Lots has been happening in Chicago in relation to the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) negotiating a new contract with the city's public school system (CPS).
If you remember back in 2010 Karen Lewis was elected president of the CTU as part of the Caucus of Rank-and-file Educators; she beat back the United Progressive Caucus with 60% of the vote in a run-off election. Two years later the CTU authorized and implemented a strike that won a lot of concessions from CPS. Even though Karens Lewis has had some serious health issues recently, she is still on the forefront with the CTU trying to push back against the new contract offerings from CPS and the mayor, Rahm Emanuel.
Protesting potential layoffs, issues with pension benefits, classroom size, and more, the CTU authorized another strike in December 2015 with 96.5% of voting members in favor (92% of the members actually voted - amazing!). Budget cuts have been threatened and made the news recently when principals found out the specifics of what programs or positions they may have to reduce within their schools.
Last Friday there was an amazing rally in downtown Chicago where 3,000 union members and their supporters shut down traffic for quote some time to make their points. There was amazing news coverage of the event.
As a member of a related union I support Chicago Teachers in their fight for better working conditions. As is often said, our working conditions are the student's working conditions. Fight back!
If you remember back in 2010 Karen Lewis was elected president of the CTU as part of the Caucus of Rank-and-file Educators; she beat back the United Progressive Caucus with 60% of the vote in a run-off election. Two years later the CTU authorized and implemented a strike that won a lot of concessions from CPS. Even though Karens Lewis has had some serious health issues recently, she is still on the forefront with the CTU trying to push back against the new contract offerings from CPS and the mayor, Rahm Emanuel.
Protesting potential layoffs, issues with pension benefits, classroom size, and more, the CTU authorized another strike in December 2015 with 96.5% of voting members in favor (92% of the members actually voted - amazing!). Budget cuts have been threatened and made the news recently when principals found out the specifics of what programs or positions they may have to reduce within their schools.
Last Friday there was an amazing rally in downtown Chicago where 3,000 union members and their supporters shut down traffic for quote some time to make their points. There was amazing news coverage of the event.
As a member of a related union I support Chicago Teachers in their fight for better working conditions. As is often said, our working conditions are the student's working conditions. Fight back!
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