this is going to be a simple dairy of show and tell of how mayor 1%, rahm emanuel is attempting to destroy 45 years of collective bargaining gains made by the Chicago Teachers Union. A flyer from 1967 outlines the contract gains of the Chicago Teachers Union in the first contract negotiated by the Union. It was one year earlier that the Chicago Teachers Union was elected the sole collective bargaining agent for city teachers. All through the 60's there were multiple strikes for benefits and bargaining rights. Where the Chicago Teachers Union fought for equal rights the current mayor who controls the school Board in Chicago now wants to reverse back to a system of merit pay that will completely destabilize the workforce and pit teacher against teacher for compensation.
Jun 16, 2011 – Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Thursday said public school students have gotten "the shaft" and said canceling teachers' contractually-obligated pay raises was the right decision.
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Talking to Chicago Teachers Union members in 1967, John Fewkes an organizer and first union president of the union in 1937 served 11 terms of office.
Sep 9, 2011 – Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis says Mayor Rahm ... effort, pointing his finger at her, yelling and telling her, “F--- you, Lewis.” ... Pressed for the language, Lewis said the mayor told her, “F--- you, Lewis””
http://www.suntimes.com/...
CURRENT OFFER 2012 BY CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Chicago Public Schools are offering a five-year contract that would include:
■ A 2 percent raise in year one.
■ A pay freeze in year two.
■ Raises based on “differentiated pay’’ in years three to five. A joint district-union committee, to be seated in January, would decide how “differentiated pay” would work but it could reward teachers of high-need subjects, in high-need schools, or in teacher leadership positions, or those who rate highly in a new teacher evaluation system that is tied, in part, to student growth.
■ Freeze in “step and lane’’ increases, based on extra years of seniority and added certifications.
■ A longer school day that, under a new law, does not require union approval. The elementary school day will increase from 5 ¾ to 7 hours, and the high school day will increase from 7 hours to 7 ½ hours four days a week, with an early dismissal on the fifth day.
http://www.suntimes.com/...
Current CTU President Karen GJ Lewis, NBCT, says
If the Board has its way it will:
1. Eliminate any real enforcement of class size limits: In their proposal to the CTU, CPS uses the same argument that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney recently made in Philadelphia. The CPS proposal claims, contrary to common sense and teacher experience, that class size does not matter. Their language in quotes says that “the board shall establish a class size policy and notify the union of that policy.” Not only will they impose whatever class size they think is appropriate, after they have said class size doesn’t matter, they have cut any funding in our contract to lower over-sized classes and have eliminated any real limits on ballooning class sizes next year.
2. Ignore staffing levels in all schools: The Board has rejected all of the CTU's proposals on appropriate staffing levels for our students. Including art, music, physical education, library and world language teachers -- counselors, social workers, nurses and school psychologists -- despite woefully inadequate staffing levels throughout the district and a longer day that will require additional staff if it is to be a better day.
3. Reject ‘better school day’ proposals: CPS refuses to accept any of our recommendations regarding full day kindergarten, playground facilities and air conditioning for all schools -- despite just last week many of our schools reaching temperatures of over 90 degrees, when learning becomes nearly impossible and classroom conditions inhumane. They have already cut the facilities budget by 85 percent next year even as they propose 60 new non-union charters and plan to close nearly 100 schools next year.
4. Refuse to adequately compensate teachers: CPS continues to disrespect teachers with a 2 percent raise offer for the first year of a five year contract even though working at CPS is getting much harder next year.
5. Refuse to offer job security to qualified teachers: The Board plans to remove protections for experienced and qualified educators who lose their positions through no fault of their own which will exacerbate the current 50 percent teacher turnover rate every five years -- something that interferes with continuity and quality instruction.
John Desmond, Chicago Teachers Union President (1967 Strike)
Nothing changes: Teachers fight for better education and the government crony says it costs too much.
We want system wide improvements in education, We want quality education, We want lower class size, We want to take the boards off the windows. -- Chicago Teachers Union President John Desmond, 1971 Strike Demands
Flash Forward 45 Years - Same Fight!
June 1, 2012: 25,000 Chicago Teachers will vote to Strike Next Week
May 23, 2012: Massive Chicago Teachers Union Rally Takes over Downtown