MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - Governor Scott Walker accused several teachers’ unions Wednesday of putting politics ahead of students and jobs.

That was after that state Assembly approved a bill early Wednesday morning to give the Milwaukee Public Schools and their teachers’ union more time to negotiate possible concessions in salaries and benefits.

The Journal Sentinel quoted from a letter sent by teachers’ union leaders in Madison, Racine, Kenosha, and Green Bay. They said the bill would, “enable Governor Walker to claim victory of his policy to rein in public employee wages and benefits.” And the letter said that allowing Walker to make such a claim just before his recall election would, “prove detrimental to recalling him, and therefore will only enhance his ability to further harm all Wisconsin public employees.”

Walker issued a public response Wednesday morning. He said, “Democrats and their allies are more interested in putting their political interests before saving teachers’ jobs, saving school districts money, protecting taxpayers, and promoting private sector investment and job growth.”