Several hundred Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) members and supporters rallied Wednesday afternoon on outside City Hall, protesting the state Education Department’s takeover of a handful of Buffalo Public Schools through receivership.

Last week state education commissioner MaryEllen Elia granted Buffalo superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash unprecedented control over five Buffalo schools, allowing Cash to circumvent contractual obligations to teachers. In a statement about receivership, Elia reasoned that the “law gives the superintendent enhanced authority in order to maintain local control while facilitating rapid improvement in student outcomes. This receivership collective bargaining agreement will, among other things, enable Dr. Cash to more effectively utilize and deploy effective teachers and make changes to programs and teaching assignments—all of which will ensure that students in these struggling schools are provided with increased educational opportunities.”

In other words, the BTF contract has been at least momentarily rendered limp at a time when both sides have spoken publicly about renewing negotiations on a contract that expired in 2003.

BTF president Phil Rumore, addressing the crowd, characterized receivership as a “War funded by billionaires. This is a war based on people that want to undo unions.”

Rumore said that receivership in Buffalo schools is becoming a national issue. “Everyone says this a bad for New York State, [but] this is a national assault on unions. If our New York State Legislature can empower the commissioner of education to nullify contracts, where does it stop?”

Many in the crowd held placards calling for a new contract while the BTF readies what could be a lengthy legal objection, which could easily draw national attention to Buffalo as a flashpoint for labor issues in public education, much like the Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Association case before the Supreme Court.

The strong show of support from the BTF members, who crossed the street from Niagara Square to the steps of City Hall after the rally to continue demonstrating ahead of Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting, was about more than contractual issues.

Brenda James, a kindergarten teacher in Buffalo, pointed out that teachers haven’t had a contract in 12 years. For her the rally was about supporting education broadly. “Supporitng teachers, supporting students. Is it really about the contract? No. It’s about the children and what the children need and how we need to be able to support the children in every way we can. Arguing and bickering needs to stop from the top down.”

Overheard was a conversation between several teachers about a colleague at West Hertel Academy, one of the receivership schools, who were required to stay after school for meetings and duties until 7pm. Teachers expressed shock at how swiftly Cash has been able to nullify their contract. “I don’t understand that,” said one teacher, unwilling to go on record. “Our society is based on laws.”