[nfd]

I have fair understanding of a teachers' union. I think I can say that the NY situation is pretty degenerate relative to most places/unions. My cursory understanding is that if NYSED made an effort to actually push through their arbitration backlog at various points in the past, that situation would be much less ridiculous.

Around plenty of municipalities, teachers' unions are just trying to get teachers slightly closer to living wages, and trying to best advocate for their students. That's the impression I've gotten from being vaguely around during a lot of bargaining meetings.