quite gotten it right yet) who would never use my religion as a bargaining chip for personal gain. Actually, I would never use another person's religion for my gain either. I find it appalling that the teachers are able to work this year on "Good Friday." But then again, why would they have to exploit "Good Friday this year? Instead, the union has stated they are going to strike as of March 31, 2008. At least this time they had the stones to call it a strike.

I think we should let them strike, but make sure we get the right message out first. If the correct spin is put on this issue, the teachers union will look like the aggressor and the city of Nashua will not look like such monsters. The Nashua Left-o-Graph, better known as the Nashua Telegraph, has been printing only pro-NTU stories. The Citizens here believe the teachers are getting screwed, and this is the only way to fight back. The problem is the reporting is not balanced. The telegraph has refused to talk about the issues I have raised of the year (Please look at my "No merit for teachers" posts from 2007._

Part of this posting will be an email to the mayor of Nashua, Donnalee Lozeau. The next paragraph is the beginning of the letter. This letter will be sent to Patty Rogers in the Mayors office and to Donnalee herself:

 

03-12-08

RE: Nashua Teachers Union and contract negotiations

 

Mayor Donnalee Lozeau,

First, I do not want the City of Nashua to continue to look like "the bad guy" in this melodrama. Second, The Nashua Teachers Union (from here to be listed as NTU) has gone too far. Third, the Telegraph has been reporting from the pocket of the NTU. With that said, I would like to suggest that you release a statement that puts the blame where it belongs, and also clears the City of the liable suggested within the pages of the Telegraph.

If I may be so bold, I have an idea for how to phrase such a statement. Of course you need not use my idea in any form, but my hope is that you will find valor in my suggestion. I do not feel that the city of Nashua should continue to bear all the blame for the actions (or inaction, if you will) of the NTU. I believe that the NTU believes they can simply push the local government around by spreading propaganda and smearing the local municipal offices. Public opinion is very important, and the NTU is using this to their advantage. Therefore I suggest you take the next step by placing the responsibility where it belongs; back in the lap of the NTU.

My suggestion of such a statement is as follows:

"The city of Nashua is taking every step necessary to ensure the educational process of the Nashua students is not disrupted. We have been, and continue to look for options that would be mutually agreeable to the Nashua Teachers Union and the City of Nashua. We understand that the Nashua Teachers Union has threatened to disrupt the education of the students that the teachers are responsible for. It is unfortunate that the Nashua Teachers Union has used the children of Nashua to force action on the teacher's contract, yet we can not make hasty decisions that could be detrimental to the economics of Nashua. Therefore we will work diligently on a suitable contract for the teachers, but we will not rush to any decision simply because the teachers union has threatened to disrupt our children's school year. The city can not guarantee that the teacher union will be appease before the March 31 deadline, though a valiant effort will be made to ensure the lightest impact on the children of Nashua. We are currently looking to…."

and continue from there. As I am not sure what avenues you have open, I can not continue. But the idea is to place the blame where it belongs. The teachers union is trying to force your hand by using public opinion. Therefore, the best alternative is to find a way to take the "soapbox" out from under them. Let the city know it is the NTU who is threatening the students, not the City of Nashua. Paint the city as an open and flexible unit that is working to find common ground. Allow the teachers union to appear as the impassive, unrelenting, bullheaded aggressor.

If you need to contact me, please feel free to email me at this address or call me at XXX-XXXX

Mychel Elderd

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Nashua, NH XXXXX