NYC teachers, police unions in all-out war
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Michael Mulgrew, the head of the teachers union, made the call to march against the police, which PBA head Pat Lynch (right) called a 'disgrace.'Photo: David McGlynn, Spencer Burnett
In an open letter to The Post, the spitting-mad boss of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association ripped his teachers-union counterpart Saturday for the “disgraceful” decision to co-sponsor the Rev. Al Sharpton’s anti-police rally next week.
PBA President Pat Lynch fired both barrels at United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew, saying, “It is absolutely ridiculous that [Mulgrew] . . . would waste his members’ dues to get involved with a march that has nothing to do with teachers or his union.
“Mulgrew knows that the UFT is under siege from all sides, and this is purely an attempt to distract attention from that mounting criticism,” Lynch wrote, referring to the union’s chronic battles over teacher tenure and charter schools as well as the “substandard” contract Mulgrew recently negotiated for his membership.
“How would he like it if police officers lined up with the activists who oppose his efforts to shield bad teachers and undermine effective charter schools?” Lynch fumed.
In a series of personal jabs, Lynch suggested Mulgrew was more concerned with “continuing to curry favor with politicians and Al Sharpton” than in helping his 200,000 union members or the city’s 1.1 million schoolchildren.
Labor insiders were shocked by the escalating battle between the two political heavyweights who head two of the city’s most powerful unions.
“It’s just not right,” said Bill Pelletier, former VP for the Transit Workers Union. “For NYC teachers, police unions in all-out war | New York Post: