Even as CPS opens more new schools, children with special needs have a tougher time finding options. Placements in private therapeutic schools are scarce, and some charters are reluctant to enroll them.
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Union election nears in a time of instability
By: Rebecca Harris / May 08, 2010
Facing a gauntlet of threats – from layoffs to performance based evaluations – Chicago teachers will go to the polls May 21 to elect a union president for the next three years.
Facing a gauntlet of threats – from layoffs to performance based evaluations – Chicago teachers will go to the polls May 21 to elect a union president for the next three years.
With five candidates in the ring – an unprecedented number – there likely will be a runoff. Union rules require a president to garner more than 50 percent of the vote.
Perhaps the biggest immediate threat facing union leadership is the possibility that CEO Ron Huberman could declare a fiscal emergency and force the teachers union back to the bargaining table to renegotiate next year’s raises – raising the possibility of a strike if the two parties do not agree on a solution.
Two of the new caucuses grew out of a dispute over ratification of the union’s 2007 contract (they claim union president Marilyn Stewart did not count the number of votes against the contract) and the lengthy ouster, a year later, of then-Vice President Ted Dallas. All say there has not been enough push-back against the CPS administration.
Many of the candidates are offering up alternatives to turnarounds and closings.
Ted Hajiharis of the School Employees Alliance (SEA) wants the union to back performance schools as a unionized alternative to charters, but strengthen job protections for teachers displaced when the schools open. Performance schools are Renaissance 2010 schools that get increased autonomy from district rules. “Performance schools get upgraded buildings, they have young and energetic staff; the only difference is they follow the union contract and employ CTU members,” Hajiharis says.
He says they are a win-win proposal; the union gets to keep jobs, and the Board gets to open new and innovative schools.
ProActive Chicago Teachers and School Employees (PACT) candidate Deborah Lynch, a past union president, also takes a strong stance against Renaissance 2010. But her alternative is to have the union to take over more failing schools.
The Coalition for a Strong Democratic Union (CSDU) emphasizes improving job protections and serving members; caucus leaders have put in long hours assisting members of the group DARTS (Displaced And Reassigned Teachers) in filing grievances.
President Marilyn Stewart says the suggestion that she hasn’t fought turnarounds and closings hard enough is wrong. She says she has spent hours in “behind the scenes” meetings with Board of Education chairs and CEOs Arne Duncan and Ron Huberman, and she counts several district concessions as CTU victories.
She notes that for the first time this year, the Board of Education has publicly defined the criteria that determine whether a school is eligible for intervention. It happened after the union lobbied legislators, who passed a bill a year ago mandating the change.
She says the accusations distract from the “real issues” like charter expansion, school closings, and pension protection.
Marilyn Stewart, United Progressive Caucus
Stewart, who was first elected in 2004, also touts her efforts to collaborate with the district on school reform initiatives like the Teacher Advancement Program, which lets schools opt into merit pay, and the Fresh Start program, a union-run school improvement effort.
But, she says, turnover among top leadership has made continued collaboration a problem, and finding money to expand the program has been a challenge. She says that while some schools have improved, it’s been harder for the union to demonstrate Fresh Start’s effectiveness elsewhere because of highly mobile student populations.
Deborah Lynch, ProActive Chicago Teachers and School Employees (PACT)
Lynch highlights her experience. She served as president of the Chicago Teachers Union from 2001 to 2004 and ran for office in both 2004 and 2007. She negotiated an end to closures and turnarounds during her term and has continued her hard-line stance since leaving office, describing Huberman’s administration as a “reign of terror.”
Lynch founded the CTU Quest Center, which provides professional development for teachers. If elected, she plans to expand the center’s work into new teacher mentoring, and provide more classroom management guidance for teachers. She also advocates implementing a longer school day at struggling schools, as long as teachers would earn more per hour.
Ted Hajiharis, School Employee Alliance (SEA)
Hajiharis says he is a realist. He is the only candidate that is open to renegotiating the union’s raises, but he has pledged to drive a hard bargain and press the board to make other concessions in return. That move could free up CPS cash to avoid class size increases and maintain student services. “At this point, I don’t think the majority of CPS teachers are ready for us to put in our 30-day notice that we’re going on strike – especially in the summer months,” he says.
A contract enforcer and union mediator, he says he has filed more than 250 grievances for teachers– more, he says, than all of the other opposition candidates combined.
Karen Lewis, Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE)
Two-year-old caucus CORE has quickly made a name for itself with its vocal and visible protests against CPS closures and turnarounds and its alliances with anti-Renaissance 2010 community organizations. Lewis says the group’s emphasis on democratic decision-making (members held elections to determine the group’s slate) and grassroots organizing would continue in office.
A CORE-led union would take on more than just turnarounds. With a more active, unified, informed membership, Lewis says, teachers would be able to take action every day against CPS policies they disagreed with – even if that meant openly defying mandates from Central Office, area offices and principals.
The group may have one more wild card left to play before the election: a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, charging that teacher firings under CPS turnaround policies have a disproportionate effect on minority teachers. A decision is expected soon, perhaps just days before the election, on whether the federal government will take up CORE’s complaint.
Linda Porter, Coalition for a Strong Democratic Union (CSDU)
Currently CTU treasurer Porter is a veteran teacher who has been on every union strike since 1977. “Everything we’ve got, we’ve had to work for,” she said at a forum in April.
Like other caucuses, CSDU is opposed to charter schools, and has positioned itself as a staunch defender of bread-and-butter contract issues. But the group’s emphasis on service to members has set it apart. One advantage in that arena is the political know-how and reputation of ousted union Vice President Ted Dallas, a union delegate since 1981, who is now the CSDU’s chair.
Union election nears in a time of instability
This is an especially important election because of the instability--precipitated by an outright attack on teachers and their Union.
The first decision Union members have to make is whether they are happy with the current leadership of the CTU. Incumbents are rarely turned out of office in good times. I suspect that most members are as displeased as I am with the half-hearted reactive response the union has made to these recent attacks on us. Further, there is the financial mismanagement of the Union during Stewart's first 4 years in office; the lengthy and costly efforts to purge both her own caucus and the Union of political enemies; the excessive salaries, benefits, and perks for officers and top staff that are far beyond what members receive; and the repression of democracy in the House of Delegates.
It's time for a change!
Once members have reached that conclusion, they have to decide which of the four opposition candidates/slates to support. Let me help.
With the union in such a state of disrepair, and with Ron Huberman wanting to sit down with Union leadership to discuss any number of concessions, we need a Union president and team with experience in negotiating a contract and facing a hostile Board CEO. That person is Debbie Lynch and her PACT team.
There are many good people in the other caucuses, but they are largely classroom teachers with no experience doing what must be done. Their inexperience can be our undoing.
Please vote for Debbie Lynch, Josephine Perry, and the entire PACT slate on Friday, May 21st.
cut the union reps salaries?
do these union reps ever get pay cuts? every year people get fired and displaced for various reasons from my school! NEVER do these reps take a proactive approach to helping the displaced. Many teachers displaced are young and scared..and the union does NOTHING!! maybe they should be paid on comission!! how much do they make? how much does stewart make???? isnt she already collecting a pension! cant she GIVE back to her "fellow teachers" ...we teachers are stuck between a shady union and the cruelty of CPS!!
HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
Union election nears in a time of instability
stewart is a dishonest crook that lies any-time to suit her needs.
in the above article she or her handlers(all non-union) give this statement to catalyst.
Marilyn Stewart, United Progressive Caucus
Stewart, who was first elected in 2004, also touts her efforts to collaborate with the district on school reform initiatives like the Teacher Advancement Program, which lets schools opt into merit pay, and the Fresh Start program, a union-run school improvement effort.
http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/notebook/index.php/entry/672/Union_elect...
then on her political website she states the following
You advocate an end to merit pay(answ to karen lewis).
Where is there merit pay in the CPS?
There is NO merit pay in Chicago. This pledge shows the ignorance of Lewis on programs that benefit our members. The Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) is a professional compensation program that awards extra pay for student gains to ALL staff members—stopping principals from awarding only their favorites.
All teachers and paras are still guaranteed their negotiated salary. This extra pay is exactly that – extra pay for extra work!
http://www.upc4ctu.com/pie_in_the_sky.html
Here is information from the TAP website and a report about the program showing that no significant changes are seen with merit pay
Chicago TAP is a customized initiative based on the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s (NIET) proven TAP model. The system encompasses performance based compensation
http://www.chicagotapschools.org/
An Evaluation of the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) in Chicago: Year One Impact Report
Few detectable differences emerged between TAP and non-TAP schools in the support provided by veteran teachers to their colleagues or in professional development activities.
As of March of the first year of implementation, these changes did not produce measurable impacts on students. Student achievement growth as measured by average math and reading ISAT scores did not differ significantly between TAP and non-TAP schools.
Teachers in TAP schools did not report significantly higher satisfaction or more positive attitudes toward their principals than did control teachers.
http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/pdfs/education/TAP_rpt.pdf
and finally where Merit pay started in Texas is a failure.
Texas Merit-Pay Pilot Failed to Boost Student Scores, Study Says
State officials are revamping Texas' 2-year-old merit-pay program for teachers after nearly 60 percent of the schools that participated last year – including dozens from the Dallas area – were bounced from the plan for failing to meet performance targets.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/100708...
http://www.performanceincentives.org/data/files/news/BooksNews/GEEG_Year...
so not only does stewart lie about what merit pay is, the program she is pushing has been shown not to work.
john kugler
kuglerjohn@comcast.net
Union election nears in a time of instability
Good job, John, in fleshing out those contradictory statements.
Union election nears in a time of instability
I made up my mind.
Ok Debbie you got me .For what it is worth I will vote PACT.I will also try and
Get everybody I know to give you a second chance.
I feel this way in spite of (face it) the first contract you guys negotiated being
So full of holes a car could drive through .I think you learned your lesson and will
Never make the mistake of assuming anything the board says is real again.
I also feel you are in the same boat as most of us are, Gage Park High School
is a general, Southside school. Anyone who goes to work there every day is at the
Front line of education, if we can win at Gage, we can win anywhere. Now on to
Victory .
Union election nears in a time of instability
Debbie Lynch will be on Bruce DuMont's radio show "Beyond the Beltway" on Sunday 7-8pm. The show is on WLS AM 890.
Union election nears in a time of instability
Vote for Incumbent “X†and you’ll be OK. Balderdash.
The real distinction in this election is that 2 incumbent parties (SEA and CSDU come from UPC) are basically saying the same thing while CORE has inspired thousands of Chicagoans to take action through a city-wide coalition of teachers, students, parents, community members and other unions to save 12 schools from closing. Before CORE entered, CPS was batting 60 for 60 on closings. CORE has worked smart when our Union didn’t on so many issues – from filing an EEOC discrimination suit on turnarounds, to FOIAing all current budget communications, to documenting the harm to thousands of students because of the 20-day rule, to grievable class sizes (yes, our dues can be used to initiate legislation that reverses that in Springfield), to raising the charter cap which our Union said was a “winâ€, to electing Pension Trustees who won full disclosure on fund managers’ charter ties … that was CORE.
CORE understands how the powerful forces of big business and politics are taking over our urban public school system from coast to coast to profit from testing and canned curriculum industries, low-wage/high turnover workforces (charters, TFAs, etc.), "managing" schools at $300,000 a pop like AUSL, and real-estate via TIFs denying schools $250 million a year that is rightfully theirs. And the state bond industry has gone all in to give over $200 million in bonds to 3 Chicago charter chains. Charters even take our school buildings. (FYI everyone, Erie Charter plans to move into De Duprey’s old building – hearing on 5/12 at the Board.)
Past and present CTU officers have had no plan to improve neighborhood schools. If they did, we wouldn’t have experienced 6,000 members losing their jobs, 70 public schools closed while 70 charters opened, rising class sizes, the least-funded pension in the nation, excessive and expensive testing that narrows how our children think and causing unnecessary stress to children, rising student violence, no due process for non-tenured teachers… and meanwhile the children wait for a stable, equally-staffed and resourced learning environment in which they are not labeled failures. CORE has publicly challenged the Board and the Mayor on how the city spends its money and who profits -- name the names on all CPS contracts so the public can follow the money. Then CORE challenged CPS on what great teaching and learning are all about and let teachers lead teaching once again.
Bob, rethink your vote. Is this the experience you want to repeat? Or do you want real leadership? It's time for a change. Vote CORE.
Union election nears in a time of instability
CTU is dead and will never be revived with any of the current folks running.
Union election nears in a time of instability
I understand the desire to give Debbie a second chance. I did this last time she ran despite a horrid contract, which she went in the media to trumpet before it ever came to a vote of union members. When it was rejected, we looked really bad after Debbie's countless media appearances calling it the best thing ever.
I voted for Debbie because I was under no illusions as to exactly what Marilyn Stewart would do. I'm also under no illusions as to what CSDUPC or what UPSEA will do either.
The attacks on education are nothing new, but they are getting worse than ever. The only places where teachers have scored victories lately (Oakland, Los Angeles, Florida) has been because of activism and unions that are willing to take a stand instead of just sending more money to candidates like Reverend Meeks to supposedly protect our interests. In the fight against school closings, CORE has built up the grassroots support that this union needs for the struggle ahead. I don't know that I trust the other caucuses with their lack of experience organizing to get the job done. There are good people in all the caucuses for sure, but we need a new kind of leadership and that's CORE.
Union election nears in a time of instability
Let me raise an eyebrow in skepticism to some of the claims made here.
"CORE has inspired thousands of Chicagoans to take action through a city-wide coalition of teachers, students, parents, community members and other unions to save 12 schools from closing."
This is simply not true. Core may have been part of a broad coalition, but was hardly the leader or impetus for protesting school closures. I'm sure the parents, teachers, and students who showed up to meetings would have done so without Core.
Core is very good at claiming credit for things it has not done. (Kind of like the UPC.)
"Before CORE entered, CPS was batting 60 for 60 on closings." Simply. Not. True.
"CORE has worked...to grievable class sizes (yes, our dues can be used to initiate legislation that reverses that in Springfield)" And did the legislature do that in its final hours Friday before adjourning? I must have missed it.
Core is all talk.
Union election nears in a time of instability
Instead of blasting CORE and getting it wrong, why don't you just do what you do best? Work as a shill for PACT. You were never in on any planning sessions, you have no idea what CORE did, and you may be "sure" the parents, teachers and students saved their schools, but you'd be wrong. Schools simply did not get off the list before CORE started organizing, attending and testifying at meetings. You were never at any of them, so why would you have any comment. Stop bashing CORE, and talk about what your caucus did to save schools - oh that's right, you can't because PACT did nothing.
Union election nears in a time of instability
No I am not a member but I have seen their grassroots work and activism, which is what we need to confront the lies of Huberman, Daley Machine, and the kind of special interest groups like Chicago Civic Committee and Advance illinois that vilify teachers. It is an imperative that we don't vote for Marilyn. We don't need our dues working against us.
Union election nears in a time of instability
I am a CPS parent and I watch the board meetings on Saturdays. I have only seen members of CORE stand with groups of people protesting closing. I see them with the displaced teachers. I have told all of my teacher friends that I think they should vote for CORE. Most of them value my opinion because I read CPS articles, blogs and educational news on a daily basis. I hope they win and I wish them luck!!!! Thank you CORE for all the support you have given parents at the board meeting, I appreciate you!
Union election nears in a time of instability
Obviously I've hit a nerve with some very thin-skinned Core fanatics. Of course, none of them are secure enough to post under their own names.
"You were never at any of them, so why would you have any comment." Actually, I attended the Phillips and Marshall High School hearings, as well as the informational picket. And PACT members attended every single hearing.
It is not my intention to minimize the hard work Core has done in mobilizing their members and community groups. Their Union should have been doing it all along.
But Core claims too much credit. There were other groups--especially parents and community members at each of the local schools--who had no connection to Core and probably feel that their contribution was crucial to getting their individual schools off the list. The Board gave its reasons for every school it removed from the "hit list," and in no case was Core cited as the reason.
Debbie Lynch did get a moratorium on school closing for academic reasons when she was President of the union, but that agreement died upon Marilyn Stewart's entering office.
PACT led the opposition to ratifying the 2007 contract primarily because it had no moratorium on school closings.
These things were done before Core was even organized in 2008.
Union election nears in a time of instability
Hey Danny, Joe Linehan is my real name. As it is mother's day, I called my mom and when I wished her a Happy Mother's Day I checked and she confirmed that this is indeed my name. If you say you were behind the opposition to the 2007 contract that's great. Most CPS teachers were around back then and can remember just how effective PACT was and judge for themselves.
where is the union??
where is this "UNION" every year they "click off" teachers ??? I never see them help! I think non tenured teachers should not have to pay!!!! These reps take a pension and earn 100k??? Exactly how do they relate to teachers????
Union election nears in a time of instability
Obviously I've hit a nerve with some very thin-skinned Core fanatics. Of course, only two of five are secure enough to post under their own names (Liz and Joe).
There ya' go, Joe.
The rest stands.
Union election nears in a time of instability
I know it's not a good thing to be afraid of Functional Vice President candidates before an election, but I'm hesitant to respond to Danny.
Either way, I was at some coalition meetings as a CORE member and with my students' group. The coalitions groups were organized many years before CORE came around, but didn't come together until CORE came around. The other groups were all adult centered and had trouble working with student groups until CORE teachers forced the bridge. Teachers for Social Justice and many other groups were attacking problems and working out important studies against school closings, but CORE put the rubber to the road, went past theory to praxis and started moving the wheels of the grassroot movement.
I put my name on this, speaking as an individual though I stand with CORE, and I did not see PACT at these meetings even though they were open to the entire city. Why not make an effort to support or join the coalition that is moving forward?
Union election nears in a time of instability
Hi Danielle
First of all, I don't have any criticisms of your post. As I said before, I don't wish to belittle the hard work many people put into the fight against school closings. My point is that Core overreaches when it claims credit for stopping Board action against all the schools that were on the "hit list" until given a reprieve.
There were PACT members at all the school closing hearings last winter, as well as at the budget hearings over the summer.
Finally, I am now a HS Functional VP; and not a candidate for that position.
Union election nears in a time of instability
Excuse me, but who ARE you Danny? You seem to assume we know your identity, but "Danny" means nothing to me and I have been a teacher in CPS for ten years. (Just reading and pondering all info possible before I cast my vote.)
Union election nears in a time of instability
There is no reason you should know me, other than I am a frequent commenter on this site. I am a CPS teacher, and have been at Taft HS for 17 years, serving as Union delegate/associate delegate for much of the past decade.
Because of that experience, I know most of the people running in this election. For reasons that I have stated above, I am supporting the PACT slate of veteran CTU officers Debbie Lynch and Maureen Callaghan.
Union election nears in a time of instability
I wish I could vote in the CTU election. I used to be a TA, but now I'm in another union. I would never vote for any sellout contract (all my friends voted for Marilyn, but I never liked the way she talked). But Lynch didn't do what she promised. I read your posts all the time and you always say things like "if it doesn't bother me, it's ok". You seem to be very self-centered and make light of what other people do. I remember someone complained about the military guy, but you said he didn't bother you. It seems like you always make light of other people's problems. So I guess I also want to know why you pick on CORE? You must feel very threatened by them.
Union election nears in a time of instability
For the record, there is not a single member of SEA who has had any policy making role within the UPC.
Let's get our facts straight.
There are a number of CORE members who were in leadership positions when PACT was running the CTU.
Shall we address their past affiliation?
Union election nears in a time of instability
Danny - you keep acting like you're supporting PACT out of the blue. You're on the ticket, so who else would you support? Can you answer why there are no men running for officer positions?
Union election nears in a time of instability
As the parent of two CPS students, I appreciate CORE working on behalf of CPS parents. As a CPS teacher, I want a caucus of teachers and paraprofessionals defending and protecting my rights at the bargaining table who know what they are doing. I don't want marches and parades. I want leadership and that is Marilyn Stewart and the UPC.
If you value your contract, which by the way is STILL IN PLACE! VOTE UPC!
Union election nears in a time of instability
If you value the continued destruction of your contract, vote UPC.
If you want thoughtless and ineffective leadership, vote UPC.
If you want capitulation to CPS, the Board, and the mayor, vote UPC.
If you want another 70 Union schools closed, vote UPC.
If you want another 100 non-Union schools opened, vote UPC.
If you want continued cronyism, vote UPC.
If you want Union dues to increase again, vote UPC.
If you want more Union debt, vote UPC.
If you want the House of Delegates to have no voice, vote UPC.
If you want your Union to ignore all other education stakeholders, vote UPC.
If you want your officers driving and owning Cadillacs on your dime, vote UPC.
If you want a Union that doesn't even bother to analyze the CPS budget crisis claims, vote UPC.
If you want a Union that donates heavily to legislators who vote against teacher interests, vote UPC.
If you want leadership that can't lead and then bashes teachers for their own ineptitude, vote UPC.
If you want a Union that spends millions on lawsuits against its own members, vote UPC.
If you want a Union that bans and bashes different points of view, vote UPC.
If you want a Union that alters the contract without your permission or the permission of the House of Delegates, vote UPC.
If you want a Union that attempts to ban election meetings in the schools, vote UPC.
If you want a Union that attempts to have its own members suspended by CPS for legitimate Union work, vote UPC.
If you want a Union that ignores parents and students, vote UPC.
Union election nears in a time of instability
Thank you, Vote UPC!
That about covers it.
Union election nears in a time of instability
Most of us pay our union dues and never need the help of the union. We take it for granted that the union has our back and will protect our union rights. I have news for you teachers, if you ever get in trouble and are falsely accused of something. DON"T CALL THE CTU, get yourself a real lawyer.
The union under Marilyn will sell you out and leave you hanging high and dry. As Marilyn puts it "The union doesn't hire or fire teachers, we don't protect incompetent teachers." Well excuse me Mrs. Stewart, didn't you collect union dues from incompetent teachers/ If you don't want to protect them then write a check for all the money you've collected so they can hire themselves a "real" attorney instead of the "Poltrock sell outs that Marilyn has hired to ruin teachers lives and careers.
Marilyn does not respect the rights of teachers and is only interested in collecting dues. END THE MADNESS NOW!
The only experience Marilyn has is rooted in failures and disappointment. VOTE FOR CORE FOR CHANGE!
Union election nears in a time of instability
Since we have toooooo many groups running this time, I am deeply distressed that our present leaders are probably going to win. Why would you split the vote if you really want change within the union? This is exactly what they wanted you to do, and you did it. Now we are going to be stuck with the Daey/Huberman run union which is going to keep all those overpaid, young coaches for new teachers who in turn take away jobs from veteran teachers!!!!!!!
Union election nears in a time of instability
I disagree. I believe more caucuses running for election provides a better chance to defeat the current regime.
The opposition caucuses are organizing not only for the support of opposition voters. The vast majority of Union voters are not caucus members. These voters are the most important of all. More choice for office means voters will be less likely to cast a ballot for current leadership. This huge number of independent voters is where the election will be won. While there may be minimal vote swapping going on among opposition voters (most are heartily aligned with one caucus or another) the real opportunity lies in pulling independents away from President Stewart, with whom many are disgruntled. But many members feel there have not been legitimate, appealing alternatives. The more caucuses there are the more Union members will find leaders to their liking - and that means fewer votes for the incumbents.
In the event of a runoff the key will be for the opposition caucuses to stand by their pledges to support whichever opposition group is still standing for the final vote.
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