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* The Senate has passed HB2275 on a 38-16 vote. Four members did not vote.
Some background from the Sun-Times…
A 25-year-old, one-page section of an Illinois law governing educational labor that limits the Chicago Teachers Union’s bargaining rights could be repealed as soon as this week in Springfield, a move that would mark a win for the union after a long lobbying fight.
A repeal could have serious short-term implications for Chicago Public Schools’ reopening plans if the bill passes and is signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker — and have a significant long-term impact on the CTU’s relationship with CPS.
The repeal bill was passed in the Illinois House in March 2019, and it appears likely the Senate will follow suit in the week ahead — though it’s unclear if the governor will immediately sign it. A Pritzker spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment Friday.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who campaigned on repealing this part of the law, is now concerned about those prospects. In a letter sent to state senators Friday, she wrote that a repeal “at this critical time would impair our efforts to reopen Chicago Public Schools and jeopardize our fiscal and educational gains.”
Section 4.5 of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act, passed in 1995, only covers unions negotiating with Chicago Public Schools — all other districts in the state are not affected. The section limits the bargaining power of the CTU — and other unions that represent school support staff — to bread-and-butter labor issues such as pay and benefits. It allows CPS to avoid negotiations over several school-related topics such as class sizes, staff assignments, charter schools, subcontracting, layoffs, and the length of the school day and year.
The original law was enacted during the brief era of total Republican rule. This bill merely puts CPS under the same rules as all other school districts in the state.
The bill already passed the House and now goes to the governor.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 1:34 pm
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=== The original law was enacted during the brief era of total Republican rule. This bill merely puts CPS under the same rules as all other school districts in the state. ===
I don’t see why the Governor would delay signing this. All it’s doing is leveling the labor playing field for CTU. And since the law was enacted during a time of complete Republican rule, the governor would be hard-pressed not to sign right away.
Comment by PublicServant Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 1:42 pm
Given the chance to treat Chicago schools the same as every other school district in Illinois, the Republicans voted “no.”
They should have all been co-sponsors.
This was their idea.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 1:46 pm
The biggest loser coming out of the lame duck isn’t Madigan it’s Lightfoot. Between this and the police reform bills she is being taken to the woodshed. Another public battle with CTU (and broken campaign promise in waffling) and still no police reform bill of her own (shelved her own bill while waffling on another campaign promise). She is coming off as impotent and now a majority of city hall is starting to publicly go against her on key issues.
Comment by 1st Ward Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 1:47 pm
“It allows CPS to avoid negotiations over several school-related topics such as class sizes, staff assignments, charter schools, subcontracting, layoffs, and the length of the school day and year.”
I know we’re used to strikes in Chicago, but this pretty much guarantees a strike for every contract negotiation going forward, no matter who is the mayor. During the last contract negotiation, CTU had issues as expansive as housing policy on their agenda.
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 1:50 pm
Now Chicago Teachers will have bargaining rights identical to those that teachers have in St. Charles, Naperville, Oak Park, Winnetka, Wilmette, New Trier HS, Evanston, etc.
This is fair.
Comment by Ashland Adam Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 2:02 pm
~“The biggest loser coming out of the lame duck isn’t Madigan it’s Lightfoot.”~
The biggest losers will be the CPS students.
Comment by Big Tent Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 2:05 pm
Guess the kids in CPS won’t have to go back to school this year. Not even the people that represent them think its important. Well, with the CTU it has never been about the kids, has it?
Comment by Really Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 2:09 pm
“The biggest losers will be the CPS students.” [citation needed]
Comment by Skeptic Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 2:10 pm
A 21 member elected school board would not be able to organize a one car funeral procession effectively.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 2:16 pm
Are there concerns that CTU was at some kind of disadvantage when bargaining? It seems like they’ve been able to throw their weight around and get most everything they’ve ever wanted in the last couple of contracts.
Comment by Father Ted Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 2:49 pm
And the hits keep on coming for her.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2021/1/11/22225434/firefighter-pensions-increase-illinois-senate-bill-passes-chicago-mayor-objects
Comment by 1st Ward Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 3:08 pm
==The original law was enacted during the brief era of total Republican rule.==
…in which CPS received giant block grants that were in excess of the education funding they would have received otherwise. I don’t recall the not cashing those checks.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 3:29 pm
Her Springfield strategy seems to be no strategy at all.
Comment by Shytown Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 3:32 pm
CTU thinks it is entitled to bargain over virtually every aspect of city life, including housing policy, because it may affect a student who attends a CPS school. Where will the line be drawn (if anywhere)? We don’t need the CTU and Mayor circumventing the City Council and open meeting requirements to enact costly policies via secret bargaining sessions and binding CBAs.
Comment by Wonk Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 3:32 pm
An example of the CTU’s overreaching bargaining positions on issues that don’t belong to a single bargaining entity and which shouldn’t be decided through CBA negotiations, but which I fear will lead to yet another protracted strike. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/10/16/chicago-teachers-strike-demands-include-push-affordable-housing-help-homeless-students/
Comment by Wonk Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 3:40 pm
As previously mentioned, their Springfield strategy is what, exactly?
Other than a couple testimonies, did CPS work hard against this?
Comment by City & CPS Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 3:45 pm
Wonk: the bill just gave Chicago teachers the same playing field as EVERY OTHER DISTRICT IN THE STATE.
Comment by Toothpicks and Ice Cream Monday, Jan 11, 21 @ 5:20 pm