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* Sun-Times…
The Chicago Teachers Union’s “Big Bargaining Team” voted unanimously on Monday to reject a four-year contract offer, a source has told the Chicago Sun-Times.
That team of 40 union members is scheduled to hold a news conference at 3:30 p.m. Monday to formally announce their vote on what the union had termed a “serious offer.”
With the team — made up of teachers, social workers and other school staffers — voting unanimously against that latest proposal, that contract agreement will not go before the House of Delegates, as the union’s governing body is known.
The rejection means that CPS and the CTU will enter a final legal stage of negotiations that starts a 105-day clock ticking toward a strike.
* Hinz has some background on what the rejected deal entailed…
The deal effectively swaps some non-economic things that the union has wanted for a long time — like changes in work rules and a cap on new charter schools — for economic pain. Specifically, teachers would have to pay more toward their own pensions, with the 7 percent of salary that CPS now pays on their behalf vanishing immediately for new hires and over the course of two years for those already on the payroll.
The “step-and-lane” experience hikes for current teachers would be frozen for a year. And while teachers would get an across-the-board pay hike, it only would cover the give-back on the pension side, raising base pay just 1 percent over four years, knowledgeable sources tell me. That’s a cost-savings package of almost $500 million.
It’s amazing to me that Karen Lewis, of all people, was deemed insufficiently tough with Emanuel by her own bargaining team.
We’re in La-La Land now, campers. No union deal will probably mean no more borrowing and most assuredly no state money.
Whew, baby. Hang on to your hats.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:14 pm
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Unbelievable. And extreme beyond belief.
Even Lewis realized that this was a serious, reasonable compromise offer. The money simply is not there, as most people are finally starting to realize.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:19 pm
This is the dumbest move CTU could have chosen.
Slap in the face to Karen Lewis and Rahm Emanuel.
Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:20 pm
Ugh. These folks are playing right into Rauner’s hands. These clowns actually make him look reasonable.
Comment by Get a Job!! Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:21 pm
Do what you have to do CTU.
Solidarity
Comment by There is power in a union... Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:24 pm
Bond deal blows up 3-2-1 …
Comment by Georg Sande Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:24 pm
Seems to me that the union not going along with Karen Lewis is a big mistake. She knows what is available to the union members, and if she is for it, then it must be the best available at this particular time. This could be an ugly situation a-brewing, I’m afraid.
Comment by Big Joe Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:25 pm
That is actually a better deal than I had thought was being offered. No real take home raise but breaking even on the pension payments. (Actually, after taxes, they may see a slight net pay increase because of the deductibility of the pension payment.)
CTU members just voted to cut their throat. I predict 6 months from now they will wish they had this good a deal back on the table.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:26 pm
Meh - The 105 days puts the strike date in the middle of May. So what if school gets out early. Teachers walk a picket line in front of empty schools, kids out on summer vacation, no harm no foul.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:28 pm
Playing right into raunner’s wheel house.
Comment by sal-says Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:29 pm
When the people that represent you say it is a good deal to consider, I always respected the word of the negotiators, if they said it was a fair deal at this time. CTU members will regret it BIG TIME, I’m afraid.
Comment by Big Joe Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:30 pm
Sheesh for slightly more than the rest of us have to contribute to social security in exchange for their pension and is voted down. Good luck winning that pr battle.
Comment by Very fed up Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:30 pm
shoot
Comment by chi Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:33 pm
Cue the “we have a contingency plan” announcement from Rauner.
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:34 pm
It’s never over until it’s over. The team has to represent the membership. Be interesting to hear what the real basis of this decision was. There will be a big tax increase we are told repeatedly by both parties, although I suppose it might not come until next year after the election. Perhaps the team believes that over the longer term they can get more cash by holding out. That doesn’t make them greedy or stupid. It makes them…participants in a negotiation over money. It’s happening every day. And remember, this year is taken care of. There’s plenty of time.
Comment by Cassandra Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:36 pm
105 days is a long time. There is still a lot of time for negotiating by the two sides. The two-year rollback is probably too short given the one year “step and lane” freeze. And there is nothing yet identified about health insurance.
Comment by Buzzie Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:41 pm
Where is Jesse Sharkey in all of this?
Comment by I hate RINOs Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:43 pm
Watching the news conference now- these fools don’t know what they are in for. The layoff notices will be in the 1000’s. Where does CTU expect CPS to find the money after this rejection. There will be no bond deal, no State bailout and Claypool will now have the political support to do what Ned’s to be done
Comment by Sue Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:43 pm
Solidarity? Union membership nationwide at 11%? Somebody is drinking the proverbial Kool-aid!
Comment by Blue dog dem Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:44 pm
You just can’t save them from themselves. Utterly. Amazing.
Comment by A guy Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:46 pm
Huh?, Just because they’re allowed to strike in May doesn’t mean that they will. My guess is they would strike to open the school year.
Comment by Century Club Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:46 pm
Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. These guys are on a kamikaze mission to blow up CPS even as they kill themselves.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:50 pm
Maybe Cullerton’s budget advice should be applied here.
We’ll agree to pay CTU whatever it wants. But teachers will only receive their paychecks whenever funds become available since the contract will call to “only release as much money as the city can afford.”
Then all the city politicians and CTU negotiators can pretend they did their jobs, without actually doing anything.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:53 pm
===no harm no foul. ===
You’re looking at this in a vacuum.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:53 pm
Wow! CTU traditionally has been rebellious with negotiations, but from Karen Lewis’ statements, it sounded like a deal that both sides could live with.
40 members on that panel voted unanimously to reject? Wow!
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:54 pm
A bit surprised by this today. Cullerton and Madigan have to be wondering if supporting labor (in general) is worth all the pain.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:54 pm
Another deal point was apparently that it required 2200 of the long tenured teachers to retire at the end of the year. No indication those folks would receive a buyout. How many on the 40 person committee approving the deal fall into that class?
Comment by truthteller Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:54 pm
And despite the pace the day was going pretty well. Well….I guess it begins.
Solidarity to the bitter end sisters and brothers
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:54 pm
Isn’t it at least possible that these 105 days will be used to find a slightly better (or merely slightly different) deal that provides enough cover to look as tough as possible to the rank-and-file?
Comment by Sam Weinberg Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:56 pm
it sounds bad, but we don;t know if it was (only) the pay freeze or pension issues, or if there were other components of the bill to push the members toward a no vote
Comment by Ferris Wheel Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 3:57 pm
“You never let a serious crisis go to waste”…Looks like the CTU is taking advantage of Rahm being on the ropes.
Comment by Jon Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:00 pm
-40 members on that panel voted unanimously to reject? Wow!-
This summer at our AFSCME Biannual Convention my local president said to the four of us delegates. “I don’t care what the hell you guys want to take stands on as long as you do it unanimously! No onesies or twosie, 4 of you act as 1! Got it?”
That’s why it was unanimous. I’m sure there was a lot of yelling and arguing. Don’t think for a minute they brushed this off. I’m sure it’s the hardest decision many of them have ever had to make.
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:01 pm
They should have taken the deal. The rest of us public employees are paying between 8 and 9.5% for our pensions.
Comment by Jack Retired Water Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:01 pm
From the Sun-Times article, it doesn’t sound like they rejected the offer in total. They don’t trust CPS to adhere to the limit on Charters and they don’t want older teachers forced to retire. Both of those seem like they could be hammered out. Although, declining the offer via press conference isn’t really step 1 in hammering things out.
Comment by Century Club Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:03 pm
===it doesn’t sound like they rejected the offer in total===
They rejected the offer. They may have points of disagreement and some points of agreement, but the offer was rejected. Unanimously.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:05 pm
It’s possible they need the pink slips to go out to get their members to support a deal.
Comment by chi Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:05 pm
And then there is Mayor Rahm’s TIF money. Is that part of the negotiation. Seems like the CPS could give a little more if Mayor Rahm gives up some of that TIF money–maybe $350 million available for CPS?.
Comment by Cassandra Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:07 pm
As I spend numerous hours on CPS high school selective enrollment, magnet and performing arts applications and auditions for my eighth grader, I ask myself today–why? It is very discouraging.
Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:07 pm
“Pay more towards their own pensions” means a 7% salary reduction. It is purely semantics because total compensation is total compensation.
Comment by Liberty Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:08 pm
Let’s hope something better can be agreed upon before the process ends in a strike. Right now, I don’t think the membership realizes they’re not going to get much better, and the layoffs will be huge without an agreement. As usual, members with the highest seniority are looking out for their interests, not what’s best for everyone involved.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:08 pm
===I don’t think the membership realizes===
This was the bargaining committee. They’re supposedly tuned in.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:10 pm
“Solidarity? Union membership nationwide at 11%? Somebody is drinking the proverbial Kool-aid!”
Sorry I didn’t join in on your teacher union bash fest. Rather give a statement of support. It’s workplace democracy. Those workers’ representatives rejected it. Time to move on.
Comment by There is power in a union... Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:10 pm
Will the kid’s parents be given a “school choice voucher” so they can attend a better school while CTU is on strike?
Comment by Mama Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:13 pm
Rich, what was CTU’s biggest objection? I can not believe they voted unanimously to strike.
CPS teacher’s strike has to be bad news for Mayor Rahm!
Comment by Mama Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:18 pm
Rich, I mean to say that the gulf between the sides may not be as deep as it appears. If they really are getting OK with ending the pension pickup, I think that is a hopeful sign.
I also believe that Honeybear is right about the unanimous vote - it’s reflective of solidarity, not the distance from a potential agreement.
Comment by Century Club Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:18 pm
How can a person who hasn’t seen the offer form an opinion? Don’t rush to judgement please.
Comment by Omega Man Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:23 pm
Cassandra I don’t believe this year is truly taken care of. I could be wrong but I thought this would have prevented layoffs they are going to impose now.
Claypool is an axeman, he has done it before and he will do it again.
I am really sorry this didn’t happen, I had hoped it would take the wind out of Rauner’s sails. Looks like the wind just blew in….
Comment by burbanite Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:26 pm
If teachers have it so great with their super salaries and benefits, why people criticizing CTU’s efforts don’t enter the profession? 50% of new teachers leave CPS within the first 5 years. I guess it must be because of the great salary and benefits…
Comment by John Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:26 pm
There is Power in a Union. I guess you don’t follow me much. I am much pro Union. The reason we are losing ground nation wide is because there is very little solidarity left. Most folks in the union think with their wallets, not their souls. I see it EVERY day, unionized teachers having homes built, repaired, remodeled with non Union work. You ever see a teacher in a WAl Mart? Go down to your neighborhood garage and see how many union workers are having their car worked on by non Union techs. It looks like I am ganging up on teachers, but blue collar Union workers do the same thing. I said this last week, but it’s worth repeating, ” we have met the enemy, and he is us!”
Comment by Blue dog dem Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:28 pm
Well this should slow down the AFSCME is greedy and out of touch talk. This reported offer far outpaces anything ASCME reportedly got offered.
Comment by Generation X Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:29 pm
People acting like this is just CTU negotiating tactics need to look at this from the other side. Assuming that Karen Lewis was negotiating in good faith, why would CPS continue to negotiate with her? She brings a deal to her board (not the members), and they unanimously reject the deal?! Absolutely crazy
Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:30 pm
Has the CPS teachers voted on this strike or is the vote only from the negotiation team?
Comment by Mama Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:30 pm
Chicagonk +1
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:33 pm
==And while teachers would get an across-the-board pay hike, it only would cover the give-back on the pension side, raising base pay just 1 percent over four years, knowledgeable sources tell me. That’s a cost-savings package of almost $500 million.==
Where is the cost saving here? Making the teachers contribute to their pension plan, but increasing their pay to cover the contributions, is going to cost the City. If a teacher is making $50,000, and the City is making the 7% of pay contribution, it costs the city $53,500 total, and the pension is based on $50,000. If the teacher has to start making the contribution and you increase pay to cover it, it will cost the City $53,763 total (7% of that amount is the $3,7363 pension contribution) and the pension will be based on $53,763.
That is why so many schools have picked up employee contributions to pensions in lieu of pay raises. People who complain that teachers in this situation aren’t contributing to their pension plans don’t understand the math.
Comment by Whatever Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:33 pm
The teachers already approved the strike. Currently we are in a fact finding stage that will last 105 days. Cps offer was rejected today and will not be submitted to the delegates or all union members.
Comment by John Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:35 pm
If Karen doesn’t have the support of her negotiating board, why the heck is she the one negotiating?
Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:35 pm
Blue dog- then why crap on a simple solidarity statement?
Mama- members authorized the strike as an option. It’s the nuclear option and kept in the bargaining teams back pocket unless needed. Cps offered a deal. The bargaining team voted to reject the deal and not send it to the council of delegates.
And honey bear is right. You can argue and disagree all you want in the room but once it’s put to a vote and wins it IS the decision of that body.
Comment by There is power in a union... Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:35 pm
==They’re supposedly tuned in.==
Yes, but the union mantra is you never give up contract benefits or advantages gained. They probably can’t see past giving in on the pension payback or contributing to previously CPS supported health care benefits. We went on strike for a month to protect district paid for health care benefits in my town.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:36 pm
CTU doesn’t trust the Rahm-appointed board or their “promises” in this deal - they’ve been burned in the past with the board’s weasel language - the deal they get is not the deal they were promised.
They want CPS to lay out a concrete plan to fix the funding problem - not just the temporary short term fix that this deal offers.
CTU wants a sufficient number of school counselors and special ed services - you know, just like they have in the suburbs.
Comment by Sue (the other one) Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:41 pm
-whatever-
Comment by RNUG Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:42 pm
CPS’s offer was not serious. CTU bargaining team members Michelle Strater Gunderson’s post explains. You wouldn’t have signed it either.
Chicago educators and allies: You will hear many things in the news about our contract. Here is my analysis from today’s work in the bargaining team.
As a union we were asked to make significant cuts, yet what the board offered in return had significant holes.
1. The board’s offer was dependent on a specified number of veteran educators retiring, and the language offered would re-open our contract if the number was not met.
2. The language regarding lay off protections did not prevent a reduction of force for reasons other the economic pressures.
3. The promise of no charter school expansion is moot when the state commission can undermine it.
After strong deliberation, even though the board’s proposal offered us significant gains, we could not accept the Chicago Public School board’s tentative agreement.
In the end, this is a matter of trusting those who have proven themselves untrustworthy. I personally could not say yes, and the decision to reject was unanimous on the bargaining team.
Comment by ChiTeach Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:46 pm
Deal is actually even better than it looks. Steps and lanes are worth at least an extra couple of points each year, on top of the COLA’s.
Comment by Chicago schooler Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:47 pm
There is more to this story that we don’t know. It’s their right to reject the offer. What I object to is that all teachers—wherever they may be—are painted with the same brush as these. It seems that CTU is very organized, militant and demanding. They work in conditions that most people in this state cannot even imagine. So perhaps they are justified in their strong stances. But they aren’t every teacher or teacher’s organization.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:50 pm
Keep in mind that teachers never reveived their negotiated 4% raise in 2012 as the city found language in the contract that allowed them not to pay claiming economic reasons. Furthermore, it was Cps, not teachers that decided not to give the optional last year contract this year with a 3% raise. Finally, teachers in 2012 agreed to a longer school day and longer school year without any compensation meaning teachers actually made singnificantly less than before. If you read the details 1500-2000 teachers would be asked to retire soon or Cps could reopen the contract again in July. I think teachers are fed up with all the lies an cant trust Cps anymore.
Comment by john Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:51 pm
==CTU doesn’t trust the Rahm-appointed board or their “promises” in this deal ==
So then what’s the point of engaging in negotiations? If this is truly the thought of the members and that is why the proposal was rejected then everyone should just pack up and go home.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:51 pm
-whatever-
As I understand it, CPS was going to dole out some raises regardless. This way, the money for the raises more or less comes out of the existing “employee pension pickup” bucket instead of the “new money” bucket. In effect, the total spending of this particular trade-off will be more or less flat. In other words, doesn’t really cut total spending but holds the line on increasing it, which most people (especially government) would count as a savings compared to expected expenditures.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:52 pm
==CPS’s offer was not serious.==
You’re bargaining team said it was. As somebody said above, why would CPS engage in any further negotiations with Karen Lewis if she isn’t on the same page as the members?
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:56 pm
So much for pulling a rabbit out of a hat to get a win dems. This reinvigorates the Rauner camp, not that he was weakening.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 4:58 pm
Remember, CTU is doing it for the kids.
I can’t dismiss the possibility though that this is a good cop/bad cop move to eek out some modest concessions, which CPS will agree to. I just can’t believe CTU is this reckless and this willing to empower their enemies.
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 5:20 pm
Great job CTU — the only guy that won today is Rauner.
Homework for CTU members tonight: research the term “pyrrhic victory”
Comment by ILPundit Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 5:24 pm
@Demoralized
There’s wiggle room in the language of the proposed contract, the type of which CPS has exploited in the past. CTU wants to structure the contract in a way that precludes CPS from weaseling out of contractual agreements. Once bitten, twice shy.
Comment by Sue (the other one) Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 5:44 pm
Time for CPS bankruptcy .. $$480 million in the hole this year ..over $700 million for next year … too many teachers making too much money with too big pensions ,, Gov Rauner got it right
Comment by bestday Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 5:49 pm
It’s a pretty amazing bleep you to Karen Lewis, who is working her tail off for the union members. I can’t imagine the internal politics of this committee to kick her in the shins so hard, so publicly.
Comment by DuPage Dave Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 5:51 pm
I am sick to death of “they’re doing it for the kids” crap.
So they’re to take a vow of poverty and deprive their own children of a decent life? Shouldn’t police officers, who do it for society? Shouldn’t firefighters who do it to keep us safe? Where does this stop, this idea of lowly servitude?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 6:09 pm
I would add to chi teachers comment that the no layoff provision was questionable because of article 34 of the school code that voids contracts if CPS can not appropriate funds to meet the obligation.
Comment by Rod Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 6:13 pm
If they had Rahm “on the ropes” before, they just picked him up and dusted him off with a smile.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 6:23 pm
From the outside, and this is all that matters in this current climate, Karen Lewis has lost her union.
Comment by Now What? Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 6:37 pm
Rahm was never really on the ropes, but this helps him immensely. Rauner as well.
Comment by Tone Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 6:39 pm
==It’s a pretty amazing bleep you to Karen Lewis, who is working her tail off for the union members. I can’t imagine the internal politics of this committee to kick her in the shins so hard, so publicly.==
==From the outside, and this is all that matters in this current climate, Karen Lewis has lost her union.==
I concur with both these statements. It would appear that there is a power struggle going on inside CTU and that Karen is being undermined and humiliated on purpose. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the story unfolds.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 8:37 pm
Hope it’s now crystal clear what part of the deal was just too hard to take.
Comment by walker Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 8:41 pm
They just made the perfect argument to allow units of local government to go bankrupt and undo their union agreements and relationships entirely.
Comment by Not it Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 9:01 pm
Maybe Rahm says to CTU; fine, deal with Bruce. Does Rahm throw in the towel and support the state takeover?
Comment by Anony Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 11:07 pm
This is what it must feel like negotiating with AFSCME.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 11:40 pm
“Maybe Rahm says to CTU; fine, deal with Bruce.”
IMHO, dealing with Rahm IS dealing with Bruce.
Comment by Sue (the there one) Monday, Feb 1, 16 @ 11:59 pm
=I concur with both these statements. It would appear that there is a power struggle going on inside CTU and that Karen is being undermined and humiliated on purpose. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the story unfolds.=
BWA! HA! HA! HA!
This must mean that at the end of the 2012 strike when Karen Lewis wanted the House of Delegates to vote to end the strike and they instead wanted a day to take it back to their membership, thus prolonging the strike an extra day that the leadership struggle was already afoot.
Comment by Carhartt Representative Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 8:13 am
I think people are making a tad much out of “a power struggle.” Strategically she had to bring a deal to the committee. The committee rejected it. If you think that committee doesn’t respect her you are wrong.
Comment by There is power in a union... Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 8:15 am
=== IMHO, dealing with Rahm IS dealing with Bruce. ===
That’s a pretty ridiculous statement. Sure, Rahm is negotiating tough with CTU because CPS and the City are in a very precarious financial situation. Rauner doesn’t care about finances - he simply cares about killing unions.
Comment by Anonymouth Tuesday, Feb 2, 16 @ 8:47 am