WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 10 (DPI) — A majority of readers commenting on the liberal NYTimes.com gave a thumbs-down to the Chicago teachers union, as more than 550 posts appeared by 4pm Monday. Many defended teachers, decried their loss of clout, but generally readers were critical of the strike’s timing and substance, what they knew of it.
Further, the bitter fight that led to the teachers’ strike could force the Obama Administration to intervene and push for arbitration, since allowing a major teachers strike to fester six weeks before election day will only hurt the president’s promising re-election hopes.
But the big story remains the lack of support from citizens commenting on comment boards of the most liberal media. In fact, the NY Times editors selected this comment among its “Picks”: “Average pay of $76000 . Summers off. 16 percent over four years. What am I missing here? (J, NY, 126 Recommendations)
Some comments were supportive of teachers, asserting that they are under-appreciated and underpaid. But with high unemployment and a stubbornly weak economy, support was often not enthusiastic: “Despite the positive spin on this strike by the NY Times, this strike will not win hearts and minds in the court of public opinion. (Heleneclare)
And, based on the comment boards, opposition to public-sector unions appears only to be growing: “Public Service workers should not have the right to strike, period. The Mayor should follow Reagan’s example and “fire” the union and then rehire those teachers who want to work for the benefit of the children of Chicago.” (62 Recommendations)
Readers too felt they weren’t getting the whole story: (Top Recommended Comment) “Yet another article about a crisis without any explanation of the underlying issues. What are the teachers really striking about? What’s going on in Chicago schools? Why did the teachers’ union call Emanuel a liar? What do we have newspapers for if they can’t give us the whole story.”