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* Its officers all ran unopposed, so there was no reason for a vote…
For the first time in at least two decades, the Chicago Teachers Union won’t have an election — because no one has filed to challenge popular CTU President Karen Lewis.
With no opposition against Lewis or any other candidates from the ruling Caucus Of Rank-and-file Educators (CORE) for the upcoming May elections, the slate was effectively granted another three-year term and the election has been cancelled.
Observers say the lack of organized opposition demonstrates members’ support for Lewis and her left-of-center caucus, which has taken on a broader “social justice” agenda and garnered support from activists outside the education sphere for last week’s “Day of Action.” The lack of opponents also legitimizes Lewis and CORE’s leadership at a time of contentious contract negotiations with the Board of Education, which encouraged teachers to break ranks for the Day of Action, a one-day strike. […]
When CORE won its first election in 2010, there were four other caucuses running, including incumbent President Marilyn Stewart’s United Progressive Caucus (UPC) and former President Deborah Lynch’s Proactive Chicago Teachers (PACT).
In 2013, just one slate ran against CORE. The Coalition to Save Our Union — which included members of UPC and PACT — pledged to focus more on member services and rebuild the union’s bridges with district management. Lewis won re-reelection by a near four-to-one margin.
Since then, organized opposition to CORE within the union has largely fizzled out. In part that’s because many members who were previously involved in CTU politics with other caucuses have retired or otherwise left CPS.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 12:54 pm
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Great, now that we have that over with can they focus on getting a contract done now, because that hasn’t been their focus these past few months. They’ve been focused on keeping their jobs and their 6-figure salaries (and the other jobs that come with their jobs and the other salaries that come with those salaries).
Comment by Just Me Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 12:56 pm
Will the Governor go positive or negative on this? In other words, will he claim credit for this and use it as proof he is winnin’, or call it a loss for the taxpayers and blame it on Madigan and the union members he controls?
Comment by Whatever Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 1:20 pm
That is their best??
Comment by Nieva Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 1:23 pm
Huh. So the two dissenting teachers that the Tribune Editorial Board dug up weren’t exactly representative?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-chicago-teachers-union-walkout-cps-perspec-0330-20160329-story.html
Well, I’ll be darned…
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 1:25 pm
If a challenger was going to step forward, it was going to come from left of Karen. Most CPS teachers are frustrated and morale is really low.
Comment by Chicagonk Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 1:50 pm
The CTU members will be even more frustrated with the pending cuts in workers coming. It will be a blood bath.
Comment by Tone Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 1:51 pm
CPS is insolvent. It faces a $1billion operating deficit, it will not be able to go back to the capital markets, the state is not going to bail it out. Bankruptcy is the solution.
Comment by Tone Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 1:52 pm
Now that Lewis is re-elected, maybe she’ll stand up to her own CORE committee and allow the elected members of her House of Delegates to vote on the CPS contract offer that she and her leadership team accepted in January.
For a union leader who is constantly talking about how “democratic” CTU is, why not show it? Why not let the elected representatives of the 22,000 rank and file teachers vote on the contract that leadership thought was good enough but that her appointed committee of cronies rejected?
Comment by Chicago Taxpayer Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 2:00 pm
” Why not let the elected representatives of the 22,000 rank and file teachers vote on the contract that leadership thought was good enough but that her appointed committee of cronies rejected?”
Aren’t members of the “big bargaining team” elected by the members? Are you aware of any massive simmering rank-and-file rebellion demanding to vote for a 7% take home decrease and forced retirements?
Comment by steward Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 2:08 pm
Great! Now on to the important stuff. “F— the Police and everybody f— with them.”
Comment by proudstatetrooper Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 2:17 pm
=CPS is insolvent=
You need to get yourself a dictionary. Seriously, next time you venture out of the bunker pick one up.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 2:26 pm
=Aren’t members of the “big bargaining team” elected by the members? Are you aware of any massive simmering rank-and-file rebellion demanding to vote for a 7% take home decrease and forced retirements?=
No, they are not elected. They are appointed by Karen Lewis. The committee is her personal creation.
And you must have not read the terms. With COLA’s, seniority raises, etc., the offer was a 14% average raise, but with a requirement that teachers pay their full state-required 9 percent pension contribution, instead of the current 2%.
With CPS broke, certainly a deal that members should get to vote on or at least their ELECTED representatives.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 2:32 pm
MrJM rule is a good rule.
Comment by steward Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 2:34 pm
Wait till the rank and file get a short check from the walkout, THEN they will wish they had taken a vote….Maybe they can stage weekly walk- outs and not get paid 20% of their salary. That alone will help CPS balance it’s bloated budget. Make sure its on a Monday or Friday so kids and parents get 3 day weekends…gotta plan you know
Comment by NorthsideNoMore Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 2:46 pm
Insolvent
a : unable to pay debts as they fall due in the usual course of business
b : having liabilities in excess of a reasonable market value of assets held
Comment by Tone Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 2:56 pm
Wow. No opposition anywhere, so no need for a vote. What harm could a vote cause….you know, no opposition and all.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 3:00 pm
“This is what Democracy looks like.”
Comment by Laughable Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 3:12 pm
In many union constitutions, when there is only one nominee, that nominee is automatically elected. Costs money to run elections at all worksites. Why waste the money if there is only one candidate? The members had the chance to run an opposition slate and refused to do so.
Comment by steward Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 3:34 pm
Makes it all the more interesting to know that Karen would not or could not use her overwhelming support to push through the agreement she made with CPS earlier this year. Even back then it would have been clear she had a mandate to do so, but chose not to. If she doesn’t do it now, it’s on her.
Comment by Molly Maguire Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 4:16 pm
CPS is a lot more solvent than the state of Illinois. Illinois’ budget gap is $6 billion a year or 16% percent of GRF and they cannot borrow from anyone, not even short term.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 7:56 pm
Just saw the news about the “F*** the Police” statements made at a CTU podium last week. How on earth does CTU not apologize for such a statement made about another union? Outrageous!
Comment by Just Me Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 8:53 pm
The tax payers are now chanting “bigger pension contributions from the teachers of no pace!”
Comment by Rollo Tamasi Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 11:44 pm
Keep trying to pin the comments of a protestor who was/is not a member of CTU on the CTU by using the weasel language of “…made at a CTU podium”. Too cleaver by half.
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 7:13 am
An organization can help cover up the murder of a black child. But drop an F-bomb and they get all bent out of shape. Some curiously thin skin…
Comment by steward Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 8:35 am