Rift between union leaders and policymakers grows

Over the Fourth of July weekend, the nation’s largest teachers union called for the resignation of Education Secretary Arne Duncan—the “latest sign of growing tension between labor leaders and education policymakers in the Obama administration.” The Wall Street Journal,

“…The union, which boasts nearly three million members, has been sparring with federal education officials over testing mandates, charter school policies and accountability efforts in recent years. The move highlights developing nuances to the traditional alliance between teachers unions and Democratic policymakers.

“Another split between teachers unions and Mr. Duncan came last month when the education secretary called a California court ruling that weakened teacher tenure a mandate for necessary change. His statement was seen as an affront by some in organized labor, which plans to appeal the ruling.”