are the unions really helping now? The unions are forcing the government to make unrealistic promises. The government is kicking the can down the road and the taxpayers aren’t willing to pay more in taxes now to either fully fund the pensions or pay the teachers more to make the profession more attractive without the promise of pensions later.

Everyone is complicit - the union, the politicians, and the taxpayers. If the unions were honest and told the teachers that the pensions they bargained for were illusory, the teachers would demand more pay now.