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.

My comment was sarcastic lol, considering they are almost never fired despite underperforming. (I'd like to be immune to productivity requuirements and leech off society, only ironically)