TEACHERS UNION SH!TS ON MAYOR BLOOMBERG!

Mayor Bloomberg's icy relations with the teachers union just hit sub-zero.
The union yesterday announced plans to spend more than $1 million to air a new commercial - called "Blizzard" - that blasts the mayor for cutting teachers instead of supporting the millionaire's tax.

"Mayor Bloomberg sees things differently than the rest of us," a gravelly voice intones as the screen shows an image of a toy snow globe - an apparent reference to Bloomberg's unpopular performance during the December snowstorm. "Our schools are short of money, yet he refuses to ask millionaires to pay their fair share."

The union, which has been without a contract for more than a year, is warring with City Hall as the mayor pushes to end seniority protections in state law.

Instead of laying off the least experienced teachers in a speciality first, Bloomberg wants to cut teachers who receive unsatisfactory ratings or who are part of the Absent Teacher Reserve Pool because they lack a permanent placement in schools.

Mayoral spokeswoman Jessica Scaperotti insisted the mayor is defending city schools by making sure the city gets "its fair share of funding from Albany" and keep "the best teachers in our classrooms.

"The UFT has said the state budget cuts are no problem and that seniority is the only thing that matters," she said. "So while the UFT fights for its self-interest, the mayor will continue to fight for our children's future."

For the next 10 days, the 30-second ad will run on local and cable television during popular shows including "The Daily Show," "Iron Chef" and "Saturday Night Live," officials said.

Just before the ad concludes, snow flies furiously through the toy globe next to Bloomberg's image.

"This is about protecting our kids' future, Mayor Bloomberg, and that's a lot bigger than any snow storm. We can save our schools, but first we all have to support them," the voice says.


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