NYC sues teachers' union over arbitration issue
NYC sues union over arbitration process for teacher misconduct cases
NEW YORK (AP) -- New York City says it's suing the United Federation of Teachers for violating an agreement over arbitrators hearing cases on teacher misconduct.
Speaking on his weekly radio show Friday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said without the arbitrators the cases can't be heard.
The lawsuit was filed by the Department of Education on Friday. It charges the UFT is dragging its feet on approving arbitrators to hear cases against teachers charged with misconduct or incompetence.
UFT President Michael Mulgrew says Bloomberg is wasting public resources on a "frivolous lawsuit."
Bloomberg says the backlog of cases is growing.
He says it prevents teachers who should be cleared of charges from having a fair hearing. And, he says, it allows teachers who shouldn't be in the classroom to continue to collect a paycheck.
