Unionized teachers from the Charter School for Applied Technologies in Tonawanda picketed the local headquarters of New York State United Teachers in a protest of the union’s opposition to increased charter school funding.

The teachers have been unionized since the school was opened eight years ago.

“We are looking for NYSUT to take a more proactive approach to representing us and other charter schools,” said teacher Christine Twarozek.

The Buffalo News reports:

But charter school teachers were amazed to hear the president of NYSUT, Richard Iannuzzi, say the union had sought a freeze in charter school funding during this year’s state budget crisis….

Twarozek said charter school teachers who are members of NYSUT believe that the union has not always had their interests at heart.

“I think because they feel somehow we’re a threat to their funding, we’re not being fully represented to the best NYSUT could do for us,” she said.

I’ve often wondered why teacher union tactics (work-to-rule, informational picketing, rallies, stunts like wearing black or pink or bandaids, et al.) seem to be exclusive to them. How would Dennis Van Roekel like the sight of DC voucher parents chaining themselves to the doors of NEA headquarters?