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* UPDATED x1 CPS responds * CTU says 95 percent voted to strike

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Chicago Teachers Union members have approved a strike, the union said days before its leaders could set an actual walkout date.

The CTU did not disclose the total number of signatures collected after it spent three days distributing petitions to members last week.

Instead, the union announced Monday that about 90.6 of its members voted and that about 95 percent of those voters supported a strike.

State law requires at least 75 percent of CTU members authorize a strike.

* Sun-Times…

“This should come as no surprise to the board, the mayor or parents because educators have been angry about the school-based cuts that have hurt special education students, reduced librarians, counselors, social workers and teachers’ aides, and eliminated thousands of teaching positions,” the union said in a press release.

*** UPDATE *** From CPS…

“A strike can be averted, and CPS will work tirelessly to make sure children’s education and progress is not interrupted. CPS teachers have helped propel Chicago students’ remarkable academic gains – so even in a difficult financial environment, CPS is offering teachers a raise that was already supported by both the CTU leadership and an independent third party arbitrator.

“A strike is a very serious step that affects the lives of thousands of parents and children, and we hope that before taking the final steps toward a strike, the CTU’s leadership works hard at the bargaining table to reach a fair deal.”

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 10:35 am

Comments

I do not know whether this is justified or not but the timing does not look good.

Faculty at WIU actually took a 3% cut (real reduction ) in pay this last year and on top of that did not receive a 1% pay increase that was in a past contract. Something to think about!

Comment by Federalist Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 10:53 am
Because of furloughs, CTU teachers got a 2 percent pay cut last year in addition to younger teachers losing raises for lanes and steps.

Comment by Cathartt Representative Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 10:56 am
The Spartans have reached Thermopylae.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:13 am
This time let them rot

Comment by sue Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:24 am
Why do I have flashbacks to Wayne’s World when I hear about all this posturing? It’s like CTU is Wayne and the CPS is Garth.

CPS: Fine then, go!
CTU: I’m gone!
CPS: Go then!
CTU: But I am!… (repeat)

Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:27 am
In other words, they are still negotiating. With a strike vote, CTU may be bringing more heft to the table. But Emmanuel is no slouch in the negotiating department, although Chicago’s numerous other problems right now may weaken his hand.Still, how many more tax increases can he reasonably get away with. And in the end, this is a struggle over money. How much, who pays.

Comment by Cassandra Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:31 am
Honeybear….Looks like they’re really getting to the “HOT Gates” now!

Comment by NoGifts Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:41 am
Sue. I read CapFax often and enjoy most peoples comments even though I may not agree, I love the forum and different view points. But I have to ask, you don’t post very often but when you do it normally is against unions. why is that? Just curious is all.

Comment by golface18 Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:41 am
50 neighborhood schools closed.
Social workers - cut.
Art teachers -cut.
Librarians -cut.
Music teachers - cut.
Class size - increased.
Paperwork - increased.
3000 shootings.
500 homicides………

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:44 am
Golf ace 18. - the answer is simple- I am not against Unions per se but here in Illinois they have captured the legislature and at least in my opinion- they are doing serious damage to our State and local communities. Nearly 30 percent of all State revenues are going to pay for pension contributions. In Chicago the percentage along with debt service according to today’s Tribine is 42 percent. There is less money every year for anything else. You might say this is not the fault of Unions but truth be told the Unions(CTU, SEIU, AFSCME, IEA) are all joining with our Democratic legislature to oppose any type of meaningful reform and instead insist on the status quote. So I guess that is the answer to your thoughtful inquiry

Comment by Sue Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 11:57 am
The rhetoric about unions is completely over the top. Anything that restores the balance between the union and the taxpayer through reasonable restrictions on collective bargaining does not equal the decimation of unions

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 12:02 pm
Anyone who thinks this is all about the money has never taught in an overcrowded underfunded high-poverty school district.

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 12:07 pm
And lest we forget:
Funding for test-prep/test-taking - increased; Time spent on test-prep/test-taking - increased; Time left over for inspired teaching/joyful learning - decreased

Comment by TinyDancer(FKA Sue) Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 12:13 pm
–Anything that restores the balance between the union and the taxpayer through reasonable restrictions on collective bargaining does not equal the decimation of unions–

How can you reasonably restrict collective bargaining? You either have collective bargaining or not. It’s not an in between. Now perhaps you suggesting lower wages/benefits, increase in management rights et cetera, but collective bargaining is the right to bargain with management as a whole entity instead of individually. Could you clarify?

(See Rich I’m trying)

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 12:38 pm
Honeybear, Chicago has limited collective bargaining many issues for years without decimating unions. Rauner is trying to give other cities and government units across Illinois that same flexibility

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 12:49 pm
–You might say this is not the fault of Unions but truth be told the Unions(CTU, SEIU, AFSCME, IEA) are all joining with our Democratic legislature to oppose any type of meaningful reform–

Nope, the Raunerites took control of the ILGOP and suddenly Labor had no GOP allies in the GA, except McCann. Labor used to be able to work with quite a number of ILGOP. It’s why OW suggested right at the start of the Rauner Administration his 3 goals. Number 3 was Labor peace. Kucinich of Ohio made peace after a brief skirmish with Labor. It worked out for him.

No, Sue, politicians on both sides misappropriated our pension funds to pay for other stuff. We’re fighting for our very survival. It’s quite reasonable for us to see the Raunerite drive for “reform” as actually a drive for our extinction. From day one Rauner has been on this quest. Prove me wrong if you can.

No Rauner made a deal with the ILGOP. Give me (Rauner) complete control and always back me up and I’ll deliver to you a majority.

It was a deal with the devil if there ever was one.

Now the state is in ruins because of Rauner.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 12:49 pm
Correct Lucky and look at what it has done to those unions who succumb to that decimation.

There is no sacrificing or gives when the opponent wants your destruction.

“The strong will do as they will and the weak will suffer what they must”

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 12:51 pm
“You might say this is not the fault of Unions but truth be told the Unions(CTU, SEIU, AFSCME, IEA) are all joining with our Democratic legislature to oppose any type of meaningful reform and instead insist on the status quote. So I guess that is the answer to your thoughtful inquiry”

So it was the unions puppet mastering the dem legislature & gov when they created the less generous tier 2 pension scheme & cuts to tier one pensioners (that the supremes ruled unconstitutional)? What about the dem legislature that has refused to appropriate back wages owed to union members? With friends like these…

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 12:54 pm
Lucky. I would agree with you accept Gov Rauner specifically stated AFSCME would just go away. Hence, Union go away. correct?

Comment by golface18 Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 12:57 pm
Perhaps if labor would be a little more accommodating and drop some of their ridiculous demands- (overtime for more than a 37.5 hour work week), some accommodations for the tier two worker- (better raise and bonus potential) they would have more support with everyday people.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 1:04 pm
Good luck to CTU in getting blood out of the (insolvent) CPS Turnip.

Comment by Chicago Taxpayer Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 1:07 pm
Sue,

You seem to focus upon the financial problems due to pensions and the unions.

Do you realize that the IMRF is over 80% funded merely because the money was legally put in when it should have been and the investments have grown? Every State pension would be in the same position of the state of Illinois had been doing this for the past several decades. Some of these pension systems have a strong union component, some do not (SURS for example) but they are all in bad shape because of this financial chicanery by the state. Are you aware of this. You should be. Do you even care?

I will not comment upon the Chicago unions and their pensions because I do not have the background /knowledge to make a judgment.

Comment by Federalist Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 1:08 pm
@Federalist -
Here’s your background/knowledge on the state’s involvement in CTU pension (not)funding:

http://ctpf.org/general_info/advocacy/fundinghistory.pdf

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 1:26 pm
–Do you even care?–

I suspect she does not. Raunerites must have their sin eater. Trump has his Mexicans and Muslims. Rauner has his Madigan and unions. The unfortunate thing is that the GOP used to have some quite legitimate points to make and areas that they could work on. Now it seems to be perfidy all the time. Merit is nearly meaningless. Facts are totally optional. I used to be quite conservative until a life changing brush with poverty and nearly losing it all in the Great Recession changed the way I see the world. Compromise cannot exist in an atmosphere designed to kill your opponent. Sending letters with instructions on how to quit the union to 70,000 AFSCME members indicates to me that Rauner will not stop until the union is gone.

Like two eagles locked in a death spiral

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 1:36 pm
–Perhaps if labor would be a little more accommodating and drop some of their ridiculous demands- (overtime for more than a 37.5 hour work week),–

Nope it’s not about that and you know it. We weren’t even close to done negotiating when the Governor walked away in January and issued his last best and final offer. You know very well that that was his plan all along. There was no impasse. He violated the tolling agreement and walked away from the table. He wanted the contract to go before the ILRB his owned board so that they would declare impasse and he could impose his contract in order to force a strike.

Stop the obfuscation and perfidy.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 1:42 pm
Here’s the problem. Rauner has destroyed any credibility he ever had with people who aren’t directly owned by him.

He destroyed the private social service networks.

He refused to negotiate to produce a budget.

He has caused the state to not honor its contacts

He has caused the layoff of thousands.

He has starved and decimated his own agencies.

He has installed young puppets to do his bidding.

He is perfidious in intention and deed.

He authorized 215,000,000 in EDGE last year.

He has reduced the state workforce to near collapse

He can’t be trusted by even those in his own party.

Tell me why people will believe that unions are the problem?

They’re just going to take HIS word for it?

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 1:52 pm
“Perhaps if labor would be a little more accommodating and drop some of their ridiculous demands- (overtime for more than a 37.5 hour work week), some accommodations for the tier two worker- (better raise and bonus potential) they would have more support with everyday people.”

Hard to be accommodating when the other side won’t even meet…

Comment by steward Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 1:56 pm
steward Well said.

Comment by golface18 Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 2:03 pm
–Kucinich of Ohio–

Sorry, I knew that was wrong. Kasich of Ohio.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 2:30 pm
It’s real easy to sit in your leather chair with phone at hand in an air conditioned building–laptop on desk and decimate the work that any teacher does. Now that you got yours………………. If you think it’s such a cushy job, such an easy, filthy rich paying job, go do it. Contribute something to society instead of your own pocket. It is easy to criticize something you know absolutely nothing about.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 2:42 pm
– This time let them rot.–

Oh, Sue, you think that’s the answer to everything.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 3:49 pm
==IMRF is over 80% funded merely because the money was legally put in when it should have been and the investments have grown? Every State pension would be in the same position of the state of Illinois had been doing this for the past several decades.==

And employee raises would have been smaller, less generous health care benefits, less promotions, fewer job openings, smaller pensions, etc. All it takes is for one of those highly likely scenarios to happen once to change an employee’s career compensation.

IMRF got to fly under the radar while every other pension plan was underfunded. If every pension fund paid up in the same way as IMRF, using the proper assumptions, municipal compensation would have been scrutinized much more closely. Remember, money finite. A higher state income tax to pay SURS pensions means more attention paid on IMRF salaries and benefits.

Comment by City Zen Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 3:55 pm
(Tips cap to - Honeybear -)

To the post,

The failure to see that…

CTU is arguably more popular than those that are trying to “control” them

Rauner thinks so little of Chicago Teachers, the demise of CTU is a want and desire, even those who taught Rauner’s denied daughter… from Winnetka

Gov. Kasich and labor is where Rauner should be. The failure of Rauner to see the Kasich model is the blind distaste for labor shining through.

Finally, a governor like Gov. Thompson would’ve stepped in already. Why? Governing IS important.

Rahm is over his head, under water in his popularity and buried under debt. Rauner doesn’t see this as a problem… for everyone.

Yikes.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 4:11 pm
CTU will have its strike to mollify its militant wing, and then it will agree to a contract not so very different than the one rejected many months ago. And correct, CTU and its current leadership is far more popular than the mayor, and this is one of the results. I just hope the union uses its leverage to win some things to improve the schools for children and parents. There is a lot that could be done if CTU would see that as part of its mission. And it is vital if it is to maintain public support for the schools.

Comment by Molly Maguire Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 4:40 pm
Hey Karen- if you are going to go out and essentially commit CTU to destroy itself Please do it before November 8 so voters throughout the State see the need to deprive Madigan of his veto proof majority. Please

Comment by Sue Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 5:29 pm
Skeptic I guess you don’t know that those Unions have bankrolled Madigan this year because they think it’s not in their interest. Wake up. By my calculation they have provided Madigan and his Dem partners almost 40 million $

Comment by Sue Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 5:34 pm
The smartest public relations move CTU could make right now would be to agree to freeze raises for a couple of years but insist on various improvements in the school district in exchange. If that take that stance, they will have public support … even if they do strike.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 5:34 pm
–Hey Karen- if you are going to go out and essentially commit CTU to destroy itself…–

Yeah, CTU only had the approval of 66% of parents with children in Chicago public schools during the 2012 strike.

Not before, during. Such destruction.

https://capitolfax.com/2012/09/13/no-hugo-theyre-not-supremely-unhappy-yet/

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 5:35 pm
Must be a vacation day for Honeybear - or a whole lot of “breaks”.

Comment by Cadillac Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 5:36 pm
–Skeptic I guess you don’t know that those Unions have bankrolled Madigan this year because they think it’s not in their interest. Wake up. By my calculation they have provided Madigan and his Dem partners almost 40 million $–

Care to show your work, or is it a secret? Which unions, their amounts, to whom, adding up to $40 million this year?

Do you seriously think Rauner would let his operation get swamped by union money? Why would he do that?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 5:40 pm
==The smartest public relations move CTU could make right now would be to agree to freeze raises for a couple of years but insist on various improvements in the school district in exchange.==

You’re right. But we know that’s not going to happen because those issues aren’t the ones driving the strike threats…

Comment by Former IL Resident Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 6:20 pm
Word- guess you never read anything other then this blog. It was in the Tribune last week. Madigans gross was close to Rauners and virtually all of it was from labor Unions. As far as CTUs popularity. It is not 2012

Comment by Sue Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 6:23 pm
– It was in the Tribune last week.–

I thought the $40 million from unions was by your “calculation?”

Anyway, would it kill you to provide a link? The google isn’t helping, even with all your clues.

–As far as CTUs popularity. It is not 2012 –

Rich wrote the other day that he saw polling during the primaries that CTU had the highest approvals of any individual or institution in the state.

When it comes to approval ratings, I imagine Emanuel wishes it was 2012, though.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 6:56 pm
===in the state===

In the city.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 7:07 pm
Rich, my mistake. Thank you.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 7:18 pm
Hey, Honeybear, you might want to rethink that Thermopolis (sorry, my phone keeps auto correcting) as things didn’t end well for the Spartans. Maybe a better analogy wold be the Thin Red Line at Balaclava or the Marines at Kei San (sp). With respect.

Comment by G'Kar Monday, Sep 26, 16 @ 7:20 pm
CTU is so popular that the number of students it teaches declined by almost 14,000 this year from last.

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 6:10 am
- Ron -

===CTU is so popular…===

Gov. Bruce Rauner clouted his denied Winnetka-living daughter into CPS over a worthy child. Rauner also thought Payton Prep was better than New Trier and every private school in Illinois.

You’re welcome.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 7:04 am
Yes OW, the selective enrollment high schools in CPS are the best in the state.

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 8:59 am
===Yes OW, the selective enrollment high schools in CPS are the best in the state.===

- Ron -,

Those are CTU teachers. Parents want the best.

Again, you’re welcome.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 9:08 am