The rub is collective bargaining. Without it, unions purpose for existing is greatly diminished. With it, well we have seen how that has been overstepped beyond what is sustainable for a budget. The blame really lies with society and the voter for being unaware of runaway politicians, not doing due diligence and demanding transparency. If unions could represent their workers, and the people cutting the checks could say "look we are going to work with you, but this is all we can do that is pratical, they would be able to reach an equilibrium whereby the worker is taken care of and system can function, but this has not happened on any level.
Systems aren't perfect and ripe for abuse. If you let the fox guard the henhouse, trouble is inevitable. People get all worked up in choosing an ideological side, but the reality is that system can only bear so much and if anyone is getting results that are out of bounds... someone else suffers. The argument here is which is the greater evil...giving teachers less or busting the system for everyone paying into it. Unions have done too good of a job at the negotiating table as evidenced by broken industries and local governments. This is one more reality check for those picking up the tab.
The inherent conflict is that up to this point those with demands have had more power and influence than those balancing the budget and cutting the checks and that can not work and it particularly obscene in the public sector. America's demise will be it's inabilty to say no to anyone who whines even with bankruptcy looming.
Unfortunately, unions are coming off as saying...we will give concessions, but want to reserve the right to gouge you later. And unfortunately, the push back is coming off as we can't work with you, so we are done as we are out of money for you. If we ever do get this fixed we are not repeating the mistake. It doesn't help matters that this side pushing back tends to be more alligned with corporate interests in terms of ideology, but the end result would be the same regardless. It's really just an ad hominem emotional appeal and an excuse to be angry with the opposition.
From an ideologcial and self sustaining stand point, it is impossible for either side to fully go in reverse. The bottom line is that if unions are going to be allowed to exist, they need to be regulated and limited in how far their reach is. Rules need to be in place stating what governments can conceed and how business is to be done. Politicians need to be held accountable. The current way of doing things has reached a breaking point and is over. Sorry if that doesn't jive with what you believe, but we are past the point of change being needed and to the point of of it being required. The mantra of the road goes on forever and the party never ends is hard to face, but liberals need to realize you can't make everyone happy all the time and you have to work with what you got. You got what you wanted, now realize it didn't work and can't work.