During the fall of 2012, public school teachers in Chicago went out on strike over, among other things, salary and pay systems, performance reviews based on standardized test scores, and job protection for laid off teachers. Some people argued that the strike was evidence that the teachers' union was too powerful. Where does the teachers' bargaining power stem from? What factors place a "check" on teachers' bargaining power?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Teachers' bargaining power stems, in large part, from the fact that they provide an essential service that is not easily "outsourced" to the private sector. Most parents do not have the option of moving their kids to another location in search of either better or lower cost education. This constrains the city to provide education where the children are and limits their options for seeking lower cost education providers. The teachers also have a great deal of bargaining power that comes from their large numbers and solidarity. The union is able to exert a great deal of political pressure on the city to achieve their demands. The union may also be able to garner support from parents who want their children to have the best education possible.
The teachers' bargaining power is limited by the fact that there are private sector forces that threaten the public school model. In addition, governments do not have unlimited resources and there are, therefore, fiscal constraints that limit what teachers are able to attain in salary, benefits, and staffing levels. While some members of the public may value education, taxpayers have other financial constraints that limit how much they are willing to pay in taxes for better education.