Post-strike spin begins
Friday, Nov 1, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Mayor Lori Lightfoot last night…
We are pleased to have reached a deal with the Chicago Teachers Union to resolve the strike, and enable our students to return to school tomorrow. This five-year overall agreement is historic. It provides significant benefits to our teachers, our school support staff, our families, and most importantly, to our students. The entire city will ultimately benefit.
That’s because it reflects the values of this administration and CPS, and is rooted in our shared vision for equity. It delivers tangible gains where they are most needed, and where they will have the greatest impact.
It includes a commitment to increase staffing for wraparound services - a nurse and a social worker in every school within five years, beginning with the highest-need schools. It includes investments in additional support staff and smaller class sizes for the schools where the need is greatest. And it includes new supports for students experiencing homelessness - something I’ve long advocated for. All of this is in the contract, in writing. It will get done.
The key objectives for Dr. Jackson and I were accomplished in reaching this agreement. And more importantly, our students and families will reap great benefits from it. The agreement has a five-year term. It is financially responsible. It honors our teachers and school staff - all of whom will see a 16 percent raise over the course of the contract. And it is true to our values.
CTU has also accomplished a great deal for their membership with this agreement. They raised a number of important issues that impact our students and families – from increased funding for sports and athletics, better supports for our diverse learners, highlighting the importance of restorative justice, and more. And on these and many others, I am confident in saying that our teams were able to come to agreement in a way that will deliver tangible improvements, and make a real difference for our students.
These past 11 days have not been easy on our CPS family. To all those who stepped up to ensure our students and families had the support and resources they needed during this strike, we as a city thank you.
I would be remiss if I did not address what has been lost over the course of this strike. Seniors’ efforts at early college admissions were compromised; athletes missed out on competitions; students were not able to take the PSAT; and more. We will do everything in our power to mitigate the harms and keep our students moving forward to fulfill their destinies. Now is the time to come back together, and get back to school. I am confident that we will heal together–as a city and a school community.
Bottom line, we are proud of this agreement. And we are excited about what CPS students will accomplish for the remainder of this school year, and in the years to come. Let’s keep moving forward together, in the best interest of our students.
* The Sun-Times editorial board declared a CTU win…
In five years, that 16% pay raise will result in an average teacher’s salary of almost $98,000. Nobody should begrudge a good paycheck for a good teacher. But we believe the mayor’s negotiating team agreed to that 16% far too early, losing leverage. Teachers were free to push harder on more extraneous demands.
Teachers will pay only 0.75% more for their health insurance, though the city initially asked for an increase of 1.5% over five years. Again, our sense is that the mayor’s team caved early.
The contract includes $35 million per year for lower class sizes. The money will be distributed via a new CPS-CTU council that will assess overcrowding issues on a case-by-case basis. That’s a smart approach, given that overcrowding is spread unevenly among schools and the best research shows that smaller classes matter most in the primary grades. But this was an expensive concession.
The city agreed to hire a full-time nurse and social worker for every school by July 2023. The district will also hire more librarians and other staff. These are undeniable wins for schools and kids — but again, expensive for taxpayers.
* For some odd reason, the folks on the Chicago Tribune editorial board expected Lightfoot to be the second coming of Bruce Rauner…
The Chicago teachers strike of 2019 was rough on Mayor Lori Lightfoot. She drew lines in the sand, tried to enforce them and got trampled. […]
Our advice to Lightfoot is to protect and enhance her credibility by learning from the CTU strike: When you say something, stick to it. That didn’t happen during these negotiations. Lightfoot said there’d be no reason for teachers to strike, yet Chicago’s children missed two weeks of school. The mayor spent October insisting there was no money to be found in CPS’ budget to sweeten the teachers contract, then she found more money. She said she’d never offer pay to strikers for days out of the classroom, but she did.
* But the World Socialist Website, which is published by the International Committee of the Fourth International, calls it a “sellout contract”…
In coordination with the administration of Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the CTU orchestrated a cynical ploy Thursday morning over make-up days for those lost due to the strike. Lightfoot announced at a press conference that there will be five additional school days added to the end of the year.
Since teachers were strung out on the picket lines without any strike pay, this will mean that most will lose more than $2,000 in pay this year, entirely swallowing up the meager pay raise included in the contract for next year. In fact, not only will teachers have to work the additional days, but this will only compensate for less than half of the lost pay during the strike.
CTU is now launching a media campaign to portray its betrayal as a “victory” in order to justify the shutdown of the strike and compel teachers to believe the propaganda and not their own eyes.
* CTU retweet…
* Related…
* Here are the highlights of CPS-CTU deal
* Students, Teachers Return to Chicago Public Schools After Strike: “We feel like we achieved a lot of things,” Sharkey said at a separate news conference. “There are some things we didn’t achieve, but it’s not a day for photo opps and victory laps.”
* Strike suspended, so CPS football teams can play in state playoffs
* CPS strike: Longest Chicago teacher walkout in decades ends after 11 days of canceled classes, tentative agreement on contract and compromise over makeup school days
* The longest Chicago teachers strike in 3 decades is over
* With CPS strike now over, will a new contract agreement transform classrooms in Chicago schools?
* Leaders on both sides of Chicago teachers strike greet students as they return to school after two weeks
- Honeybear - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 9:25 am:
I’m thinking it’s probably a fair deal because everyone is angry about it.
- Bruce (no not him) - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 9:26 am:
Well, if the socialists are against it…
- Responsa - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 9:27 am:
I’m glad Rich chose the word “spin”. Because that’s pretty much all we’ve been getting about this strike from day one from the combatants. No reason to stop the spin now. Good luck students. Glad you’re back in school. I hope in the end this was all worth it.
- Lunchbox - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 9:27 am:
If Jesse Sharkey hadn’t just won re-election in May as the CTU president, I’d say he better look over his shoulder for Stacy Davis Gates– she was the face of this. I wonder what the actual ratification vote will be among members.
- JMan - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 9:39 am:
International Committee of the Fourth International?
Why did you decide to pick up on an irrelevant leftist source? There are far more serious leftist journals that are talking about the CTU strike that are more grounded in the local reality of American and Chicago-based leftist movements.
Of course it’s easy for an internationally focused paper to denigrate an accomplishment of the American left, the American left pales in comparison to coalitions abroad.
It’s an odd choice to choose that source, among the many others that are more popular and relevant to American politics, who recognize the paltry baseline that leftists in America are working with.
- Thomas Paine - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 9:42 am:
Lori Lightfoot lost almost everything.
Lightfoot lost on socialworkers, librarians, and nurses.
Lightfoot lost on homelessness.
Lightfoot lost on an elected school board and collective bargaining rights.
Lightfoot lost on her overall “We’re broke” argument.
She lost not only her own credibility, she sacrificed Janice Jackson’s too.
The only thing she “won” was a five year deal v. three, but even there she was outsmarted by CTU. In five years they will be negotating with a new school board, in three they would be going up against Lightfoot again and surely another strike.
When all was said end done, Lightfoot told reporters “I’m looking forward to seeing Simeon play on Saturday.” Not “I’m looking forward to seeing our students return to class on Friday.” It was telling that for her, like the Tribune, this was all about the high school sports glory, not the lifetime after graduation.
- OneMan - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 9:46 am:
There is a lot to be said for beliving your own version of what happened, why it happened and what was accomplished. Every strike is basically a real life example of the idea behind the movie Rashōmon
- City Zen - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 9:48 am:
Greetings from right-to-work West Virginia.
The West Virginia school strikes were actually driven by the superintendents who shutdown the schools. It was more a lockout in which all school employees continued to get paid. A rare occasion in which both employer and employee were on the same side.
- OpentoDiscussion - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 9:49 am:
Doubt if too many other workers, including most teachers, will see a 16% increase over five years. Not unless inflation increases quite dramatically over the next few years.
Anyway, if the Chicago taxpayers can afford it then go right ahead.
- Just Another Anon - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 9:56 am:
@ OneMan
“Rashōmon” I would have said “The Outrage” myself, but since its based off of Rashōmon, I guess the only debate is who gets to be Paul Newman?
- Lurker - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 9:56 am:
I’m glad its over. I’m glad my child is at school this morning. I’m looking forward to some cooling off. I’ve already looked back at some comments/tweets that I supported a few days ago and cringed a little. The heat of the crisis wasn’t healthy and I was as guilty of feeding into it as anyone.
If people feel the need to use this time and space to spin, so be it. It no longer affects my child, thankfully. I’m thankful that I can step back. I’m thankful that my neighbors and I can work together on supporting our school instead of having to take sides.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 9:56 am:
=== taxpayers===
Good thing the teachers are also taxpayers too…
Here’s the thing to kinda/sorta riff off that cost thing;
If the Mayor’s Crew and apologists wanna make this a “winner or loser” thing, you better think real hard on this…
The more the Mayor and her apologists claim “total victory”, the less blame you can place on economic angst and taxes on the teachers.
See… ya can’t say you won… then claim a property tax increase, or fee increases, or more cuts… can’t be on that contract.
You won. You beat the teachers. It’s your winning contract, the teachers lost.
But… ya haveta pay for it now. Your winning contract.
I’m going to enjoy how the 5th floor has decided, and the apologist spin… their total win… and paying for their complete victory.
- City Zen - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 9:57 am:
==Why did you decide to pick up on an irrelevant leftist source?==
Have you met CTU lately? This is pretty on-brand.
- 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 9:58 am:
I can’t tell you how hard it was to get my high school senior out of bed this morning to get him to school. The damage done to the students in real. Luckily, my senior is not interested in an early decision-type college but what about the damage and loss of scholarship $ for those kids who are? Next, report card pick up days are November 13 (elementary) and 14 (high school). Shouldn’t they postpone that or what will there be to talk about in the parent-teacher conferences? The list goes on…
- Randomly Selected - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:08 am:
CTU got more of what they wanted than the Mayor did. They win. However, like most contracts we won’t know how good it was for everyone until it’s time to negotiate the next one and it’ll take some time to see how the costs actually shake out.
- OneMan - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:10 am:
Congratulations, you win one Internet today City Zen.
- @misterjayem - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:15 am:
Counterpoint: There’s nothing “irrelevant” about the CTU.
– MrJM
- Just Saying - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:19 am:
The average teachers pay is $98,000; and if a teacher retires with 30 years, that is a $64,000 per year pension. The average State of Illinois employee pension is about $24,000. The pension problem is about 70% from the teachers retirement system and only 30% from the rest of the state systems. Not picking on anyone but merely making a point next time you hear about pension liabilities; don’t be so quick to blame state employees. If the teachers retirement system had the same formula as state employees, that $98,000 salary would equate to a $49,000 per year pension instead of $64,000; about a $25,000 per year difference. I don’t see why teachers have a higher formula for retirement than regular state employees. Teachers require college degrees as do many state employee titles as well. Many state jobs prefer Masters degrees as well.
Just Saying
- City Zen - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:20 am:
Willy nails it. Yes, I said that.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:21 am:
===I don’t see why teachers have a higher formula for retirement than regular state employees.===
Better union and lobbying efforts?
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:21 am:
Great statement by the mayor. Negotiations were very contentious, and that’s okay, but there’s a deal. Not too good of CTU to not announce the deal together with the mayor. Not really into purity or prolonged hostility, after such a deal. It was great when Democrats and Republicans passed bipartisan legislation. Many people just want their government to function and work for them.
Hardcore socialists gonna hardcore socialist. They are few, and never mind the extreme voices. Glad this deal was done, and people should focus on getting more revenue, like a president and US Congress who prioritize education.
- AnotherAnon - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:23 am:
Has anyone read details of the agreement? CTU did not get almost anything new for the students. They did get some some nice pay and benefits though. Sharkey was completely rolled by Lightfoot. Or was the fight for the kids a fraud?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:26 am:
=== Sharkey was completely rolled by Lightfoot.===
Keep that in mind when property taxes go up, fees go up, “taxpayers” whatever…
“Sharkey was completely rolled by Lightfoot.”
Boy, Lightfoot really stuck it to the city rolling CTU…
- AnotherAnon - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:40 am:
Good point for sure Willy. Higher taxes and fees to support teacher wages and benefits. Not much for the kids though. And no moratorium on school closings, with declining enrollment, you can bet schools will be closed in the next 5 years. Meaning less staff and less money needed for those salaries and benefits.
- City Zen - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:42 am:
==I don’t see why teachers have a higher formula for retirement than regular state employees.==
Not sure your math is right, but teachers contribute 9% towards their pensions and state employees contribute 8%.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:43 am:
===why teachers have a higher formula===
Teachers aren’t in Social Security.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:45 am:
=== you can bet schools will be closed in the next 5 years===
We’ll see, and if they are, it will also be on Mayor Lightfoot, as teachers and neighborhoods will be aligned to stop it.
=== Meaning less staff and less money needed for those salaries and benefits.===
Mayor Lightfoot wants her first term re-elect marked with how many schools she closed?
Hmm.
But, you told me, Lightfoot rolled CTU, that would be Lightfoot winning.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 10:50 am:
Mayor Lightfoot is NOT Governor Bruce Rauner.
This idea that Lightfoot should govern in the same tact or spinning as Rauner does ignores that this Mayor… she will be the one owning her budget, the CPS-CTU contract, and every school closed will be owned by her.
The goal of the exercise for the Lightfoot apologists should be shared blame and shared success.
Mayor Lightfoot is going to own enough bad without y’all piling on “total win” of a contract, paying for it, and that paying being dubious at best happening without major pain.
But, again, please… talk how Lightfoot rolled CTU.
- Teve Demotte - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:05 am:
Teachers pay 2% not 9%. CPS picks up the 7% in addition to picking up the employer portion as well. CPS also has to make up the difference or changes in actuarial assumptions and if the pension fund under -performs market expectations as outlined in their budget assumptions.
- Ok - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:09 am:
Biggest political impact of this contract was that it was for 5 years.
The alternative was a a 3-year contract and a strike in the run-up to the next mayoral.
All the other details will be forgotten.
- AnotherAnon - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:09 am:
I see this place doesn’t allow any views outside of CTU support. My posts aren’t allowed.
- AnotherAnon - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:12 am:
A few committees and jobs if very high thresholds are met is not a win. Read the contract. There will very few new positions with the thresholds required.
CPS enrollment has declined twenty thousand in the last 2 years. Of course schools will be closed. We will see new enrollment numbers any day which will show further enrollment declines.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:19 am:
=== CPS enrollment has declined twenty thousand in the last 2 years. Of course schools will be closed. We will see new enrollment numbers any day which will show further enrollment declines.===
Mayors own school closings.
Mayors strive to *open* schools. Why? They own those school openings too.
Ask Rahm, the newspapers…
You think you’re helping, you’re not.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:20 am:
- City Zen -
I appreciate it
- City Zen - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:23 am:
==Of course schools will be closed==
Not closed. Think of it as strategic consolidation or decremental growth.
It’s all in the marketing.
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 11:54 am:
32nd Ward Roscoe Village, I’m sure all the kids on the south side that witness shootings and deal with homelessness feel awful about your struggles at wake up time in Roscoe Village
. Thankfully they, and your teen should all have more access to counseling and medical attention for their problems.
The lack of self awareness in some people is mind blowing.
- Rod - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 12:35 pm:
Mayor Lightfoot, CPS, and the CTU had all better contemplate the constitutional referendum on the graduated income tax. If it fails the evidence based funding by State for CPS at it current level will not be maintainable, given increasing pension obligations going out for years. The current contract will not be worth much in that situation. It is time for them all to shift gears and begin working together to work on a yes vote for the amendment. Common interests dictate they work together, if the amendment fails the ship will go down with all hands on board.
- Pundent - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 12:44 pm:
=I don’t see why teachers have a higher formula for retirement than regular state employees.=
And yet there’s a teacher shortage. If this really bothers you maybe the answer is to become a teacher.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 12:57 pm:
“Not much for the kids though.”
The best part of CTU’s dispute was fighting for the kids. If it was raises, they could have accepted what was offered at the beginning. Beside other bargaining subjects, the dispute was for the kids, to get them nurses and support staff.
- Just Saying - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 1:22 pm:
Rich - it is true that teachers have a higher formula because they are not in social security. So by giving them a higher state formula, it puts more burden on the state whereas if they paid social security and had a lower formula, the state pension obligation would be much lower.
- ugh - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 2:02 pm:
“Lunchbox - If Jesse Sharkey hadn’t just won re-election in May as the CTU president, I’d say he better look over his shoulder for Stacy Davis Gates..”
I don’t know Sharkey so not sure if this is true. But if you follow national “teachergram” accounts or famous teachers on Twitter, Stacy Davis Gates’ photo and words were everywhere. I’ve always been impressed with Stacy Davis Gates, no matter whether you agree with her or not. She certainly is good at her job.
- Andy S. - Friday, Nov 1, 19 @ 2:13 pm:
The thing that stands out to me most, that others have not mentioned, is the employee health care premiums - 0 increases for the first 3 years, then 0.25% in year 4 and 0.5% in year 5. This is incredibly generous. I work at a private university, and while I am very satisfied with my health plan choices overall our employee premiums typically increase 5-6% per year even as deductibles and copayment rise.