"I am not going to make any commitments to the teachers union to do anything until they do something that's other than in their own self- interest. And everything they have done so far is in their self-interests, and that's it"
About this Quote
Christies statement casts the teachers union as a narrow special interest and stakes out a hardline bargaining posture. He makes cooperation conditional on the union demonstrating behavior that he defines as serving a broader public good, not just its members. By asserting that everything the union has done is self-interested, he delegitimizes it as a partner in education policy and positions himself as the guardian of taxpayers and students against entrenched insiders.
The context is New Jerseys post-recession fiscal crisis and long-standing pension and benefit liabilities. As governor, Christie pushed for wage restraint, increased employee contributions to pensions and health care, and a 2 percent property tax cap. He also championed education reforms such as tenure changes, performance-based evaluations, and charter school growth. The New Jersey Education Association resisted many of these moves, arguing they threatened classroom resources and undermined teacher professionalism. Christies rhetoric, often viral and combative, made these conflicts a centerpiece of his brand.
The statement uses a classic political frame: students and taxpayers versus special interests. It implies that the unions goals are inherently misaligned with educational quality, which resonates with voters frustrated by costs and stagnant outcomes. At the same time, it sets a bar that is hard for any bargaining unit to clear, because representing members is the unions legal purpose. Demanding that it act beyond self-interest can be read as demanding unilateral concessions, not negotiation.
Strategically, this posture galvanized supporters who saw public-sector unions as obstacles to reform, dovetailing with a broader Republican critique exemplified by Scott Walkers fight in Wisconsin. It also alienated teachers and many Democrats, intensifying polarization. Despite the rhetoric, New Jersey did enact notable changes, including the 2011 benefits overhaul and the 2012 tenure reform law. The cost was a lasting deterioration in labor relations and a public debate often reduced to binaries, where collaboration on shared goals like student learning and fiscal sustainability became harder to achieve.
The context is New Jerseys post-recession fiscal crisis and long-standing pension and benefit liabilities. As governor, Christie pushed for wage restraint, increased employee contributions to pensions and health care, and a 2 percent property tax cap. He also championed education reforms such as tenure changes, performance-based evaluations, and charter school growth. The New Jersey Education Association resisted many of these moves, arguing they threatened classroom resources and undermined teacher professionalism. Christies rhetoric, often viral and combative, made these conflicts a centerpiece of his brand.
The statement uses a classic political frame: students and taxpayers versus special interests. It implies that the unions goals are inherently misaligned with educational quality, which resonates with voters frustrated by costs and stagnant outcomes. At the same time, it sets a bar that is hard for any bargaining unit to clear, because representing members is the unions legal purpose. Demanding that it act beyond self-interest can be read as demanding unilateral concessions, not negotiation.
Strategically, this posture galvanized supporters who saw public-sector unions as obstacles to reform, dovetailing with a broader Republican critique exemplified by Scott Walkers fight in Wisconsin. It also alienated teachers and many Democrats, intensifying polarization. Despite the rhetoric, New Jersey did enact notable changes, including the 2011 benefits overhaul and the 2012 tenure reform law. The cost was a lasting deterioration in labor relations and a public debate often reduced to binaries, where collaboration on shared goals like student learning and fiscal sustainability became harder to achieve.
Quote Details
| Topic | Teaching |
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