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With school year approaching, strike still a possibility
By: Sarah Karp / August 09, 2012
With the start of the regular-track school year quickly approaching, CTU President Karen Lewis is sounding the warning bell that the union and the district still need to resolve many issues before a strike can be ruled out.
Without some movement, "we are preparing for a strike," she says. “You prepare for war, pray for peace.”
This was the first insight into the negotiation process since the district and CTU announced a partial agreement on July 24. In the partial agreement, the district agreed to lessen the amount of time teachers have to work by rescheduling the day and hiring an additional 480 teachers. In exchange, the union agreed to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s longer school day.
If the union wants to declare a strike before the start of the regular-track school year, it would have to do so on or before Aug. 24. State law requires a 10-day notice.
CPS Spokeswoman Becky Carroll said the agreement that allows for the longer school day was the “most significant obstacle.”
“We are pleased with the tone and encouraged by the progress,” she said. From CPS’ standpoint, discussions have been “robust” on other issues.
However, Lewis said the two sides are haggling over smaller issues, such as wording on the preamble, and are just starting to talk about health care. Lewis says there’s several outstanding issues that the union is not willing to concede, but that they haven’t been discussed for a while. Among them, compensation and step and lane salary increases, which are based on experience and education.
“Whether the contract gets resolved depends on the board,” Lewis said. “We have been very straightforward and honest about our position on these.”
Lewis said she worries that the CPS leadership is ideological on some issues, such as wanting merit pay, or what CPS calls a differentiated pay scale.
Carroll said that compensation has been discussed, but that it is one of the last issues that will be resolved because it depends on the outcome of other issues.
Lewis needs to get the message out that a strike is still on the table because many assume that the partial agreement prevents it from happening. A radio ad from an advocacy group called Education Reform Now seems to confuse the issue, by stating that school will now start on time.
“I don’t know if there will be a strike,” Lewis said. “I would need a crystal ball to tell you and I don’t have one.”
But Carroll said that, with the partial agreement reached, going on strike would send the wrong message to students.
Becky Carroll
If she went on strike, would students notice?
Disgusting.
A raise may be deserving, but have you seen REACH?
What good is a raise when this CPS REACH system is set-up to remove you quickly from your school? We are not even given the time to learn about it and what is expected of us from the many frameworks and addtional evaluation components--there are over 25 of them! Add to this mix that 25% of student growth will be used against us. (Kindergaten children will be tested too!) Tenured teachers, this means you.
Do we really need to compare
Do we really need to compare a strike to war and peace? C'mon Karen...use a little discretion with your language.
You're kidding
Sorry Andrew, that is a very appropriate comparison when talking about union dealings with the Board. A very aggressive CPS has been trying to destroy the CTU, and the CTU must do what it can to defend itself.
@Andrew
"Do we really need to compare a strike to war and peace?"
I don't see why not. After all, she did compare the 46% raise the teachers received in the last contract to slave wages. Greed is good!
Ellie's misstatement of fact
While I agree that the phrase "slave wages" is imprudent, it was not originated by CTU, and was probably used in reference to the Board's mandate of longer hours for no additional pay.
As for Ellie's statement of a "46%" raise, the fact-finder's report said this:
"...over the life of the 2007-2012 Agreement, the employees
actually received 16.98% in wage increases (the compounded 16%
amount of the four, 4% increases they actually received) while the cost of living only went up 10.33%. Thus, over the life of the 2007-2012 Agreement and even with the withheld 4% increase for 2011-2012, the employees came out of the 2007-2012 Agreement 6.65% ahead of the cost of living."
@Danny V
The teachers also received steps and lanes, which are included in that 46% figure.
Ellie still misinformed
Not all teachers get step and lane increases (I received none the last few years). Step increases are made during a teacher's first dozen years, then at 15, 20, and 25 years; lane increases are made when teachers earn an advanced degree (or reach the midpoint of that degree).
While it may be possible that a teacher starting at the bottom of the pay scale in 2007 and earning a doctoral degree by 2012 was eligible for a total 46% increase over the 5-year period, such persons would be rare, if one even exists.
The vast majority of teachers would have got less than half the percentage increase you suggest.
@Danny V
Wait, so do you actually get two lane increases per degree, one at midpoint and another when you complete it? Did I read this right?
Also, there's been so much talk about working longer hours for no additional pay. But what about the additional pay for working the same number of hours that the teachers received in previous years? Shouldn't they refund that money first, before asking taxpayers for any kind of increase for the longer work day?
Maybe Ellie has an agenda
For teachers, there are six "lanes."
1--Bachelor's degree
2--Master's degree
3--Master's degree plus 15 hours of approved graduate credit
4--Master's degree plus 30 hours of approved graduate credit
5--Master's degree plus 45 hours of approved graduate credit
6--Doctoral degree
The semester hours credit for degrees vary by institution and field. A typical Master's degree is between 30-36 hours (but some, like the MBA can be between 42-48).
As for your second question: "Shouldn't they refund that money first, before asking taxpayers for any kind of increase for the longer work day?"
No.
It seems you are trying to say that I should give back all the raises I've earned (through legal negotiated contracts) the past 20 years just because I've worked the same number of hours since 1993, and then base my Longer School Day on that amount. No.
No one in this country works a job for the 35-45 years until retirement at the same amount s/he started working.
How about your household go first?
@Danny V
I wouldn't take away all of your raises for the last 20 years, but would cut your salary to the amount you were earning before the last contract, and then give you back the 20% or whatever Lewis calculated for the new work day. That'll be your current base salary. Then, you can have the yearly 2% of that amount cost of living raise. If you want more, you'll have to earn it by way of the merit pay.
I wish our mayor wasn't so afraid of the strike. While it wouldn't look good on his resume, not giving in would go a long way toward improving the education for our kids and the city's finances.
I'm loving Ellie right now.
I'm loving Ellie right now. Reactionary, uninformed, overly emotional, and clueless about education = so entertaining!
@Agenda
You can call me all the names you want, it's not going to change a thing. This school system is broken, and needs to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch.
Since it's our mayor (not
Since it's our mayor (not hers) I can only assume that Ellie doesn't live in Chicago. Likewise, she is equally as distant from the realities of CPS and education in America. The "reformers" have done a marvelous job of persuading people that the "system is broken". Yes and no. More students than ever are passing the prized international PISA test. At the same time, we still have one of the highest levels of childhood poverty of any developed nation. And what, you might ask, has CPS done to curb the devastating effects of childhood poverty? Well, not much. Students come to school hungry only to be offered some of the most disgusting food I've ever seen. Students come to school beaten up only to be told the social worker isn't in today. Students come to school unable to see only to be told this isn't the time of year for eye testing. On and on. Yes, this is the reality of CPS. Teachers are the ones who fill these voids. We are the ones who offer grief counseling when students see their friend's shot. We are the ones who take students to get their eyes checked so they can see the board. We are the ones who keep healthy snacks around so our students can focus on learning and not on being hungry. If you'd like us all fired and then rebuild CPS from the ground up go ahead and try. At least this time offer students what they need not just what you can afford.
ellie
Destroy and rebuild. You have the heart of a phoenix or stalin
Stalin?
Well I wouldn't have compared Rahm to Stalin, but now that you have...
Ellie's take on teachers and CPS
Ellie,
You sound pretty uninformed about schools, teaching, and school administration. What is key is what happens at the building level, beginning with a competent and socially adept principal, who also has a clear idea of what to do. Unfortunately, many CPS principals are merely managers, and often lack the trust of many of their teachers. The second thing is that teachers need support from each other and training, both of which are often in short supply. Finally, CPS needs to implement RTI (Response to Intervention), which is now two years past the date specified by the state of IL and still only a pipe dream in most schools. RTI involves careful monitoring of student progress for those below standards coupled with quality remedial instruction. Many kids enter kindergarten one to three years behind and never catch up. RTI implementation will require extensive changes in school schedules, quality training, and use of qualified paraprofessionals. Other districts in IL and in most other states are doing this successfully, but for some reason, it has yet to begin in the third largest city in this "great" country of ours. Why don't you speak out about the issues I've mentioned, instead of mindlessly asserting that the system is broken and should be destroyed in order to save it (a la Vietnam, remember?).
Danny V the mayor is not
Danny V the mayor is not scared of the teachers Mr.Rhambo know that it would be impossible to fill 30,000 plus teaching jobs with more qualified teachers. If it was for the kids then the mayor and all of his 6figure income robots would pay the teachers b/c research states parents and then teachers have the greatest impact on a students achievement. (NOT OVERPAID ADMINISTRATORS)Cps will eventually become a farming system for the suburbs, and an experimental district looking for the magical bullet to solve their poverty/social/emotional/ dysfunctional city government and parasitic politicians problems. Once the parents see that their students are not learning any additional reading,math, science, social studies they will see once again they have been bamboozled. NOT to forget CPS stated they have emptied their coffers to meet their obligations. Furthermore, they must make a PENSION PAYMENT and NO one can answer how they will come up with the 40-50million for an additional 477-480 teachers. GET ready for a STRIKE and like the arbitrator said BLAME THE MAYOR. Lastly, how can the ceo say negotiations are going fine when he is not even apart of the team. HE has ZERO experience with contract/Labor negotiations and the MAYor can't take a chance with the actor messing up or saying the wrong thing. Good LUCK CTU b/c CPS has been sipping that syrup.
Really?!
"25% of student growth will be used against us"
How ridiculous! I'm so tired of teachers hiding behind the union. So many poor teachers looking to hold onto the system by citing the contract. I only wish these same teachers spent as much time in preparation for the school year as they do running away from accomplishing a goal. The teachers are the problem with CPS. I'm a CPS teacher and I'm amazed at the laziness that exists within the system. The revolution will not be televised people! Stop looking to get paid for every move you make and start doing your jobs! Damn right you should be held accountable for student scores. Damn right you should be evaluated. There is no other job in the world (besides governmental positions) where you can do a poor job and expect to hold onto your job. Teaching should not be used as an opportunity for a political soap box. It often seems teachers are more fueled by the fight than they are by success in the classroom. Get your priorities straight!
system broken
Evan is right on in his comments. Continue to destroy public education and turn it over to corporate (charter) entities and no young idealistic person will become a teacher. As Evan pointed out sometimes a teacher in an appropriate relationship with a student is the only person a student has to depend on.
A couple more
Or an educational policy maker, or a CEO (you lose your job, but you get a parachute worth more than everyone else's lifetime income), or politician or a business crony, or a CPS contractor, or an office worker.
Or someone like you who waves around data with high stakes without checking on its veracity or accuracy.
Where do you teach? Probably some place where you aren't being held responsible for test scores that integrate devastating social condition.
I'm not saying that as an excuse. I've seen brilliant wraparound programs that drastically improved students' lives and also happened to raise test scores.
Guess what happened to them--CPS dismantled and destroyed those programs. The leaders who made those decisions not only weren't fired, but have been promoted.
I don't believe you
Annoyed is not a teacher. If he/she is they would know what it is like to work for the ignoramuses at the CPS, and they would not join the "Stand on Children" parade of blaming teachers. If you are really a teacher, Annoyed, post your name like I do.
Ignoring anonymous and pseudononymous Ryanista and Galtoids
After driving back from vacation in upper Michigan, it was fun to read that Catalyst still allows the Ryanista and Galtoids (as in Paul Ryan zealots and John Galt worshippers) to post anonymously and pseudononymously here. That way, the spam that pours out of the overaged and hypercaffeinated children who are still memorizing the last of the dirty parts from "Atlas Shrugged" can get their nonsense out to the public.
It's why we (at www.substancenews.net) don't allow comments to be anonymous. It just adds to the pollution of cyberspace.
And to my friends commenting here (Ed, Danny, etc.).
Why waste your time on the "Ellie" types. For all you know, "she" is a 14-year-old high school freshman who just finished his first reading of Ayn Rand after getting one of those free copies of "Atlas Shrugged" and is rotating back from the lurid parts of Ayn's fantasy life to his stash of Penthouse downloads.
Why converse with suchlike trolls and toads?
One last thing about Karen's appropriate use of the term "war."
Anyone who belittles the seriousness of a strike hasn't experienced one and has no understanding of history. The Board is playing with fire, not that any one of the seven dwarfs we'll see in action again on August 21 will get burned. Once the picket lines go up, lines are drawn for a lifetime. Scabs who cross are remembered forever, whether from the "winning" strikes like those we had in Chicago schools or from those our "side" list, like the Tribune strike. John Kass, for example, put on his SCAB jacket back then and has been a scab ever since.
The day Rahm finishes out this crazy fantasy of his and sets the whole city on its ear, everyone will know the wisdom of Karen's warnings.
anonymous
George i don't give my name due to fear my principal would read my name. I appreciate the option. I think we all can make a judgement without real names. But I'm on your side. I'm just a coward cause i gotta keep the fam fed and taxes paid
Annoyed I agree Teachers
Annoyed I agree Teachers should be evaluated, and held accountable. NO Doubt! However, fairly and not as a tool to destroy and fire people. Secondly, do not be confused CPS stands FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL. NOT CORPORATE GREED and abuse. Therefore, Annoyed stay strong and in Solidarity because they will fire you too, and the most disappointing thing is it is not personal you are a number to them. ( They call it your work ID)
to annoyed
Can you name one test or prove they are valid. Come on down and try if its such a gravy train. The teachers are not the politicians we just want to be protected from their unresearched whims. Believe me voluntary reduction will reduce our numbers. Honestly volunteer at a school at cps. Just try it then talk.
Sourcing of facts versus anonymous blogging
I'm not sure I agree. We have two policies at Substance, and they complement one another. We require that in our articles, all facts and opinions be attributed to named sources (following The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage). When we agree to keep a source "off the record" it is for a precise and very good reason. As a result (we haven't burned a source in 37 years; I've been taken into court over it and still wouldn't discuss sources...) people trust us when we promise they will be "off the record." That is how I got the information for the now-famous FUBAR article from last week. Every day, a growing number of principals are coming forward about just how FUBAR Brizard's administration has become. In fact, the only ones still holding out (for what I don't know, since Brizard will leave town with a very Golden Parachute before 2013 begins) are becoming more and more uncertain of which cheeks to pucker towards. (See, recently, the Track E "opening day" publicity stunts staged by Rahm, Brizard, and all the Board members but Penny...).
People who want to blog, but anonymously, are certainly free to do so. And we at Substance are free to hold them in low esteem. Every morning, our main editors comb over the latest Substance comments to purge the anonymous pirates and the liars (camouflaged usually behind a strange pseudonym or using a phony email address) so that our readers can rely on what we are publishing. Those who want to flaunt around here, there, and just about everywhere (e.g., District 299...) have lots of places to go.
But ultimately, the only way we're going to bring about the changes that Chicago has long needed (and begin to rectify the monstrous legacy across the USA from the deployment of the "Chicago Boys..." by Arne Duncan) is when people stand up and stand tall and stand proud. Which is happening for sure more and more today than in the 12 years since, at the August 2000 meeting of the Chicago Board of Education, the Board voted unanimously to fire me. For "copyright infringement" of a document they never again dared use (the CASE tests).
So... You can see, my family and I also know what it feels like. Paul Vallas, Arne Duncan, the new "Chicago Boys" (see Chile for the first iteration of those pigs), and those other crooks still predatorily rampaging across the land will be brought to justice. But not because people hid out on the blogs and never provided a dollar or a document to Substance.
substance
I pay my subscription haha. You are right. Think of me as the french underground in wwii.
The maquis and later...
OK, that's enough historical fun for one night and day. As careful students of that era of history know, and celebrate, it wasn't the "entrepreneurial" class or the cowards in the corporate media (all collaborationists) that filled the ranks of the Maquis form Brittany to Belgium and beyond. And our comrades in the Red Orchestra played a role farther to the east in all that, too. But the bad guys were a lot rougher against us back in those days than anything we've faced from Chicago during the current struggles.
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