Fired Teachers Union Leaders: Too Progressive, Or Not Effective?

As I pointed out last night on my Chicago schools blog, there's just one problem with Mike Antonucci's interpretation of the departure of 22 year Minneapolis teachers union president Louise Sundlin and other teacher union heads: they're not all defeated becuase they're "progressive."

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Antonucci (EIA Communique) says that Sundlin and others get dumped for being reformers: "Recent history is replete with union presidents turned out of office because the members perceived they were "too cozy" with management."

But Antonucci's Chicago example, Debbie Lynch, doesn't really fit that description. Sure, she tried some progressive things, but she also suffered from a political tin ear and failed to deliver on some key wage and benefits issues. Her effectiveness, not her progressiveness, was the main issue.