CTU “showdown” roundup
Thursday, Mar 24, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Despite all the screaming you hear in the media right now, the buried truth of the matter is that Chicago Public Schools made a unilateral decision to shut down for one day this week and then the Chicago Teachers Union essentially voted to do the same next week…
The walkout would mean CPS schools would be shut down for the second Friday in row after schools will close March 25 as part of three unpaid furlough days for teachers.
This isn’t meant to excuse the union for its actions, but CPS’ unilateral shutdown is glossed over by the media because CPS claims it’s trying to save money. OK, but the end result is still the same. CPS has known for a long time about the April 1st day of action, so it probably should’ve imposed the furlough day on April 1 in the first place and steal some of CTU’s thunder.
* WLS TV…
Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union will head back to the bargaining table Thursday, a day after union members approved a one-day walkout.
Teachers are protesting unfair labor practices, though their contract is also under negotiation. An overwhelming majority, 486 union delegates, voted in favor of the April 1 walkout. Only 124 voted against it.
* WBBM TV…
“We’re particularly disappointed that the CTU leadership has given Governor Rauner more ammunition in his misguided attempt to bankrupt and take over Chicago Public Schools,” said CPS CEO Forrest Claypool in a statement.
Lewis doesn’t see it that way.
“We will not be cowed by Governor Rauner and his crazy agenda because you know what I think about that and you know what most people think about it,” Lewis said.
* Sun-Times…
“For us to continue to be submissive to somebody who has an agenda and that has always been about getting rid of us is ridiculous,” Lewis said [of Rauner]. “We will not be submissive. We will stand up.” […]
“April 1 would be an unfair labor day of action,” Lewis said in announcing the proposed strike earlier this month. “It’s a showdown.”
Initially, Lewis and the union were reacting to Claypool’s threat to halt a 7 percent pension payment CPS had been making for teachers and other CTU staffers since the ’80s. After Claypool agreed to leave the pension benefit in place, the union accused CPS of an unfair labor practice for stopping raises given for experience and ongoing education last year.
This thing has been basically set in stone for a very long time, which is why I say again that CPS should’ve stolen the union’s thunder by scheduling a furlough day for next Friday, instead of tomorrow.
* Tribune…
Lewis has acknowledged the proposed walkout has been met with skepticism from some union members. During a conference call with members Monday, CTU’s leaders faced questions from those opposed to the plan, though other members voiced support.
CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey told members during the call that the legality of the union’s walkout will probably be decided in court.
Lewis sought to reassure members worried about the consequences of not showing up for work.
“What are they going to do, arrest us all? Put us all in jail? There’s not 27,000 spaces in the Cook County Jail right now,” Lewis told members Monday. “The whole key is, we all go out together, we go back in together. It is united, it is union, it is as one. That is what’s really important.”
The punitive fines could be dramatic, however. We’ll see, but it’ll be up to a board dominated by Gov. Rauner’s appointments (although one was a Quinn reappointment).
* A huge downtown rally is planned, and others are joining in, according to WMAQ TV…
A union representing thousands of teachers from several Illinois universities has announced it would join the Chicago Teachers Union in an April 1 walkout.
John Miller from the University of Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 made the announcement during a Thursday press conference, one day after Chicago Teachers Union delegates voted to approve a one-day school walkout.
The group represents more than 3,000 faculty and academic staff at universities including Western Illinois University, Eastern Illinois University, University of Illinois-Springfield, Northern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Governor’s State University and Northeastern Illinois University.
Also joining in the walkout are a number of community activists, labor groups, and students. The groups include Grassroots Collaborative, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Fight for $15, SEIU Healthcare Illinois, Chicago State University faculty and students, Black Youth Project 100, Assatas Daughters, Chicago ACTS Local 4343, Pilsen Alliance, UIC United Faculty, Almalgamated Transit Union Local 308.
Lots of those groups have been heavily involved in police protests, and were in force at the recent anti-Trump rally.
- jim - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 11:39 am:
Rauner doesn’t need to bankrupt the Chicago Schools, as the superintendent suggests he’s trying to do. Chicago’s elected officials have taken care of that.
- Secret Square - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 11:43 am:
“CPS should’ve stolen the union’s thunder by scheduling a furlough day for next Friday, instead of tomorrow.”
Maybe they chose tomorrow because it’s Good Friday and a lot of students/teachers might be gone anyway?
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 11:47 am:
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/steps-and-lanes-understanding-how-chicago-public-school-teachers-get-multiple-pay-raises-each-year/
- Tone - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 11:50 am:
CPS will likely default in 2016.
- Tone - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 11:51 am:
CTU has an insatiable appetite for taxes.
- 39th Ward - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 11:55 am:
The real “buried truth” is that Karen Lewis has lost control of the CTU to Jesse Sharkey and the far more militant branch of the union. She truly believed she had reached an agreement with CPS that would be quickly ratified and was blindsided when she had her head handed back to her by Jesse and his cohorts.
- Century Club - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 11:55 am:
Every social service agency in Illinois should shut their doors on April 1st and be out there with them.
- Me too - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 11:57 am:
This is an ULP by the union and frankly, while you can’t replace 27000 teachers easily, if I’m not mistaken, even though this is only one day, I wouldn’t be surprised if this has serious ramifications for CTU. I don’t see how this does anything to make CPS more willing to deal. I wonder which is more likely to be said, “Oh no, we had to shut down school for a day, we better give them a great contract” or “That constituted an illegal strike, let’s try to get them decertified”?
- Jack Stephens - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 11:57 am:
CTU needs to drop this. Its not the right time.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 11:58 am:
–CPS will likely default in 2016.–
Default on what? That word has a meaning.
- Sue - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:00 pm:
Don’t know what damages can be assessed for an unlawful strike but if a monetary fine can be applied under the State law- you know Rauners appointees will oblige
- gopower - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:02 pm:
“CPS has known for a long time about the April 1st day of action, so it probably should’ve imposed the furlough day on April 1 in the first place and steal some of CTU’s thunder.”
Um, the union would have just picked another “day of action.”
Not your best effort, Rich.
- Jack Stephens - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:05 pm:
@tone:
So do prisons. Yet we spend a minimum of $18,000.00 a year, per person to *babysit* pot smokers.
- Morningstar - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:06 pm:
@Jack Stephens - withholding labor is not intended to be done at a *convenient* time. The definition of “the right time” is variable.
- Tone - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:06 pm:
Default in its obligations, it doesn’t have an billion laying around.
- Jack Stephens - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:08 pm:
@morningstar:
You’ll get no argument from me. I agree with your point.
But there is also some politics involved. And I think this action is just handing the issue to Rauner. I wouldnt do it. Live to fight another day.
- Tone - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:09 pm:
It won’t be able to make its debt and pension payments, default is near.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:09 pm:
===the union would have just picked another “day of action.”===
Says who?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:09 pm:
–Default in its obligations,–
LOL, is it fun-with-words day?
CPS has many “obligations” and “default” in this context is a legal term.
What “obligations” are you claiming they will “default” on?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:17 pm:
Tone, your concern over CPS’ ability to pay their debt an pension obligations is a rational concern that has been expressed by many on both sides of the aisle.
Your point is clear. Remember, some people just like to argue.
- From the 'Dale to HP - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:25 pm:
The big key for CTU is if they can convince other unions or groups to join in and shut down the Chicago (and maybe even Chicagoland) on the 1st. If they can get CTA (and Metra?) workers, state employees, city workers, etc… this could be huge and very effective.
If they can’t, this is probably a bad move on their part. It might appease a few teachers in the union, but that’s about it. My guess is the rank and file aren’t that keen on this.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 12:42 pm:
The reason for the furlough day on Good Friday is because a large number of employees indicated they would call in sick
- Square Pegs - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 1:03 pm:
My CPS teacher friends are not all happy with this. Those CPS teachers with little kids in school also have to find child care for the day. One friend said 2/3 of her colleagues at the high school where she teaches did not vote for the walk out.
Another friend (with a little one at the nearby Catholic school) would love if the parents joined them for the walkout.
I agree that this is the more radical (strong word) wing of CTU pushing this. Good point about this being a CTU election year. Lot of pressure on leadership to make a stand, not compromise.
- Will Caskey - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 1:27 pm:
Excellent context, Rich. It’s hard to keep in mind that even the most well-run labor unions have very different messages to the public v. members v. negotiation teams, and CTU has never been great at communicating the reasons behind their actions.
Also as irresponsible as the Trib editorial board claims CTU is acting, they’re not the ones who borrowed themselves into a bond market freeze then declared furlough days 2/3 of the way through the school year and unspecified spending restrictions on individual schools.
At worst CTU is guilty of erratic public communication; they’re perfectly entitled to represent their members however they see fit.
- nixit - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 1:33 pm:
While it sounds like a lot of individual groups will join the walkout, it’s really only a couple: IFT and SEIU
Most of the community activists listed on are the union payrolls. Grassroots Collaborative, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, and Pilsen Alliance all receive significant contributions from CTU. University Professionals, CTU, CSU, Chicago ACTS, and UIC United Faculty are all under the same IFT corporate umbrella. And Fight for $15 is SEIU.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 1:39 pm:
===Also as irresponsible as the Trib editorial board claims CTU is acting, they’re not the ones who borrowed themselves into ===
Exactly. Also, too, the Tribune endorsed the man who controls CPS. Twice. And his predecessor. Every time.
- Will Caskey - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 1:49 pm:
Of course, I’m guiltier than most in the re-electing Rahm department. I just think that’s all the more reason to stop pretending, especially since the apparent plan now is to let CPS default and trigger a tax increase through inaction.
- Molly Maguire - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 1:51 pm:
I’m a union guy, but I’m against the walkout. The original stated reason was the unilateral pension pickup, but CPS relented. CTU won that issue, so get back to the bargaining table. Walkouts based on “snits” are not in the best interest of teachers, children or parents. Public unions need public support.
- Chicago parent - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 1:54 pm:
CPS chose this Friday as a furlough day because it’s a religious holiday (Good Friday) and so many teachers had exercised their contractural right to take if off, that CPS couldn’t teach regular classes. Usually, it falls during Spring Break so isn’t a problem.
- Harry - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
For the 7 billion people in the world who don’t live in Chicago and therefore don’t understand how protests and demonstrations work here, you buried the lede in the last sentence.
- blue dog dem - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:04 pm:
I am just wondering were Sam McCann syands on a CPS bailout
- Carhartt Representative - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:19 pm:
I just love the union election theory. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lewis is running unopposed. Nobody seems to be campaigning against any of the current officers. If a radical wing has taken over, it’s a wing that’s 80% of the union.
- Will Caskey - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 3:37 pm:
If you believe Karen Lewis has no competition you haven’t been paying attention. Even if you disregard everything Jesse Sharkey has said in public over the past two years, CTU elections follow a pretty reliable pattern:
President elected promising revolution and fire and strikes
Saber rattling (or in Lewis’ case an actual strike) happens
Layoffs happen
Time passes
President makes a practically minded contract deal
President is challenged and defeated by another firebreather.
- bestday - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
Teachers Union don’t know to quit.. Teachers put in $1,400 a year…. for $70,000 yearly pension for a lifetime … CTU making Rauner’s day ..CPS bankrupt by next year
- TinyDancer(FKA Sue) - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 4:40 pm:
All this finger-pointing is just a distraction - diverting attention away from the real source of the problem: complex “structured products,” interest rate swaps in particular, that municipalities entered into at the advice of the banks - that’s where all the city’s money is going - not to pension payments, but to pay the astronomical interest on the debt. That’s why the city’s broke.
The city bet that interest rates would go up. The banks took the the other side of the bet.
The banks tanked the economy, the Fed’s ZIRP bailed them out, and the rest is history.
The only fair remedy is that the Fed be allowed to buy munis - refinance this crushing municipal debt, especially for municipalities that are healthy in enough to repay it.
- Will Caskey - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 5:14 pm:
That’s not at all what happened. The city and CPS bought standard issue swaps to get fixed interest rates.
The swaps produced penalties because CPS and Chicago’s bond ratings (rightly) fell to junk, not because of interest rates falling.
- Tone - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 5:43 pm:
TinyDancer apparently doesn’t know what an interest rate swap.
- Tone - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 5:44 pm:
More standard CTU crap from the typical non educated.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 5:55 pm:
–TinyDancer apparently doesn’t know what an interest rate swap. More standard CTU crap from the typical non educated.–
They’re what the highly educated Daley and Emanuel sharpies gambled on and lost more than $100 million.
Tone, you might want to review your own posts before calling someone “non educated,” whatever that means.
- TinyDancer(FKA Sue) - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 6:00 pm:
@Tone and Will
I’m not going to re-litigate this - Chicago entered into swap agreements with the banks.
The Trib did a whole investigative story on it - read it.
- Cruzer - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 7:04 pm:
The big picture of the 1day strike is so that Board gets a preview as to what can happen if a fair contract isn’t reached on time. Hopefully a 1 day sacrifice will be all that’s needed in order to force the powers to be like the mayor and governor to support funding education at appropriate levels.
If the Board is truly broke why haven’t they eliminated the entire Network bueracracy which by the way is one of the largest in the nation for a school system our size? Why haven’t they cut further at Central Office? Why haven’t they renegotiated all those high priced vendor contracts? Why haven’t they cut back on the longer day and school year if they truly can’t afford it ? Why haven’t they turned over 100% of TIFS instead of sidelining the bill in finance committee thus killing any hope? Why haven’t they passed a dedicated tax levy to fund pensions ? What did the Board do with the billions of dollars in give backs by the CTU in last contract? What did they do with the hundreds of millions of dollars in supposed savings from the 50 school closings? What did they do with the savings from freezing the steps and lanes this year? Why hasn’t the city used part of its $900 million dollar credit line to help CPS this year? Why haven’t they frozen charter school expansion and actually begin reducing its footprint within Chicago? I mean afterall does CPS stand for Charter Private Schools or Chicago Public Schools?
The powers to be basically wanted to elimate the pension pickup , freeze steps and raises, ram down a 3 day furlough day, drive teachers crazy with REACH evaluations, and continued intimidation and honestly didn’t expect the CTU to do anything in response?
- Tone - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 8:21 pm:
$15,000/student is not enough apparently. More head in the sand. Default coming to a public school system near you.
- Tone - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 8:26 pm:
Interest rate swaps have not caused CPS insolvency. Daley should have known that the biggest recession since the 1930s was around the corner.