(
)
Gov. Cuomo’s latest offer to help the city spare the best teachers from layoffs is unlikely to get the job done because the union would still have the power to block repeal of the controversial “last in, first out” law, Mayor Bloomberg’s education advisers warned yesterday.
Cuomo insisted yesterday that he’s willing to help negotiate a “short-term” solution to LIFO during budget talks.
“Short term, New York City says they have an immediate problem,” Cuomo said. “Because of fiscal pressures, they’re going to have to lay off teachers, and they want to make sure they lay off teachers [in a way that does] the least damage to the education system. We all understand that.”
But Cuomo added, “That is a short-term issue that deals with an existing agreement that was collectively bargained.
“I look forward to working with the mayor and the Senate and the labor unions involved to see how we can be of assistance both short term and long term.”
But Bloomberg’s education team disputed Cuomo’s claim that LIFO is an issue that has to be negotiated with the United Federation of Teachers.
City Hall and school officials complain that by invoking collecting bargaining, the governor gives the union the power to delay or block action on reforming LIFO.
Department of Education spokeswoman Natalie Ravitz said, “It’s important to note that LIFO was not collectively bargained — it’s an unfair law that was passed in 1940 over the objections of Mayor La Guardia, and the Legislature and governor are the only ones with the power to help our kids and do away with it.”
The DOE then issued an analysis that cited The Post’s recent story detailing the history of the LIFO law, including how it was strengthened in 1976 when 14,000 teachers lost their jobs on the basis of seniority.
At the mayor’s behest, the Republican-led state Senate passed a budget resolution Tuesday that includes a revised proposal to repeal LIFO.
The merit-based plan would scrap seniority and allow the city to get rid of underachieving teachers, regardless of years of service. But the Democratic-run Assembly — with deep ties to the unions — opposes the measure.
Citing expected state budget cuts, Bloomberg said the city may have to lay off as many as 4,600 teachers this year. He said that under LIFO the city’s neediest schools in the poorest neighborhoods would be hit the hardest because they have the highest number of newer teachers.
Additional reporting by David Seifman and Yoav Gonen