Charter School Organized by Mass AFT

From our own Jim Snow in the Boston Globe:

Right to Organize Not on the Table
THANK YOU for your front-page story on the unionization of charter school teachers. The back and forth between the union and a phalanx of experts and advocates for charter schools was interesting, but the premise that the rights of workers - teachers in this case - to organize should be balanced against the latest fad in public policy is unacceptable. State law and international law, as well as the overwhelming body of human rights law and thought, establish the right to organize for mutual aid and protection.

Simply put, the failure of public educators to improve our public schools is not a reason to compromise this right.

Fresh Air at Regency Towers

Thanks to information provided by the Lang Administration, and to a forceful push by unions, the SE Massachusetts Labor Council, and allies in the political world, the sale of Regency Towers in downtown New Bedford has gone to a developer who is new to New Bedford, and who promises to have a positive impact on the community.

MassHousing, the state's housing development agency, has long struggled with the building. Poor maintenance and handling of the business end of the building have cost the agency milions. The agency finally threw in the towel, and after foreclosing on the previous owner, decided to sell. The bidding was high stakes for the city, organized labor, and the effort to revitalize the area.

The winning bidder was Trinity Financial which has promised two important things. First, the project will be re-built with union workers. Second, 25% of the residential units will be affordable. Although the building will be converted into condominiums, current tenants will be allowed to stay as renters.

Although he did not endorse a particular bidder, Congressman Barney Frank was a strong supporter of decent wages and working conditions on the project. Similarly, the Patrick Administration stood with us to promote community standard wages and benefits on the project. CLC President Cynthia Rodrigues and the SE Massachusetts Building Trades also pushed hard to obtain a progressive outcome.