The union representing Chicago’s striking teachers says no progress has been made on the most contentious contract issues because the district didn’t submit any new offers.
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said the school board didn’t budge on proposals involving performance evaluations and recall rights for laid-off teachers.
That means students will be out of the classroom for the second day as teachers walk the picket lines for the first time in 25 years.
At issue are the following points:
- End the chronic defunding of neighborhood schools; reclaim TIFs and tax the rich.
- End the race and class disparities in quality of CPS education; fully fund quality public education for all Chicagoans regardless of race, money, special needs or legal status.
- Don’t use our budget for failed experiments like charters and excessive testing that benefit political interests over kids’ education. The community should control how its money is spent.
- Open up bargaining over ‘permissive issues’ that effect classroom quality most including; class size, staffing, services, curriculum.
- The mayor’s appointed board is more concerned with attacking teachers than helping kids. We demand an elected representative school board as our democratic right.
I think Randy Bryce summed up my thoughts towards Chicago’s Democratic Mayor, Rahm Emanuel:
If you’re interested in learning more about what the Chicago Teachers Union is fighting for, you can check out their Facebook page, Twitter feed, and YouTube channel.
Way to go, Randy! From a proud brother Ironworker, retired member of Local 512.
Why is seniority the best method to determine which teachers are recalled to work? Why can’t a principal evaluate who are the hardest working, most effective teachers and get them? If they happen to have seniority, fine. Afterall, who interests are we supposed to be serving here? The teachers’ or the students’?
Is Rahmbo really a tough-minded reformer doing battle with the base of his own party? Doubtful. I don’t see him sticking to his guns running the risk that this will reflect poorly on Obama during election season.
One report says the average salary for Chicago teachers is $71K while the average in Wisconsin is $54K.
There are too many regional differences to come to any conclusion, but if a majority of Chicago teachers felt their issues warranted a strike, I support them.
I wish Wisconsin teachers would have had that option to reject or protest Walker’s unfair net pay reduction to finance his give aways to special interests and donors.
N.B. I am not now or ever been a union member.
Teachers played right into Republican hands, especially Charter funding Walker Republicans in Wisconsin and around the nation. By striking just before election, they put more pressure on the Democratic agenda. Unions have not made their case to the public simply because they solely on threats and intimidation. This is all the general public sees. The sound reasoning for their demands are only passed around among themselves, and even that not backed up with substansive programs.