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* Mayor Lightfoot started the bargaining with an offer to teachers of a 14 percent raise over five years, significantly higher than the final figure of 11.5 percent over eight years that Gov. Pritzker and AFSCME settled on earlier this year.
Now she’s up to 16 percent (or 24 percent, depending how you count) and it’s still not considered enough…
The Chicago Teachers Union has rejected an independent fact-finder’s report on its contract negotiations with the school district — a move that places the labor group one step closer to a possible strike.
The development comes as Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools officials have floated an enhanced offer that would raise teacher pay by 16% percent over five years — an increase from the 14% offered earlier by the new mayor.
“Though the wage and benefits proposals are said to be generous, they come in the context of nearly a decade of austerity and cuts,” union President Jesse Sharkey said at a rain-soaked press conference early Monday morning outside of Suder Montessori School.
The union’s rejection of the fact finder report means the district could legally strike on or after Sept. 25.
* WBEZ education reporter…
Lightfoot Says: largest and most robust salary offer ever… from teacher making $78,000 will now make $97,757
— Sarah Karp (@SSKedreporter) August 26, 2019
Jackson says average teacher will see increase of 24 percent. Cps is counting steps and lanes, which are increases for years of service and education accomplishments
— Sarah Karp (@SSKedreporter) August 26, 2019
Lightfoot and Jackson says they have planned for this summer increase in their budget.
— Sarah Karp (@SSKedreporter) August 26, 2019
Could be difficult to get a state bailout with numbers like that.
* More…
In addition, the city is resisting many of the other demands from the union.
One of the biggest areas of disagreement is whether the contract will require the school district to hire more social workers, nurses and counselors.
The union [says] it wants specific contract language guaranteeing these clinicians will be brought on and that staff-to-student ratios reduced. Lightfoot has said she wants to bring on these staff — she has promised to hire 250 more nurses, 200 more social workers and more special education case managers over the next five years — but her team has resisted putting this in the contract.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 9:52 am
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I’m not sure that turning down a 16% (or 24%) raise over 5 years, with virtually no increase in healthcare cost, will go over well with the public.
Comment by anon Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 9:54 am
The Springfield D186 union leadership is being a bit greedy this year too but nothing like that.
Comment by JT Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:01 am
Lol..daley,rahm,lori…just interchange the mayors name, in the end all the same. She will cave citing the same old excuses her predecessors did…namely for ” the children “…
Comment by Timmy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:02 am
Unless there is something missing in the coverage, even labor supporters have to question the union’s action. It appears to be an avariciousness at the expense of a community already struggling addressing other publicly funded needs.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:02 am
“Lightfoot has said she wants to bring on these staff — she has promised to hire 250 more nurses, 200 more social workers and more special education case managers over the next five years — but her team has resisted putting this in the contract.”
If it’s part of the contract, it’s a legally enforceable promise.
If it’s not part of the contract, it’s just a political promise.
One is meaningful.
The other is… substantially less than meaningful.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:05 am
Notable story from the Tribune this weekend is a study showing Chicago at great risk of losing tech jobs in the next decade: https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-chicago-job-growth-mckinsey-20190826-7×5qw5v4qjcaljhgz7kqtnf54i-story.html
While educating “next generation” in STEM skills is noted, the most immediate need is secondary education and infrastructure. The big point is that as hard as it is to satisfy our pension obligations and meet fair labor demands, we can’t afford NOT to leave some meat on the bone. The CTA is a great example of this: as bad as things got they refused to raid their long-term/improvement budgets and that has proved wise (look at NYC).
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:07 am
Amazing. I wish I could have that type of salary increases.
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:20 am
AFSCME and the State was 11.5% not 13%
Comment by Set the Record Straight Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:21 am
I do not believe the citizenry will be particularly sympathetic to the teachers this time. Same goes for the police and fire. Cut your best deal and move on.
Comment by Original Rambler Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:21 am
Here’s a number from the Illinois State Report Card:
13.6%
That’s how much average class size has grown at CPS the last four years
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:24 am
I think CTU leadership has long planned for a strike. Don’t think it ever mattered what the offers were.
Comment by Ok Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:25 am
I consider myself pro teacher but that offer is way more than generous and to reject it is absurd
What about cops and firemen. I don’t think cops have had a contract or raise in years
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:26 am
“CPS is counting steps and lanes…”
As they should.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:34 am
with a 47.9% funded pension those increases would make the hole even deeper as CTU pension faces the requirement to be 90 percent funded by 2059.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:36 am
Let’s also not forget that Chicago teachers are already among the most well paid teachers in the state — a teacher with 15 years experience (give or take) is generally making around $100,000.
Comment by Just Observing Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:38 am
===a teacher with 15 years experience (give or take) is generally making around $100,000.===
Are you willing to be a teacher in the CPS system… for 15 years?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:41 am
This is a very difficult situation. With Chicago’s already high taxes , where is the money supposed to come from? Even higher taxes? Cut backs somewhere else in the city budget? If Chicago had a growing population the situation might be a little easier. Plus there’s less kids in the school system than at the beginning of this century.
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/cps-enrollment-drops-by-10000-students/11275345-2706-4a5e-8c2d-762932cbca15
Comment by Steve Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:41 am
Last time, Rahm overplayed his hand and got spanked. This time, it appears CTU is doing so. Get ready for a long and painful strike.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:41 am
^^ I should qualify that the pay above I cited various by the degree the teacher has.
Comment by Just Observing Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:42 am
This will tell us how much power the the unions have. If you look at the numbers, CPS reports about 12,000 FT teachers. Of those only 84 make the minimum $52,598. The average salary (which isn’t a great stat but it does provide some info) is $77,377. And the top salary is slightly over $118,000. And that doesn’t cover fringe (health and pension). If the mayor is now offering 16% over 5 years that’s an average of 3% annually. CPI is not running anywhere near that. Sorry but CTU hasn’t got a fiscal leg to stand on. Don’t forget this system is still over stocked with schools. They still need to rightsize the system. So the question is will the mayor stand her ground or capitulate.
Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:43 am
=== Are you willing to be a teacher in the CPS system… for 15 years? ===
A very close relative of mine was a teacher for about 10 years with CPS — she then moved to on to some more affluent, north suburban districts — she found her experience with CPS to be much more positive.
Comment by Just Observing Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:43 am
===With Chicago’s already high taxes , where is the money supposed to come from?==
Property tax assessments, homeowners included, were devalued. There’s a new assessor. We’ll see more pain in the new assessments alone, let alone the needed monies for schools.
I thought Rauner’s new school formula would solve so much. It hasn’t?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:44 am
New mayor, they’re pushing for the maximum.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:44 am
“she has promised to hire 250 more nurses, 200 more social workers and more special education case managers over the next five years…”
The amount CPS spends on the pension pick-up every year could fund over 1,000 of these positions.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:45 am
Supply and demand.
For anyone envious of 3% (no bonuses allowed)raises per year, go sign up.
Comment by AnonymousOne Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:50 am
Mind blowing the money being thrown around. I guess there really isn’t anyone interested in actual bargaining.
Comment by Unpopular Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:52 am
Sharkey is a fool. The public won’t back CTU. Lightfoot has a mandate to tell CTU to take a hike
Comment by Sue Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:53 am
OW
Whether its’ Rauner’s formula or not it’s hard running a giant school district when less kids are coming into the system. Teachers have to be paid . Buildings have to be maintained. There are no easy answers here. Rahm was put in a bad position because many of those schools had to be closed for the lack of students.
Comment by Steve Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:53 am
===Whether its’ Rauner’s formula or not it’s hard running a giant school district when less kids are coming into the system===
It was touted as a fix… fixing the formula. It appears it’s not going to work?
===Rahm was put in a bad position because many of those schools had to be closed for the lack of students.===
Rahm also liked lower property taxes. Don’t forget that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:55 am
The median household income in the City of Chicago at large is $52,497. CTU is asking for nearly double that when the City is +$1 billion in the hole. Lori is far more popular than Rahm could have ever hoped to be and will have no issue making one of the most aggressive backers of her April 2019 opponent appear to be greedy.
After all, these are the same people who allowed themselves to be labeled as sponsoring a visit to Venezuela’s Potemkin Village despite plenty of advanced opportunity to quash that.
Comment by Nuke the Whales Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 10:56 am
…for 9 months work per year.
Comment by Downstate Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:02 am
OW
Given current conditions at the state and local level, Chicago will have to fix CPS. I’m not saying the state will not/ can’t help. I’m just saying it will probably be done primarily at local level.
Comment by Steve Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:02 am
===Given current conditions at the state and local level, Chicago will have to fix CPS.===
Rauner said the same thing… before sending $450 million to CPS.
60, 30, signature.
You keep thinking it’s just a local thing, and yet, the school funding, and this new formula reinforces the lacking by the state to properly fund schools.
I’m sure when you vote for your local school board members you cite this… oops.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:08 am
- Downstate -
Many Chicago teachers are underpaid. They work in very, very difficult situations. Many Chicago teachers are really the best teachers anywhere. Few understand how difficult it is to teach children from challenged backgrounds.
Comment by Steve Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:09 am
===…for 9 months work per year.===
You can be a teacher. No one stopping you.
Same as a state worker, or a fireman and their work schedules.
I baffled at the continually “they only work” crowd, wether it’s jealousy or lacking an understanding how difficult it is to be a teacher, the money teachers spend, on their own for their classes, and let’s not forget the students… whom many think are easy to teach and keep focused… as the same parents on “The Facebook” type…
“So glad my kid(s) are back at school, couldn’t handle them another day at home”
Yeah… they get your kids…
“…for 9 months work per year.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:12 am
Fran Spielman’s review of Lightfoot’s first 100 days criticized the mayor for being thin-skinned and a little too anxious for a fight. But that has not been her approach in dealing with CTU. Unlike Rahm, she’s seems to understand that Chicagoans naturally like their teachers, so she’s deftly refused to be dragged into a public spitting contest with their union — at least not yet. Smart.
Comment by Roman Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:14 am
==…for 9 months work per year.==
Are we really still having that argument? That is one of the silliest arguments ever made when discusing teacher salaries. Find a more intelligent argument.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:14 am
OW
I’m well aware that Illinois funding formula is outside the mainstream of most states. It’s now a path dependent problem. How does one go from the current system to something else without various interest groups attempting to veto any change? The problem is compounded by the pension situation.
Comment by Steve Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:15 am
Wonder if they read the offer on the plane ride back from Venezuela…./s
Comment by A guy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:17 am
===How does one go from the current system to something else without various interest groups attempting to veto any change? ===
60/71, 30/36, and signature.
Same as it ever was. Nothing has changed.
To a new formula or “way”… you should ask your elected officials… and when you vote… oops.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:18 am
I wonder how much of that raise will go toward buying supplies for their classrooms. Or toilet paper.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:34 am
===I wonder how much of that raise will go toward buying supplies for their classrooms. Or toilet paper.===
Even $1 is a sin to the fact if they didn’t, there’s no funding for it.
I’m sure you agree, with snark like that?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:35 am
I’m only jealous during the summer.
Comment by Rutro Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:41 am
==…for 9 months work per year.
Are we really still having that argument?==
According to Karen Lewis, it’s 10 months.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:54 am
A lot of you paid extra money to educate your own children. You treat education as a closely-held luxury good, then accuse teachers of greed? Hypocrites.
Comment by crazybleedingheart Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:55 am
=Are you willing to be a teacher in the CPS system… for 15 years?=
Exactly. There are lots of openings. Go sign up.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:55 am
Actually there are a LOT of things stopping people who would like to change careers and teach in Illinois, at least in comparisons to other states who have moved to make it easier (e.g., New Jersey and Minnesota). You can have a degree in engineering or one of the hard sciences and likely need to go to community college to fill a “deficiency” before you can get the K-9 license. The state legislature should really look to reforming this as part of a way to attack the teacher shortage.
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 11:58 am
Why the reluctance to put the hiring of social workers, nurses and counselors into the contract?
Either staff these schools or quit complaining about all the violence and shootings in the neighborhoods.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:02 pm
==You can have a degree in engineering or one of the hard sciences and likely need to go to community college to fill a “deficiency” before you can get the K-9 license. ==
God forbid public education act as its own profession rather than a soft landing for private sector workers with no teaching experience in every economic downturn.
Comment by crazybleedingheart Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:07 pm
=Though the wage and benefits proposals are said to be generous,=
It looks like the percentage increases will be high for those with significant experience. That is nice and very different than how this usually goes.
Typically (but not always) the big percent goes to the base (1 st year) and gets smaller as you move through the steps on the schedule. If the people with the most steps are getting the same percentage then they really do not have a legit complaint.
=If it’s part of the contract, it’s a legally enforceable promise.
If it’s not part of the contract, it’s just a political promise.
One is meaningful.
The other is… substantially less than meaningful.=
Given the serous shortages for social workers and teachers my suspicion is that they don’t think they can find the people.
250 social workers? That is going to be very hard to do. I agree that you don’t want this in the contract if the shortage is their motivation.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:08 pm
Tier 2 pension system not particularly attractive either, to new hires. Time bomb.
Comment by Ashland Adam Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:10 pm
===You can have a degree in engineering or one of the hard sciences and likely need to go to community college to fill a “deficiency” before you can get the K-9 license.===
“Those who can do, those who can’t teach… “
Not everyone can teach, and motivate and mentor “all” those who learned and “did” because of them.
If teaching was easy, everyone would do it.
===The state legislature should really look to reforming this as part of a way to attack the teacher shortage.===
“The state legislature should really look ===smartly=== to reforming this as part of a way to attack the teacher shortage.”
Better.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:11 pm
Property tax assessments, homeowners included, were devalued. There’s a new assessor. We’ll see more pain in the new assessments alone, let alone the needed monies for schools.
The north side central area got at least another 3 thousand tax increase in August. No undervalued already paying 15 thousand with no yard, more than a mortgage, people are angry. CTU will get no sympathy from the parents we are tired of it between the taxes, the school fees and supplies and pre/after care and fundraisers thay raise was more than generous.
Comment by Anon Y Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:14 pm
= You can have a degree in engineering or one of the hard sciences and likely need to go to community college to fill a “deficiency” before you can get the K-9 license.=
Yeah, let’s bring in some more dilettantes like all those experts from the business community who brought us skill-and-drill/test-prep that sucked all the joy out of learning and who are now baffled by the fact that progress stops once these kids reach high school.
They’ve suddenly discovered something called “background knowledge'’ that any reading specialist could have explained to them twenty years ago when they barged into our classrooms and replaced all the literature with “test prep.”
They mean well, but noneducators just don’t have a clue:
https://www.c-span.org/video/?462844-1/after-words-natalie-wexler
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:28 pm
Teachers in many of the surrounding suburbs make more.
We think we ought to be able to pay these teachers less than their suburban counterparts although their jobs in Chicago are infinitely more difficult and dangerous.
What possible reason could we have for that other than the fact that many of them are African-American or Latinx?
Comment by Thomas Paine Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:33 pm
== Property tax assessments, homeowners included, were devalued. ==
SOME properties were undervalued, some were overvalued. Adjusting that will be painful to some and advantageous to others.
But in the overall scheme, it doesn’t really matter. The assessed valuation just determines how much of the overall levy each property owner pays.
What matters is the levy … the amount of money the local taxing bodies … township, city, county, sewer, water, convention centers, school districts … determine they need.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:46 pm
They’re itching for a strike because their candidate for mayor didn’t win and they are greedy. It’s the same shakedown tactic they did to Rahm.
Comment by Kane County Frank Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:48 pm
==The union’s rejection of the fact finder report means the district could legally strike on or after Sept. 25.==
So CTU could strike before 20th Day enrollment could be calculated. Assuming CPS enrollment continues to plummet, CTU will want to postpone these numbers as long as possible.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:50 pm
Specifically to the post, I think the CTU is overreaching.
Politically, the smart thing for Lightfoot to do would be to agree to what CTU wants with one stipulation … that 2% of the 3% or so each year is taken away from any current pension pickup. Let the CTU members go back to paying the employer share of their pension contribution. In the long run, that would be better for the school district by freeing up ongoing money for new staff. And politically I think it would have a lot of taxpayer support.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:52 pm
===SOME properties were undervalued, some were overvalued. Adjusting that will be painful to some and advantageous to others.
But in the overall scheme, it doesn’t really matter. The assessed valuation just determines how much of the overall levy each property owner pays.===
This is most true.
I’ll rephrase;
An overall devaluing of property, homes included.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:55 pm
To the people saying the public won’t support CTU, I think you need to look at a smaller segment of the public - Parents. They will support CTU. They trust the teachers. They have also watched as Chicago continues to cut resources from their school.
Armstrong Elementary on the far northside is ranked by the Center for Budget and Accountability as one of the top 6% underfunded schools in CPS- based on the state equity funding model. Under Chicago’s odd system - they are getting a 400K cut. So while the state is sending CPS money, the money isn’t getting distributed via the equity model.
And as long as CTU is advocating for librarians, social workers, counselors, nurses…there isn’t a parent who won’t say - yes keep fighting. Especially if you are a parent of a kid who needs behavioral health access or has medical needs. Considering the trauma that CPS kids face.. that is a lot of parents.
Regarding the part about social workers: last year CPS announced, to media fanfare, the hiring of 160 social workers — by the end of the school year they still hadn’t hired 125 of them. There are ways to draft language that allows for shortages (there are also legislative fixes we can push next session) but if you are not willing to put it in the budget and put in the contract - it isn’t real.
Comment by Kyle Hillman Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 12:56 pm
Strike Inevitable. Sharkey has a mean streak and wants to take them out just to show he is as tough as Karen Lewis. It is a testosterone thing with him.
Comment by Roscoe Tom Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 1:05 pm
==2% of the 3% or so each year is taken away from any current pension pickup.==
That’s not going to fly because in exchange for phasing out the pension pickup for new hires, they gave those new hires 7% raises. Per the current contract:
“For teachers hired on or after 1/1/17, an amount equal to the pension pickup will be added to the teacher’s salary.”
In other words, the pick-up is now firmly entrenched in the gross wages of all new hires. Good luck getting rid of it now.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 1:09 pm
=== Teachers in many of the surrounding suburbs make more. ===
Few suburban districts pay more than CPS.
Comment by Just Observing Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 2:20 pm
==itching for a strike……they are greedy=
So, is this what your boss says to you when you request an increase? You are greedy? Why would you expect one penny more, they might ask you.
Do they?
Comment by AnonymousOne Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 2:56 pm
Increased assessment in Cook County will decrease the local capacity number used to calculate state aid thereby decreasing money from the state to CPS all else being equal.
Comment by eyeball Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 2:59 pm
No, what I’m reffering to is the requirements for undergraduate coursework in ADDITION to all the education degree requirements including courses in methods of teaching math/science/reading etc. Undergraduate education students are given a road map to the highly specific background courses they will need to get through this maze which is far more burdensome than even states that haven’t reformed or offered alternate paths.
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 3:09 pm
Pigs
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 3:32 pm
I have my doubts that a five year contract with raises on going will be able to be fully honored by CPS. In the past CPS has failed to honor pay raises when it has fallen short of cash. Paying more money up front in year one would generate much more support inside the CTU. In other words front loading the contract. We all know that evidence based education funding for Illinois will be in trouble if the constitutional amendment on the income tax fails to pass the popular vote, the CTU leadership knows this too.
Comment by Rod Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 3:57 pm
Rejecting that kind of offer is just greedy. This from a union man.
Comment by Generic Drone Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 4:00 pm
Wow. Talk about power. CTU crushed Rahm despite his tough guy talk and is about squeeze Newbie by the throat. Get to work. We have to pay for all of this. Would be easier to swallow if they would trim the fat of excess teachers , poor performers, and half used school facilities.
Comment by 44th Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 4:27 pm
trim the fat of excess teachers==
Beg pardon? I doubt, but don’t know, that there are few excess teachers. And the cost of “educating” students comes along with all variety of specialty professionals (some medical) that have nothing to do with teaching curriculum subjects. Why no objection to that part of the payroll cost?
Comment by AnonymousOne Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 5:07 pm
According to the Mayor, the teacher contract proposal includes an increase in medical insurance costs for the teachers.
Comment by Enviro Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 5:18 pm
“Strike Inevitable. Sharkey has a mean streak and wants to take them out just to show he is as tough as Karen Lewis. It is a testosterone thing with him.”
Are you sure it’s not just because he is a shark?
Comment by Jesse Snarkey aka J. Knell Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 5:59 pm
Yeah, 200 schools are looking at budget and staff cuts under the current offer, plus class sizes remain uncapped. Do you want your kindergartener in a class of 30? One of my kids did that, it suuuuuuuucked.
Comment by Suburban Mom Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 6:51 pm
Fran Spielman’s review of Lightfoot’s first 100 days criticized the mayor for being thin-skinned and a little too anxious for a fight. But that has not been her approach in dealing with CTU. Unlike Rahm, she’s seems to understand that Chicagoans naturally like their teachers. ==========
See how much Chicagoans like their teachers when you give them a breakdown of their actual salaries, benefits, and pensions,and how much that costs the taxpayers. There’s not a taxpayer on this planet that would think they’re actually worth that cost. Sorry, but it’s the truth. CPS did a stand up job of playing up the role of being community hero’s and the snowflake taxpayers ate it up. Never realizing teachers are nothing special and many have crap attitudes towards their kids while failing to provide a full beneficial education that will keep their child ahead of the pack in life. But they all bent over backwards and spread their pocketbooks in addition to their cheeks and took what CPS gave them and still gives them.
Comment by Dude in Chicago Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 7:45 pm
I agree with Rod @ 3:57pm
== …..In the past CPS has failed to honor pay raises when it has fallen short of cash. Paying more money up front in year one would generate much more support inside the CTU… We all know that evidence based education funding for Illinois will be in trouble if the constitutional amendment on the income tax fails to pass the popular vote, the CTU leadership knows this too.==
Comment by Enviro Monday, Aug 26, 19 @ 9:13 pm
Dudein Chicago must not have any kids in school right now. Yeah, I think anyone will do to teach kids. Kids aren’t important, their futures don’t matter, right? Just toss some 16 year old dropout into a classroom to teach because it’s no big deal and anyone can do it, I’m sure you think.
I’d bet when you get those surveys asking for your priorities, you check Education as one of great importance. But no one should have to pay anything for it, people like you think.
Do you look for the cheapest doctor, cheapest medicine? Because you want to get important stuff, just not pay anyone for their services because they’re not worth your money, right?
THere are probably many people who think you’re not worth what you’re paid. Just sayin
Comment by AnonymousOne Tuesday, Aug 27, 19 @ 7:31 am
Sorry it’s impossible to side with the teachers on this, can’t keep raising the real estate taxes it’s just crazy to pay more in taxes than mortgage. Longterm residence are starting to say enough. I have student in CPS and I not siding with them it’s just wrong that was more than enough of a raise most of us saw no increase in salary with a huge tax increase. Big mistake, Major Lightfoot the CSO union overplayed their hand management stood their ground, stand your ground cause the other contracts will only get worse.
Comment by Anon Y Tuesday, Aug 27, 19 @ 7:44 am
==most of us saw no increase in salary==
That is the whiniest of whiney arguments. I didn’t get it so you shouldn’t either.
Do I think the CTU is wrong on this one? Yes. But whining about what someone else gets isn’t the intelligent argument to make.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Aug 27, 19 @ 8:28 am
===most of us saw no increase in salary…===
I’m gonna stop you there, as *your* situation isn’t the reason other situations exist.
To continue…
===…with a huge tax increase===
As discussed, property taxes, mostly were deflated during both Daley’s and Rahm’s terms.
Your beef is with the state too, as funding K-12 under the new formula still puts a strain on property taxes.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 27, 19 @ 8:35 am
==Sorry it’s impossible to side with the teachers on this==
Have you seen the opposition?
Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Aug 27, 19 @ 8:59 am
most of us saw no increase in salary…===
It is an argument based on a fact no increase in pay not possible to continue to pay increases in real estate taxes. Longterm froends are starting to put up their homes for sale, another fact and if there are less owners there is less money another fact. Unless you are paying for my last increase that raised my monthly mortgage by 300, and then ask how can a person pay for another increase cause every percentage increase and 14% is more than fair will only raise a mortgage even higher than you can call me whiney. But for now I’m starting to decide what to do in the long-term and as a true Chicagoan born and raise it may be time to say goodbye and hand over that 15,000 tax bill to someone else.
Comment by Anon Y Tuesday, Aug 27, 19 @ 5:51 pm