Marshall High and other turnaround high schools, in Chicago and nationally, face a thorny dilemma. Higher-performing students are being siphoned off through competition, driving down enrollment and raising tough policy questions about the future of these schools.
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What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
By: Alexander Russo / May 07, 2008
Today is the big day for the CTU delegates meeting, and I can't wait to hear what happens -- what's discussed, what motions are offered or rebuffed, and what if any new information comes out from the proceedings. Longtime CTU members are distressed with the dysfunction within the union leadership (though much the same is happening in the District of Columbia, it's worth noting). Rank and file members are wondering WTF is going on and feeling like there's not enough leadership on key issues like jobs, wages, school closings, and the like. So tell us what happened if you were there.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Everyone needs to go to the district-wide blog on first class mail. People are trying to come up with solutions to the problems.
1. VOTE NO on EVERYTHING THEY WANT
2.BRING YOUR CAMERA PHONES TO THE MEETINGS and be READY to TAKE PICTURES and VIDEOS. The members want to see
3. POST WHAT YOU CAN ON YOU TUBE.
4. STOP THINKING THE AFT is on YOUR SIDE. IT ISN'T. POLTROCK represents THE AFT too. AND THE IFT is a very expensive BOONDOGGLE.
5. BE READY TO BE ARRESTED.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Marilyn Stewart, Ted, Linda, Mary, Mark, and Trustee Leslie Barron signed a contract with the ‘Professional Staff Employees’ dating From July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2011 giving the exorbitant benefits I listed in a previous post. Those I listed are but a few; you should read the entire contract. Go to www. proactivechicagoteachers.com and click on CTU CONTRACTS AND BUDGET. This contract is for the Field Reps. The coordinators, directors, consultants, OFFICERS, etc, get even more!
One possible problem for all of them: Article 27 states, â€This agreement becomes effective upon ratification by the parties and shall continue until June 30, 2011. Subject to the House of Delegates authorizing the executive committee to enter into a multi-year agreement, this agreement shall be effective until June 30, 2011.
This has never even been brought to the House.
The House has never authorized it.
Whoever negotiated this should have negotiated the teacher’s contract! But then, the House never authorized that either!
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
True that, as some say, "facts."
I remember a meeting at Sawyer Elementary School (Jackie Price Ward was holding it; she was then Recording Secretary), where Larry Laughlan (a field rep who worked for the UPC the whole time Lynch was president) didn't even know that Article 28 still had guidelines on class size in the contract. He was obviously taking a dive.
Later, I watched Dave Friedman going behind Howard Heath's back at a meeting at Kelvyn Park High School, and one time when I had a meeting at one of Friedman's schools (MacAuliffe) while I was director of security and safety, he tried to tell the members there was nothing CTU could do about gang bangers in the school. I was walking the hall with him that day at that school and saw a kid flash a notebook at another kid, and just stopped the kid and took the notebook. "LKN" was on the inside cover, and he was representing. I told the kid to pick up the notebook in the office, while the kid yelped I was picking on him, was some racist white guy, etc., etc.
My favorite was Eileen Comacho, who tried to turn security and safety into a mold and mouse hunt. True that. She spent her whole time as I was organizing the program going behind my back to people like Victor Gonzalez (now there was a piece of work) demanding that I focus "security and safety" on the "real problems" -- leaky roofs. We had gang problems then as bad as we have now, but at least we had a program for identifying the schools that had them (elementary as well as high schools) and then a program to begin to deal with them.
Yeah.
I remember. Faces and names.
When Stewart came in, she not only fired me, but her people threw out all the materials we had for security and safety, including that famous map we were using to ID the major gangs, school by schools (as well as the neutron schools). All of that stuff was dumped, and then later they tried to claim that I hadn't done any work -- until I told them that their own computer systems backed up everything every night and they could find it all on the backups.
A half hour later, that lawyer of theirs came back and had to admit that there were six CDs worth of stuff from the computer I had been using, and a lot from everyone else's.
Of course, none of that did the members any good, because not only were the offices and records wiped out by Marilyn Stewart's team, but the networks we had for dealing with those problems were destroyed, too.
First months Marilyn was in office, she purged every committee that was kept and destroyed at least a dozen functional committees (including the security and safety -- "school violence" we called it -- that I had convened with Verdell Henderson from Crane High School). We had a program going then at Crane, and it would have worked. Now we're watching the same mess four years later, and Crane makes The New York Times for violence.
Yes, I remember. Very clearly. Every mope who dogged a grievance (or worse), lied to a member, or played office politics while things got worse and worse and worse and worse...
................................................................
there is also CORE and the UPC people who are distancing themselves from the policies and actions of Marilyn Stewart. they too have been harmed by her policies.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
George,
You seem to be under the impression that the Union is supposed to help the members. I know that’s what was done when Lynch was president. She sent out teams to schools for closings, violence issues, contract violations, etc. Time and again the field reps refused to go but the directors and officers went out. Remember during that 3 year period, every school was visited at least once by an officer; many were visited more often. They kept active lists of displaced teachers and PSRPs and found them positions. Lynch required that field reps visit their assigned schools regularly for union meetings, some did, and some didn’t.
Marilyn and Ted spent 3 years telling members to prepare for a strike and neglected what was destroying public education. The ‘new’ CTU has repeatedly tried to convince the members that the contract is not enforceable and Lynch was at fault. When it was their own inaction and incompetence. They rarely answer the phone and take days to return voicemail. ( I always found it interesting when field reps call members at home at 10am on school days and leave a message; you call back when you get home and you get their voicemail again.)
Perhaps with the your help and that of Chris, Kugler, PACT, and other some good will come. This CTU has exacerbated the problems.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
As Chris and others note here from time to time, in less than eight weeks, more than 350 of our brothers and sisters are going to be fired from Copernicus, Fulton, Howe and Morton elementary schools and from Harper and Orr high schools.
That's the latest "reconstitution" (although in CPS Newspeak, it's being called "turnaround" this year, since all the research shows Reconstitution has always been a failure) body count.
I've been talking with teachers and others at most of those schools the past months, and a lot of the discussion here is irrelevant to what's happening in the schools.
Why isn't someone demanding that Marilyn Stewart put some union muscle behind a protest at the May 28 Board of Education meeting and some research behind showing how the data used to screw (and slander) those six schools was a complete fraud, historically and in each of its iterations. The dramatic note that Copernicus and Fulton feed into Tilden (not Harper, as Arne was prattling on and on about during his talking points) was just the most blatant part of the lies that went into this screwing of teachers (and principals; and everyone else) on behalf of the corporate fantasylands Arne and CPS live in. Every single bit of "data" that Arne's people presented to "prove" those cases was either spun or so far out of historical context that not one of those "cases" would have stood up under cross examination.
Yet the schools and their staffs are all being screwed as Marilyn Stewart and the CTU staff hang out and plan their next floor strategy to buffalo the delegates about the budgets.
The union should be doing something. And filing grievances and talking about lawyers at this point in history is not doing anything.
Is Marilyn trying to avoid protests, pickets and Board meeting outcries because of some deal she cut on the side with Charlie Rose last August, before she railroaded that sellout contract through the August 31 House of Delegates meeting and the September 10 referendum?
Someone can investigate the lawyers later.
Right now union people are being victimized, and Marilyn Stewart is ignoring them. How much did she get for that sellout -- beyond the $100,000 (plus) job she copped at the illinois Federation of Teachers the day after her May 18 reelection?
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
How can Poltrak represent May when he is representing the union?
[url=http://www.iardc.org/htr_filingarequest.html new=true]Filing a Request for an Investigation of an Attorney[/url]
By mailing to our office, either in Chicago or Springfield, a request that you want an attorney to be investigated by our office. Your request should be in writing. No special form is necessary. For your convenience, [url=http://www.iardc.org/htr_reqforinvestig_form.html new=true]you may download a Request for Investigation form.[/url] Please return the Request by postal mail or hand-delivery. The ARDC does not accept an e-mail transmission of a Request for Investigation.
[url=http://www.iardc.org/htr_reqforinvestig_form.html new=true]Request for Investigation Form[/url]
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
About the ‘settlements for June Davis, Audrey May, Diana Sheffer, and the late President Tom Reece's bodyguard totaling over $700,000.00, all agreed to by PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART.’ The total was actually $1.2 million and the contracts were for 3 years in violation of the constitution, Lynch would have settled with them for the one year but Marilyn gave them each 3 years pay. Audrey May was fired for cause after faking an injury and falsifying an insurance claim. And who was their attorney? None other than millionaire Larry Poltrock.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
[i][b] With the current budget crisis in the spotlight, thought I'd repost something I wrote over a month ago[/b][/i].
Settlements for June Davis, Audrey May, Diana Sheffer, and the late President Tom Reece's bodyguard totalling over $700,000.00, all agreed to by PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART. That's OK, she didn't know what she was doing at the time.
The contracts Lynch gave to her Coordinators were given before the election she lost by less than 600 votes. Why couldn't those one year contracts be honored, then replace Lynch's people. Isn't that what we want new principals to do in schools? I WOULD SUE TOO IF I HAD A CONTRACT AND WAS FIRED! That's called a political firing.
What about that election that PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART won by less than 600 votes in 2004? Well, if millonaire attorney Larry Poltrock didn't do legal work for the AFT, Lynch would have won the challenge. Kind of like what millonaire LARRY POLTROCK is doing now with the caucus.
Let's borrow money off our strike money that should have been used to stop school closings for the next five years. That makes a lot of sense PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART. This is a sure fire way to keep everything going until you are ready to retire isn't it?
So how much did MARILYN STEWART save on the leasing of the mart offices. $10,000 per month or so. Sorry PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART, the mart just wanted the CTU to stay. It was not you or your negotiating skills. It's called the changing of economic times. A little less per month is better than nothing. Drop in the bucket for the Kennedy's.
This budget problem has been ongoing for over three years. PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART can just blame it on Linda Porter. Over FIVE MILLION lost dollars that PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART just found out about and took Linda Porter's authority away.
CUT THE GARBAGE PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART. YOU HAVE BEEN IN ON THE MIS-MANAGEMENT OF THE CTU THE WHOLE TIME. MAYBE YOU JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT'S OK, YOUR JUST THE PRESIDENT!
Let's sum this up. I blame many others but myself. Maybe it is the excess staff hirings over the years. How about the lavish buffets, parties, and spreads for my patronage army, family members and friends. How about your personal "unlimited expense account" that could have ranged from $2600.00 to $10,600.00 per month all these years?[i][b] Remember when she refused to answer how much her expense account was at the House Meeting? All Stewart claimed she spent last month was 1oo dollars for her cell phone. WHAT AN INSULT TO THE MEMBERSHIP!![/b][/i]
Try reducing unnessasary administrators. You can limit them to five.
1. Grievance 2. Security 3. Lobbyist 4. Editor 5. Quest
Well, that would probably save a few million a year. We wouldn't want to do that now would we? These individuals are your strongest supporters in these hard times.
PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART-HARD DECISIONS, HARD TIMES!
YOUR 30 CRONIES OR YOUR 30,000 MEMBERS. LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE YOUR CHOICE.
[i][b]
If Stewart gives any of her coordinators or consultants multi-year contracts, then she should be ousted for fiscal mismanagement. Show the membership you really care and get rid of your top financial supporters.[/b][/i]
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Visit http://www.coalitionsdu.org
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Visit http://coalitionsdu.org
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Is it true that Gail Kauffman was able to get permission from her nursing home administrator to participate actively in House meeting including attacking members who decided to take the mic?
Do you know other nursing home located close to the Plumbers Hall to accommodate her?
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Stewart knows exactly what she is doing, therefore she is overly dishonest. How many times was she caught at the last house meeting. Wish I had a recording to note the amount of times she was dishonest.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
"For the vote next month the House of Delegates must demand to have those people removed from the house floor or have a roll call vote.â€
I assume many delegates will have cell phones available to record MS’s desperate attempts to push through the budget...by any means possible.
I don't think MS is overly dishonest (can't say the same thing for the outcasts); I do think she is incompetent and easily duped. She must have actually thought she was elected because of her merits (what were the merits again, oh yes, the long serving ineffectual elementary school delegate with a deep background in special ed. for the hearing impaired). This could make her a nice person but utterly no qualities for any position of leadership; in this fact she has been consistent. She has now been cornered by the greedy economic recklessness of her team. She can try to blame the CTU near insolvency on former leadership but she’s been at the helm for four years and it has gotten much worse every year. She has no defense.
The only thing she can do (besides resign and steal away with her unearned huge retirement) is get rid of some of those useless, overpaid, over perked personnel at CTU. Why did you go to Israel? What is the catering bill? Why do we pay your annuities? Why do we pay for all of your phone bills, gas and leases for your cars, and 100% parking?
The people at CTU headquarters hit the lottery! ....how many schools were closed and how many teachers lost their jobs while you sashayed around the Mart?
How dare you plan to raise our dues!
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
To Just The Facts, is this really true what you have written about the CTU budget?????????? If it is, WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Bridgeport Teacher
That is why they ganged up on my when I tried to make a motion of privilege.
I wanted to have all the salaried full and part time staffers removed from the house floor so they could not unduly influence the debate.
[b]As everyone now knows they did.[/b]
For the vote next month the House of Delegates must demand to have those people removed from the house floor or have a roll call vote.
The delegates are the supreme power in the union.
They are above the anything.
[b]IT IS IN THE CONSTITUTION![/b]
You know they are planning how to steal the vote for to approve the budget.
They are in fact using our dues money to sit at the mart offices and plan how to work against the rank and file.
Those same dues that they say they are raising next year to $912 to cover the deficit problems and the IFT and AFT hacks play along with the fraud.
[i]Raise our dues to fight against the rank and file who do not want their dues raised.[/i]
[b]STEWART IS A DICTATOR![/b]
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Do not feel shallow and foolish.I strongly believe that we are on the right side.I will propose an amendment to the budget as :no perks for the Presidents and staff,reimbursement for any expenses subject to Treasurer approval,no scabs employed by the Union ,Field Reps will be compensated on the contractual pay scale for teachers and PSRP's.
Check all documents on the web site http://coalitionsdu.org including the latest Unfair Labor Practice charges.
Have a nice weekend .It is pleasure to see people who believe in basic values.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
If you want to quote someone do it correctly.
Refer back to my April 15, 2008 post at 11:54PM I stated "Trust me, Mrs. Evans works more hours in a week than classroom teacher work in a month". I did not speak to work load. Remember, she is away from home and that constitutes work time. Count the hours.
I'm not sure exactly what this is about, BUT the idea that "away from home and that constitutes work time" is absolutely ridiculous. So is my wife's 90 minute commute each way "work time" because she is away from home? What about the time I'm working AT HOME (making tests, grading papers, doing lesson plans, having students come to my door for advice, answering their e-mails, bumping into them at Subway or CVS)...is that work time...if so, I can guarantee you that Ms. Evans doesn't know what a workday is. She can probably take a leak without permission, she doesn't have to arrange her bowel movements to occur at exactly 10:50 (or else). She also probably has the luxury of a lunch that hasn't been in a paper bag, in a fridge filled with old mustard packets and salad dressing from 2002.
She probably eats at her leisure, can use the phone when she likes, probably expenses a lot of things. So if you're going to sing this persons praises, and discuss her 6000 hour work week, that's all well and good, but don't EVER do it at the expense of a classroom teacher, a fellow union member, or me again. It makes you sound rather shallow and foolish.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
My biggest problem is going to be exactly how do I present this stuff to my union members. I'm a 4th year teacher who came to teaching later in my career. I chose to become Union rep because the contract sucked, I felt betrayed by the way in which the Union represented the contract, and I was one of the few people who read the contract - thus everyone sort of came to me and asked questions.
Now I have to say, well, we're millions in debt for this reason and this reason, and they borrowed a couple million, but you can't really see it in any of the budgets...
And then I have to answer questions like, 'How could they not know?' and all I can do is shake my head and say "I know, I know."
I've always been a confrontational sort of person, though I haven't said word one at any of the Union meetings... (I do find them extremely amusing, however). I am just amazed at people's open hypocrisy, of which there was a fantastic previously mentioned example discussed early...I want to revisit it briefly to show how idiotic, self-serving, and counterproductive some of our fellow union members can be.
Specifically it has to do with the people who remained in line to ask questions during the motion to extend the question and answer session on the budget, but did not vote to continue the motion. So you have this relatively large group of people who are in line wanting to ask "questions" about the budget. Maybe the most important budget the union has had to pass in the last couple of decades, and they are in line to ask questions, but will not vote to extend the q&a time.
What does that tell us? It tells us that they were there to stall, delay, and thwart the people who were really interested in getting information. They were to ask questions that didn't pertain to the core issues, they were to stall. And as the motion went up for vote, they didn't vote because they didn't WANT TO ASK questions, they just wanted to take time off the clock. They were selling people like me out...they were not interested in helping Union members who wanted information, they were only interested in obfuscating the truth.
I'll say it again, the union is there for US! I could probably take the job of president of the Union, keep my teaching job, coach my kids two baseball teams, cook dinner for my wife four nights a week, and balance their budget. It's called hard work, responsibility, and dedication. Not passing the buck, deception, and incompetence. We need a third Union "party"
People Helping Union Come Clean, or PHUCC.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Good morning.It is a process of purchasing supporters.
Marilyn is practically alone- without anybody.She must pay for a friendship.
During the House meeting only small group supports herWho they are?Only paid staffers who should be not allowed to be present there.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Just the facts….
2004 Marilyn Stewart and Ted Dallas become president and vice-president of the Chicago Teachers Union.
They inherit a budget with a surplus of over $5,000,000
They settle a lawsuit and pay three former and future employee $1,200,000.
They immediately reinstate over $1,500,000 in extra 'benefits' for all CTU employees including the officers.
2005 Marilyn Stewart and Ted Dallas increase CTU employees’ benefits by nearly $1,500,000.
CTU surplus has been reduced to $2,500,000.
2007 Marilyn Stewart and Ted Dallas continued to give additional benefits to CTU employees by $1,500,000.
CTU surplus has shrunk at approximately $1,500,000.
CTU takes out secret loans totaling $3,000,000.
2008 CTU surplus disappears. CTU takes out another loan in order to make payroll. Marilyn Stewart accuses former administrations of fiduciary irresponsibility, but still gives CTU employees $1,500,000 in excessive benefits.
CTU increases members’ dues to $912.
Let’s get it straight. The entire Stewart administration has been feeding at the trough of the Chicago Teachers Union. Starting from Day 1. The field reps and former employees demanded that they be ‘reimbursed’ for the three years lean years of the Lynch administration. Debbie cut the exorbitant perks they had been receiving and they did everything they could to sabotage her administration. During Lynch’s presidency, they had a defacto work slow down and haven’t changed.
The greed…just to point out a few of the benefits they give themselves
(Read the Agreement between the CTU and the Professional Staff [see PACT web site] - which has never been approved by the House of Delegates.)
38.5 professional staff including the officers as per CTU web site.
38.5 X $25,000 annuity = $962,500
$11,000 car allowance = $423,500
(Why do they get a car allowance, when 85% of their gas, maintenance and insurance is paid by CTU? And, furthermore, why is the car allowance pensionable?)
Summer and winter/spring break 6 hour days (14 weeks) $385,000
One week ‘BONUS’ pay: $92,548
One-week payout for 6th week of vacation: $92,548
$ 962,500 annuity
423,500 car allowance
385,000 summer hours
92,548 BONUS
92,548 ‘Extra’ vacation
+385,000 Six-hour day
Total:
$1,956,096
Marilyn told the House that she didn’t have an expense account. She meant that she didn’t have a specific amount…her expenses are unlimited!
It’s easy enough for anyone to see how Marilyn, Ted, Linda, Mary, Mark and the CTU Trustees depleted the $5,500,000 surplus Lynch left and how they need to take out loans to keep them in the style they have become accustomed to.
The CTU has a Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Trustees, accountants, bookkeepers, etc. who know exactly where the money has gone. The AFT and IFT claim the CTU needs to raise the dues! Maybe we should examine the AFT and IFT salaries and benefits!
CTU needs to cut the fat! By cutting just the six items listed above, they would save nearly $2,000,000 a year. By cutting just 5 of the underused 'professionals' another million would be saved.
No one is even talking about the clerical staff, most of who earn more than veteran teachers.
But I have a better idea…hire another 6-figure employee as a ‘comptroller’ to figure it out.
I’m available!
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
There are, according to the budget, 14 field reps and ten coordinators. If Marilyn won't answer that question, maybe one of them can. As it stands, CTU has now lost two lawsuits when the officers fired staff without working out something.
The first was the lawsuit fired by Diana Scheffer, June Davis, Audrey Mae, and Jackie Vaughn's former bodyguard in 2001 against the Lynch administration, which had dismissed the plaintiffs (and many others) when it took office. That lawsuit was paid out by Marilyn Stewart's administration after Stewart took office, since the plaintiffs were UPC. To this date, CTU has not provided the members with any detailed information on those cases (including the cost of union attorneys, for example, while the cases dragged on for three years).
The second (basically a class action called "Schmidt v. CTU") is now in its final stages, with all but one of the plaintiffs paid off (and bound by a non-disclosure agreement CTU insisted upon) as of last week. I don't know the facts of the 2001 case, but the 2004 case was straight contract law. First year law school stuff.
In "Schmidt v. CTU", the court first ruled (in 2006) that the plaintiffs had a valid contract through June 30, 2005. Lawyers for the defendant CTU than raised a bunch of other issues, and delayed the case through some very expensive discovery, including depositions.
When all that was over, the judge ruled for the plaintiffs on summary judgment (back in January 2008). Since then, the only thing that's been going on is running up attorneys' fees and costs, on the one hand, and interest to each of the plaintiffs, on the other. Interest in these cases is five percent annually, compounded daily, prior to the entering of the order, and nine percent annually, compounded daily, after the order is entered.
The next court date for that case is May 14, 2008.
At the court (Circuit Court of Cook County; Daley Center), the records of the case are all public information. CTU has somehow managed not to provide the same transparency (in either the 2001 or the 2004 cases) anyone with a little time or some FOIA moxey could achieve for the past seven years.
Now it's 2008. Whether CTU should be signing contracts that extend beyond the terms of office of any administration is being discussed, but the fact is that for the past three administrations (Reece UPC; Lynch PACT; Stewart UPC) the union did sign contracts beyond the terms of office of the administration. Stewart's contracts with the field reps (the only ones I've seen, but which are on the PACT website -- although not the CTU one) go two years beyond Stewart's present term of office. Our union dues will also be paying Stewart (via her part-time "job" as IFT Secretary Treasurer) more than $100,000 per year until December 2010 (more than six months after her current term of office ends).
For here, this morning, a lot could be said, but perhaps two things need be said.
One, lawyers. Anyone who thinks that lawyers might solve this might need to rethink. The field reps have a valid (and union -- Teamster Local 743) contract. The only way pay and benefits can be reduced is by mutual agreement of both parties. If one side tries to abrogate the contract, the other side can bring the issues through grievance, arbitration, and court. Does anyone here really want to be talking about "Rodriguez v. CTU" in the same terms as this in 2011 the way we're talking about "Schmidt v. CTU" here today?
Two: transitions. When Marilyn Stewart pulled her first Donald Trump and fired me the day she took office in August 2004 ("You. You're fired!") I had assembled all of the materials I had been working on as director of school security and safety, in the mistaken idea that someone would want to make the transition. Instead, Stewart began what amounted to a scorched earth policy against not only those of us she fired, but also about half the (very successful) activities of the previous administration. All of the committees we had built up were decimated, with several (testing; leadership training; security and safety are three I know of) eliminated completely.
(Security and safety wasn't even brought into its current half life until more than a year after Stewart's people threw out all the records of what I had been doing, apparently to be able to claim -- as they tried in court -- that I had been doing nothing!).
A reasonable transition was what should have happened (very possibly, both times).
A stupid and expensive purge was what did happen (as a matter of record, both times, in 2001 and 2004).
Also remember:
Marilyn Stewart did not play Donald Trump with all the staff who were working under the contracts we enforced through Schmidt v. CTU. John Osteburg, Connee Fitch-Blanks, and others were kept working at CTU. How and why the decision to get rid of some and not others was made is not something I know at this point, but there were some provisions for transition, or something like it. And, of course, all but two of the field reps stayed on under Marilyn Stewart (the majority of them had been working covertly for UPCs return to power throughout the Lynch years).
That's enough fact for one morning. Happy meditation, shipmates.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Will somebody please explain why CTU Field Reps and coordinators were 1.issued contracts rather than serving as employees at will and 2. why those contracts award salaries in excess of $100,000 -- an enormous salary by private or public sector standards? Let's balance this budget like they do in business -- trim 10 percent from each area. I suggest a lawsuit. Any lawyers out there?
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Is it true that Marilyn try to present a fake budget ?
Is it true that she is breaking the Union Constitution and By-laws?
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
I work at AASTA-which is part of AUSL's program to turnaround low performing high schools. Our interview process consisted of a 5 min pre interview-followed by 5 minutes observing my class-followed by a 10 minute post conference. Dozens of teachers have been fired by this process, which is so limited it makes me laugh at their incompetence...
How can they determine what type of teacher I am based off 20 minutes of interviewing?
What are 3rd year PAT teachers suppose to do? I was going to receive tenure and be assured of what CPS deems job security.....Now what happens to me and the other 3rd year PAT's? I have called both CPS and the Union to find out what will happen to me if I am unable to secure a position by August. No one can give me a straight answer.Does anybody else know? Any help would be appreciated.....
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
best to right click links and
[b]Save As[/b]
or
[b]Save Target As[/b]
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
[b]Lesson Materials[/b]
**********primary source material verses subjective reports to teach a lesson on critical thinking*********
Here are links to the narrative given by Marilyn Stewart and the Field Rep Agreement until after the next union election.
If they freeze salaries it would be for this year?
Otherwise they would have to break the contracts.
Highly unlikely and illegal.
Use them as primary source material verses subjective reports to teach a lesson on critical thinking
[url=http://www.hydeparkcps.org/ourpages/auto/2008/5/1/1209621363151/CTU%20Office%20Staff%20Agree%2007-11.PDF?rn=4095218 new=true]CTU Office Staff Agree 07-11[/url]
[url=http://www.hydeparkcps.org/ourpages/auto/2008/5/1/1209621363151/CTU%20Budget%20Narrative%2008-09.pdf?rn=4095218 new=true]CTU Budget Narrative 08-09[/url]
[i]
post does not endorse any position or political view but is intended for educational purposes [/i]
[b]Lesson Materials[/b]
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
"...The budget should be completely transparent, every dime of our money that gets spent should be FOR US. That's the point of the union..." (Bridgeport teacher, yesterday afternoon).
And as for Kelli and the people preaching here about civility...
Can you really sit down for coffee or a union meeting at your school and explain with a straight face why that "budget" you got to bring back from the House meeting Wednesday night is so vague as to smell like a cover up?
Instead of fixing things up, UPC circled the wagons, screamed at critics, and continued the cover up into Thursday...
So Marilyn goes back to the Merchandise Mart yesterday (Thursday, May 8) after the House of Delegates meeting and immediately went into a bunch of secret meetings to continue the opacitization of all CTU financial information. (That's my neologism for "making things more opaque... Invented just for this blog).
Opacitization is now Marilyn's main objective.
Lies. And cover ups.
Since I've discussed the following with people from every "side" of this question within CTU, it's the easiest solution:
CTU should begin voluntarily filing the LM2 forms with the U.S. Department of Labor.
CTU should immediately stop trying to use some loophole in federal law to avoid the Labor Management Reporting Act requirements to disclose (i.e., make fully transparent) all of its financials.
Anyone here can Google up the LM2 for the other unions and locals that represent CPS workers. Go get the LM2 for Local 73 SEIU and you can find out that President Christine Boardman was taking home (pay plus all benefits including expenses) more than $140,000 the past couple of years, and Local73's lowly part-time researcher (me) was making a lot less than that. It's all on file, as a matter of public record, with the U.S. Department of Labor. It's called the LM2 form.
Now let's talk about big city teachers' union locals, since those guys in the suits who are hanging around CTU to clean up the books (or will it be "cover up the mess"?) know that American Federation of Teachers Local 2 (the United Federation of Teachers, New York City) files its LM2, so that when we all make nice at Navy Pier beginning July 9, everyone can know that UFT President Randi Weingarten took home (again, pay and perks) more than $240,000 per year the last couple of years.
Since Randi's going to be AFT president just in time for the next Democratic administration in Washington, she could make a suggestion that Marilyn and the boys and girls at the Mart just comply with the federal law, make everything transparent, and end all these silly evasions. Randi's done it. Christine's done it. Almost every labor leaders in the USA has done it --
Except CTU.
And the suits currently at the Mart could certainly add this to a list of things CTU has to do to make the AFT happy.
And since the AFT is co-signing Marilyn's million dollar CTU loans (along with every one of us who is a dues paying member), I have a hunch Marilyn would have to listen if AFT people told Marilyn to stop the double talking and the nit picking and just call up the feds and tell them that CTU is going to begin complying with the regulations on reporting of union finances via the LM2 forms.
Maybe Marilyn could hire someone to file the reports going back a couple of years (at least into the Lynch administration) so that the members could have some transparent stuff to meditate on as the dues continue to increase.
Or, we could continue opacitizing this stuff and covering up and bellowing.
................................................................
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[url=http://new.wavlist.com/movies/189/si-legend.wav new=true]A legend[/url]
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Funny .Supporters of the President attacking members physically,blocking the microphone.
I see solutions for ours problems:
1.President of the union will be not allowed to use Union fund for her personal expenses.No phones ,sattellite radios,drivers,private hotel rooms,Israel trips paid from Union fund(8,000).
All legitimate expenses would be reimbursed from the Union fund subject to Treasurer approval.
2.Office workers including Field Reps should be compensated according to the Teachers /PSRP contractual salary schedule.
No perks.Compensation according to the procedure described above.
3.President MUST obey the Union Constitution and by-laws.
She can not create any new offices and assign responsibilities without previous amendment to the Constitution.
4.President of the Union MUST demonstrate fair representation.
She is a worker and she is employed by US / House of Delegates is the boss.Her duties are protect job security and serve.
She failed to perform.There is a pending charge against Marilyn Stewart because of her failure to provide legal protections to members employed at closed schools.Grievances are only one way to cover up lack of effectiveness and lack of good will as well.
The vilations of the Illinois School Code are not grievable.The further action is necessary and justified.
I hope she will resign before greater harm will be done.
The Constitution and by-laws are available on the Blog at www.coalitionsdu.org.Any question?E mail to coollaw3@yahoo.com
P.S.How about the mandatory intelligence test as a condition for employment or being installed as a Union leader?
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
[url=http://new.wavlist.com/movies/135/str-health.wav new=true]only health left[/url]
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Let's get this straight, and ...kidding
If you want to quote someone do it correctly.
Refer back to my April 15, 2008 post at 11:54PM I stated "Trust me, Mrs. Evans works more hours in a week than classroom teacher work in a month". I did not speak to work load. Remember, she is away from home and that constitutes work time. Count the hours.
I might be a hack but I am not a coward about it. Blind blogging insults is cowardly. And you keep demonstrating what you really are.
If I am a hack, I am a "Hack" healthcare professional who took an oath to practice my profession faithfully and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care. That is my mission. That is where my energy is being used. I will continue in this vain.
The point, tell your legislator to VOTE NO to HB 5960 and SB 2799. The children in the state of Illinois deserve much more. We must work to stop this train.
The End
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
To: Bridgeport Teacher.
Sorry, because I was not clear enough in my previous response. I did not mean to express that because it was that way in the past it was okay for now. I was simply trying to point out a fact. I also think it is important that Marilyn stated there would be monthly statements for the delegates to view that would show what was budgeted and what was actually spent.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
[url=http://new.wavlist.com/movies/014/bl-pros.wav new=true]Do not panic![/url]
raise union dues
5-7 million debt
18 school closings
no representation
let see
let me think
its coming to me [url=http://new.wavlist.com/movies/014/bl-good.wav new=true]Don't Worry[/url]
oh I got it [url=http://new.wavlist.com/movies/014/bl-ants.wav new=true]the truth[/url]
hack - a politician who belongs to a small clique that controls a political party for private rather than public ends
[url=http://new.wavlist.com/movies/103/mi-destruct.wav new=true]sanders[/url] I think you fit the bill and you even admit it.
[url=http://new.wavlist.com/movies/030/av2-selfish.wav new=true]i digress[/url]
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
kelli-
You wrote: People complain that the budget was not clear enough. Perhaps you are right, but it is the same format the budget has been presented in for as far back as I can remember.
What sort of logic is that...where has that led us? Now the union is in debt. We're talking about a 30 million dollar a year company that doesn't produce anything...they don't sell anything. They don't have to buy inventory, their manufacturing costs don't increase, all they are is a handful of people. I know where every dime of my budget goes...I know when I spend an extra ten dollars in a month. It's easy, you make a spreadsheet, you track every dime spent, you see where your money goes.
The budget should be completely transparent, every dime of our money that gets spent should be FOR US. That's the point of the union...
As for the infighting, it's childish, immature, and stupid on BOTH sides. I've only been a delegate for five months because I was one of the few people who read the contract...and I realized how bad is sucked. I realize that our health premium is about to be upped because of the 6% clause (32-7 in the contract, p. 73-74).
I don't have a side in this idiotic fight, other than the side of my fellow teachers.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
I find it very interesting that the union, cps, and the media are silent about the latest round of probationary teachers that have been non-renewed. I guess we can pay our dues but get shut out when it comes to actually keeping our jobs.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Boy are you people dumb.
The AFT CPA said Marilym mis-spent at least $4,000,000 since taking office. That''s just the easy losses. Since Debbie left in 2004, according to the Chicago Union Teacher, there was a $5million surplus. We are now at negative $2 million. Marilyn and her buddies mis-spent, over-spent $7 million. Now we have to make up the difference for "royal"union officials who think they are entitled to fantastic perks and working conditions. They should either resign or be indicted or both. Malfeasance and misfeasance (including the auditor ) are the reasons we haven't known about the overspending.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
sanders CTU member states:
Office staff at the mart work harder than teachers in schools.
We should be happy and content when our dues get raised on a yearly basis.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Sorry, my last post was to "Are you kidding"
LAS
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
As an anonymous blogger your comments don't really carry a great deal of credence and your insults are immature. It is very weak and cheap to blind blog insults.
I stand by any of my comments, thus I post under my name. Therefore you know that I do not work for the Board, and that I am a Union member.
But for the sake of clarification I will respond. I did not pass a judgment as to whether or not anything was right or wrong. I spoke to what is. Our Union dues have increased consistently throughout all administrations over the last 75 years. That is irrefutable.
Perhaps you should go back and read my comments regarding work time instead of commenting on what you might remember. The work schedule of a union employee includes a longer work day and work year than that of most classroom teachers and/or PSRP’s. That is irrefutable.
The rise in your health care premiums has been greater than the rise in your Union dues. That is irrefutable.
Your auto, and homeowner insurance have risen.
Last year a gallon of gas was $2, a dozen eggs was $.99, a bottle of Aspirin was $1, a gallon of milk was $1.99, a loaf of bread was $.99, whole chicken was $.59 a pound, .......they call it inflation and it is happening in every aspect of our lives. Deal with it. Is it OK or right or good? It just is. That is irrefutable. And if you don't like it, you can leave. How does that work for you?
On that note, remember the state legislators need to hear from you. They are voting to increase your workload by making you manage the health of the chronically ill students in your school. There will be no increase in pay with the increased workload so that equals a PAY CUT. Write or call your legislators and tell them to VOTE NO TO HB5960.
The End!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Does anyone else think that Marilyn and the rest of the staff should explain the AFT budget guys reason for one of the firings down at the Union's central offices?
I thought I heard them say that they fired someone and hired another at half the price because she was younger.
Isn't this age discrimination and a possible lawsuit for the employee that was fired? and aren't we supposed to be against this as a Union.
As a newer delegate I'm very dissapointed in how private all of these Union budgets, salaries, and decisions are made when it's us the members paying for them.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
sanders first you state that an office staffer works harder than any teacher in a school. while having her own side business.
And now you say it is alright for the union to raise our dues.
Who are you working for? The Board.
Are you a union member?
You are not trying top justifying the dues increase are you?
Just making sure I get the meaning of your posts
10:38 AM
10:45 AM
I do not want to misinterpret them.
Again the way I read them is that you are saying we should not complain about a dues increase to the rank and file because....................................... can you help me out here
I do not want be called a liar.
If I am write the hacks have got so delusional that they are advocating for a dues increase for the rank and file.
WOW! Now that is news.
[b]Please raise my dues I want to give the union more money to spend.[/b]
Lets put that out on a referendum and see what happens to your 76%.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Do the [url=http://new.wavlist.com/movies/203/hg-jackass.wav new=true]Field Reps[/url] have the same insurance as the rank and file?
[url=http://new.wavlist.com/movies/203/hg-what.wav new=true]Do the officers have the same insurance?[/url]
[url=http://new.wavlist.com/movies/203/hg-mistake.wav new=true]They get and increase in pay.[/url]
[url=http://new.wavlist.com/movies/177/abp-comingdown.wav new=true]We get an increase in dues.[/url]
[url=http://new.wavlist.com/movies/203/hg-clown.wav new=true]Sounds fair to me.[/url]
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What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Ooops, excuse that typo :-O
How much were Union dues 5 years ago? 10? 15?
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
[b]Stewart Increases Union Dues[/b]
$832.00 2006-2007
$870.36 2007-2008
$912.00 2008-2009
----------------------------
$38.36 Dues increase 07-08
$41.64 Dues Increase 08-09
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
A greater concern is how much our health insurance and medication costs have risen. The Union dues have increased progressively under every president and it is equitable.
Aren't our Health premiums are based on our salary? It is exorbitant and not equitable. Consequently, this eats away on our 4% raise more because it is based on salary. The 5% increase in Union dues is based on the Union dues. Do the math.
The cost of medication is crazy and impacting the health of people nationwide. If you have ever dealt with the Board's partner Encompass I am sure you could just scream.
All that said, don't forget to call your legislator and tell them to VOTE NOT TO HB 5960.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
Last night's meeting was a sad commentary on the behavior of educatiors. The man from the IFT was trying to explain something and people were more interested in yelling their opinions from the floor. Many people on this blog are talking about Robert's Rules not being followed. Do you consider yelling from the floor following the rules? What rule was not followed?
I think I heard Marilyn Stewart say that the problem with the budget started with Tom Reece. I know that she included him as well as herself in part of the equation for the problem. I also know that she specifically stated that it was not any one presiden't fault. I think there are people who want to continue this Pact vs. UPC drama for their own agendas.
Marilyn said it's time to "move 0n". I for one am ready to do just that.
You are right--there were some questions that did not get asked because people were up at the mics to make political statements not ask honest questions.
People complain that the budget was not clear enough. Perhaps you are right, but it is the same format the budget has been presented in for as far back as I can remember.
As to Dallas being a henchman for Marilyn. Dallas chooses to be a henchman all on his own.
Why did he feel he didn't need to be on the stage for most of the meeting?
Seeing as we were dealing with the budget, where was Linda? My understanding from what was said last night is that part of the job of the new comptroller will be what should have been her job. What has she been doing.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
To all those cheerleaders that call me a liar and shouted me down while supporting the suppression of the rules of an open meeting, I say look at the facts!
CTU election MS 76%
Contract Vote 56%
Do the math [b]she lost 20 points over the SUMMER![/b]
What do you think her support is today when I tell my members that our parent unions AFT and IFT say that the problem with our finances is because we do not pay enough dues? Correct me if I am wrong, but I think this is what those two high paid hacks were saying last night.
$832.00 2006-2007
$870.36 2007-2008
$912.00 2008-2009
----------------------------
$38.36 Dues increase 07-08
$41.64 Dues Increase 08-09
$ 80 Dues increase since Stewart took office. If you do the math that is 5% per year. Hmmm lets see what was our raise again?
I know, I know I am a trouble maker.
I do not go with the flow.
I do not tow the party line.
I am sorry to say that the facts speak for themselves.
What are going to say today?
I am lying again?
That is what the IFT and AFT said last night not me!
CTU is broke because we do not pay enough dues!
Look at the facts.
[b]20 point decrease[/b] in support
[b]10 percent increase in dues[/b]
[b]18 schools closed[/b]
Who are you going to blame this one on?
Come on do I here some clapping today?
[b]Vote No![/b] on the Budget next month and tell your delegates to do the same.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
One thing that did not happen was the petition for an elected school board. Every delegate and visitor gets a packet of materials upon signing in for a CTU House of Delegates meeting. The petition for an elected school board was not in the packet. Some people got copies later, but if someone from CTU promised PURE there's be a petition distributed in the only effective way, they were lying.
As with so many things, Marilyn and her people want to play it from both sides of the street. One the one hand, the House of Delegates three months ago passed a resolution in support of an elected school board, which Marilyn then tried to ignore (see if you can find any mention of that resolution in official documents or on the CTU website).
On the other hand, Marilyn's agenda has been scripted by Richard M. Daley and his colleagues. So... the petition for an elected school board was reportedly somewhere at Plumbers Hall on May 7, 2008, but most of the people who were at the CTU meeting at Plumbers Hall on May 7, 2008 were not made privy to the union's "support" for the elected school board.
What Happened At Today's Delegates Meeting?
sound familiar?
[url=http://www.archive.org/details/ssfloc2_rep new=true]Corruption in Local 2 (1978)[/url]