Global Solidarity for Chicago

"Teachers are placed in a position where they have to defend themselves and their students to save our system of public education.  I applaud and support the teachers, clinicians and paraprofessionals in Chicago for their courageous act.  You take this bold action on behalf of our nation.  Si Se Puede," Dolores Huerta, president Dolores Huerta Foundation for Community Organizing, Co-Founder United Farm Workers.

The Chicago Teachers Union wants to thank the many individuals and organizations who have written letters of solidarity or contributed to our Solidarity Fund over the last few weeks. The list below represents the many organizations to which the many individual contributors belong and organizations who have themselves written letters of support. People across the country and the world are looking at our confrontation with the Chicago Board of Education as a key fight against the specious attacks on our public schools and the teachers and paraprofessionals who make them work. Thank you for this tremendous outpouring of support that will help sustain us in our struggle for educational justice. See the map below and the list along with it (zoom out to see more far-flung supporters).

View CTU Solidarity in a larger map

Juan Gonzalez: Chicago Teachers Union leader Karen Lewis pushed back — and won

Until this week, no one — not even American Federation of Teachers chief Randi Weingarten — had found a way to turn back the tide of teacher bashing. Then the feisty firebrand Lewis burst on the scene.

Chicago Teachers Union head Karen Lewis has emerged as the new champion for millions of frustrated public school teachers.

Feisty firebrand has emerged as new champion for millions of public school teachers.  

Great piece by Juan Gonzalez.... except for tossing all the credit at Karen Lewis. She will be the first to tell you she is the out front person for a group, CORE, with a deep bench. Just like in the Occupy movement, the press tries to focus on a key person, as if they are the ones to make it happen all by themselves and they get frustrated when they can't pin down the leadership. 

Every Chicago teacher activist I've met is well-informed on a wide range of issues. It takes an educated membership before they can be organized and then mobilized. CORE did not neglect that crucial aspect and I would issue a warning to other groups around the nation looking to follow in CORE's footsteps to take heed of the education aspect.

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Monday, September 17, 2012, 6:00 AM

Karen Lewis, who last week led 29,000 Chicago teachers on a school strike heard across the nation, has suddenly emerged as the new champion for millions of frustrated public school teachers.

Many of those teachers are sick and tired of being made into scapegoats by politicians and corporate honchos who never spent a single day in front of a classroom.

They are fed up with overcrowded classrooms in rundown buildings, with bureaucrats who keep hiring high-paid consultants despite huge budget deficits, with new state laws that tie teacher evaluation to their students’ test scores, with the constant closing of neighborhood schools and the stampede to charter schools.

But most of all, they are furious at the lack of respect for them and their profession.

Until this week, no one — not even American Federation of Teachers chief Randi Weingarten — had found a way to turn back the tide of teacher bashing.

Then the feisty firebrand Lewis burst on the scene.

For a week, she went toe-to-toe against Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the former Obama White House chief-of-staff known for his short fuse, foul mouth and take-no-prisoners style.

And by any measure, Lewis came come out a winner.

MORE Member Responds to E4E Contact - September 17, 2012

....E4E DEFINITELY has an ambitious agenda to build a "grass-roots" organization inside all the schools, a kind of anti-union union (I'd dare to call it fascist, truthfully). -- NYC Teacher/MORE member).

Interesting that they have the money to pay for full time Outreach Directors. Most other "grassroots" union organizers that I know are, oh, I don't know, busy during the day with teaching and such.-- Another NYC teacher/MORE member

Let me take a few minutes away from Chicago to touch base with our old pals. Keep an eye out in your school for these slugs trying to infiltrate their anti-union agenda into the schools.

The DOE is actively helping E4E get into schools with the idea of creating a Quisling anti-union force. E4E full-time organizers and money from DFER and Gates and HalfWhitney Tilson and support from Tweed.

I'm now hearing of E4E people running for chapter leader. And I have it directly from a top Tweed official that MORE is on Tweed's radar. With the Chicago story, Tweedies might be getting nervous if MORE should get some traction.

I also heard that certain UFT officials were suggesting that E4E run in the upcoming UFT elections. That would work for Unity in that another organization running would muddy the waters. On the other hand a group like E4E with loads of money might penetrate into schools with a subtle anti-union/Unity message. But it won't happen I predict. E4E would need a lot more than what they have to conduct an election campaign. And many of their supporters are not in teaching for the long run.

Here is an email sent to a teacher by an E4E organizer who was given the name by the principal -- what does that tell you?

"Hey girl, can I buy you a cup of coffee?" What's going on? Is E4E funding running don? They can't offer a sandwich?

Hi,

How are you? My name is ----- and I'm an Outreach Director with Educators 4 Excellence (E4E). My colleague and I recently spoke with your principal and she suggested that we connect. We would love the opportunity to buy both of you a cup of coffee and hear about you, your teaching experience and we can share a bit about E4E. We can meet you by your school or in your neighborhood – wherever is most convenient for you.

The teacher sent this message to the MORE discussion group:

I am a delegate at my school and I recently received this email, as did my chapter leader.

Just thought people might be interested in this. For some reason E4E was present during one of my principal's CFN meetings. Interesting that they have the money to pay for full time Outreach Directors. Most other "grassroots" union organizers that I know are, oh, I don't know, busy during the day with teaching and such. 

I think I'll just send a simple, direct email saying that having reviewed E4E's Declaration of Teachers' Principles and Beliefs we have no interest in pursuing a relationship with them. Might need to say more about why to fully satisfy my disgust, but I also don't want to "get into it" with this guy because there wouldn't be much point. Maybe I'll just ask if he can put me in touch with Karen Lewis instead...

One interesting note is that my chapter leader had never heard of them. I can see how inviting a personal email like this might seem to beleaguered chapters who are looking for someone "in the union" to listen. They really do an amazing job of painting themselves as people who are trying to give a voice to teachers. All the MORE reason we need to build a space for that to happen authentically!!

Another MORE member adds on:

They're definitely not in the union, so I'd start with that. I met these guys at the pre-screening for "Won't Back Down," as well as virtually all their other NYC folks. (One of them seemed honest, but while he's open to other, opposing points of view, even he admits he works with the group, so he's chosen that side for now.) One of the guys gave me the impression he's ready to take over the City with their agenda. And they DEFINITELY have an ambitious agenda to build a "grass-roots" organization inside all the schools, a kind of anti-union union (I'd dare to call it fascist, truthfully).
I see no reason to engage with them. They have tremendous resources and an army of eager organizers. They will definitely swarm near anything that smells useful, so have no illusions!

Chicago Updates: Karen Lewis meets media and Lee Sustar: Members Will Decide

School closings are the elephant in the room....Don't call is a good contract. It is what we got.... the biggest issue is the one of closing schools.... there is a total lack of trust in the CPS [can they be trusted to actually not break the contract?] Teachers want to see the language.... Put it in big letters: TRUST... there is language on class size with a committee to look at over sized classes with a parent on the committee---- Karen Lewis at press conference, Sunday night.

What good is recall if they close so many schools there are no neighborhood public school positions to apply for or we compete like starving dogs for a bone over the few left? What's the plan for that? (Another discussion... hopefully NOT with Randi.) -- CTU member Susan Zupan

Negotiations in Chicago began nearly a year ago with CPS pushing a copy of the AFT local agreement in New Haven, Conn., a "thin contract" that wiped out decades of traditional teacher job protections. The New Haven deal was hailed as a "model or template" by AFT President Randi Weingarten. Similarly, in resisting merit pay, the CTU broke from the AFT's new embrace of the practice in several important union locals, such as in Pittsburgh.
In 2010, teachers elected the leadership slate put forward by the Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators (CORE) on the basis of drawing the line against corporate-driven education reform.
Another significant concession: Laid-off teachers will only be paid for six months instead of the full year mandated by the current contract. Though the union won somewhat stronger language on teacher recall, this contract provision is likely to loom large as the city prepares to close down as many as 100 schools, according to its threats.
 Another weakness is the union's failure to win more on the supposed "non-strikable" demands like smaller class sizes that benefit both students and teachers. CPS did agree, however, to hire more social workers, nurses and councilors should revenue become available.
 Another significant concession: Laid-off teachers will only be paid for six months instead of the full year mandated by the current contract. Though the union won somewhat stronger language on teacher recall, this contract provision is likely to loom large as the city prepares to close down as many as 100 schools, according to its threats.
 Another weakness is the union's failure to win more on the supposed "non-strikable" demands like smaller class sizes that benefit both students and teachers. CPS did agree, however, to hire more social workers, nurses and councilors should revenue become available...  delegates will have to consider whether continuing an indefinite strike would gain significantly more. There's also the issue of parent and community support, which could fray in a longer walkout..... The union's delegates and members must now choose between raising the stakes even further by extending the strike and making new demands, or leave the battlefield with its troops intact, having won a contract that is mixed. And the next fight is only a few weeks away as CPS prepares to release its list of 100 schools to shut down.

----Lee Sustar, Socialist Worker

Lee Sustar provides the most comprehensive analysis of the proposed contract I've seen. Above I extracted just a few of the important -- and balanced -- points Lee makes, but read it all below.

There are some disturbing elements -- like the biggie to me -- laid off teachers -- think closing schools -- get paid for only 6 months instead of a year. I'm really surprised they brought what looks like a major concession back to the members as the best they could do. And a sort of wishy washy class size committee which will examine high class sizes. Even though a parent is on the committee I don't think parents will be happy.

CTU president Karen Lewis talked to the media Sunday night -- a really interesting and illuminating 12 minutes. She explains the issues, and teaches what democracy looks like in a union. Most impressive to me is how she did not fall into the traps the media questions were setting. VEEP Jesse Sharkey elaborates on how the Board tried to change every single paragraph in the contract.

The press is reporting that there are divisions within the union when in fact there are open discussions -- as Karen says, there are people who want to go back and others who want to talk about it with the people in their schools.

Here in the UFT, a summary of the contract is handed to delegates at the DA before the meeting and the union spends time selling it, then Unity people get to the mics to support it. A few voices opposed are allowed and then they vote. Then it goes to the schools where union officials pile in to sell it. But even modifications of the contract have been pushed through the DA and never go to the members --- see ATR modifications.

--note how Karen says she is not there to sell the contract but to explain it - "I am not a salesperson."

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/16/13899588-chicago-teachers-not-happy-with-proposed-contract-strike-continues?lite

----------
As usual, check with George at Substance for the latest:

Chicago Teachers Strike of 2012 continues at CTU delegates vote to return to the picket lines while members and delegates study the contract provisions

George reports on the vote yesterday: 350 to 220

-----------
James Eterno, chapter leader at Jamaica HS, a school being closed by the DOE,  comments on the ICE blog:

http://iceuftblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/chicago-stopping-privatizationunion.html

We have to look very closely at this whole picture.  On the issue of school closures, read what CTU member Susan Zupan says:

"RECALL/School Closures: What good is recall if they close so many schools there are no neighborhood public school positions to apply for or we compete like starving dogs for a bone over the few left? What's the plan for that? (Another discussion... hopefully NOT with Randi.)"

-----------
Call Rahm Emanuel at 312-734-3300--The mayor plans to go to court in the morning to force teachers back to work. Call him and demand he not interfere with the collective bargaining process for teachers. The teachers have a right to strike until they win their demands and tell Rahm you stand with the teachers until THEY decide.

---------
This is what democracy looks like
Below Lee Sustar from the International Socialist Organization whose reporting has been so on target, along with Alan Maass, report on the situation in Chicago.

COMMENT: LEE SUSTAR AND ALAN MAASS

Teachers will decide, not Rahm

Mike Klonsky responds to Noguera who I thought took some cheap and dishonest or ignorant shots at the CTU

I’m a big fan of Pedro but his latest criticism of the union is not only ill-timed, but dead wrong as well. The union’s approach to a longer school day moves well beyond and improves upon the mayor’s top-down imposition of more seat time on teachers, students and parents. It is true that union has opposed the idea of a longer school day and year without any added compensation for teachers as mandated by the board. -- Mike Klonsky

Unlike many others I am not a fan of Pedro Nogeura who often talks a good game but always seems to straddle the fence at crunch time. I saw him challenge Walcott at the NY Times "Build a Better Teacher" all day event on Sept. 13 (they didn't manage to build one, by the way). And I tweeted good things. Then Walcott got aggressive and fought back and Pedro backed off -- "oh, you guys did so many good things too." Retch time.

I know I am wearing subscribers out will all the stuff I'm posting. Believe me I can do 10 more a day but I want Ravitch to keep holding the record.

Well here is Diane Ravitch's link to Noguera comments on the strike.

What’s Missing in Chicago Debate

by dianerav

Pedro Noguera knows that closing public schools and shifting kids to charter schools is not a remedy to the huge economic and social problems of Chicago.

What else is needed?

What else is needed is someone to confront Noguera just like Klonsky does below in his comment on Diane's blog.

Mike Klonsky responds to Noguera on Diane Ravitch's blog. I thought Noguera took some cheap and dishonest or ignorant shots at the CTU.

Pedro Noguera claims that the CTU, “has not been willing to acknowledge that more learning time and a clear and fair basis for judging teacher effectiveness are legitimate issues that must be addressed.” 

I’m a big fan of Pedro but his latest criticism of the union is not only ill-timed, but dead wrong as well. The union doesn’t oppose “more learning time” for students as Pedro Claims. From the start, they supported the idea of a longer, better school day (see the Ward Room (http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/CTU-Contract-Longer-School-Day-163588976.html) including more art, music, physical education and recess, similar to the school day at the private school where Rahm and board member Penny Pritzker send their children. 

The union’s approach to a longer school day moves well beyond and improves upon the mayor’s top-down imposition of more seat time on teachers, students and parents. It is true that union has opposed the idea of a longer school day and year without any added compensation for teachers as mandated by the board. 

Pedro’s other poke at the CTU for supposedly not offering an alternative approach to improving “teacher effectiveness” is also misleading. The union, with research support coming from the CReATE group of researchers, has put forth important ideas for transforming the current inadequate evaluation system (See CReATE member Isabel Nunez’ commentary in the Sept. 12 Sun-Times http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/15107882-452/standardized-test-scores-are-worst-way-to-evaluate-teachers.html). 

What makes Pedro’s criticism so unfair, particularly at this time, is that the union has taken on both the more-seat-time issues as well as new approaches to teacher evaluation at great risk during the current contract negotiations. Perhaps he isn’t aware that since the passage of Sen. Bill 7, Chicago teachers are legally barred from negotiating over anything except wage/benefit issues. 

Pedro would do well to read the union’s excellent document, “The Schools Chicago’s Students Deserve” to better understand where the CTU is coming from. The report can be found at http://www.ctunet.com/blog/text/SCSD_Report-02-16-2012-1.pdf
-------Mike Klonsky

House of Delegates Votes to Continue Strike

Democracy in action. Whenever we tried to ask to bring issues back to our schools the UFT/Unity Caucus laughed in our faces.

How will this play? The leadership came back with a deal and the chapter leaders feel they will not say yes until the entire membership school by school gets to talk about it. The leadership didn't shove it down their throats.
Like Karen said in the video I put up from the aft convention- this is a member driven union - if I tried to order people around they'd just give me a look.

Another lesson in unionism for the rest of the world to learn from.

By the way, this is another shot at shoving Rahmbo's face in it.
------------

09/16/2012

Some 800 delegates of the Chicago Teachers Union duly elected from each school and workplace convened Sunday afternoon to discuss the framework established during negotiations between the Chicago Teachers Union and the Chicago Board of Education. 

Officers presented a 23-page document outlining the most important points of the agreement whose outline has been worked out between the two parties. That tentative agreement is expected to number over 180 pages.

After a civil and frank discussion, the House of Delegates voted NOT to suspend the strike, but to allow two more days for delegates to take the information back to the picket lines and hold discussions with the over 26,000 members throughout Chicago. Teachers and school staff will return to the picket lines of the schools at which they teach at 7:30 a.m. Monday and, after picketing together, will meet to share and discuss the proposal. Citywide members will picket at the Chicago Public Schools Headquarters, 125 South Clark, at 7:30 a.m. and will meet thereafter at a downtown location.

"This union is a democratic institution, which values the opportunity for all members to make decisions together. The officers of this union follow the lead of our members," President Lewis said. She continued, "the issues raised in this contract were too important, had consequences too profound for the future of our public education system and for educational fairness for our students, parents and members for us to simply take a quick vote based on a short discussion. 

Therefore, a clear majority voted to take this time and we are unified in this decision."

The delegates voted to reconvene and decide how to proceed on Tuesday afternoon.

When there's a contract, then call us maybe while NYC Parents Stand in Solidarity With CTU

Chicago teachers on strike singing a cover of "Call Me Maybe" promoting a fair contract to better our children. Special thanks to: Burr Elementary Hayt Eleme...etc.

Just take a look at how young these teachers are. Who said the yutes are not union conscious? Here we have E4E slugs. Where are they in Chicago? No matter what emerges from the contract this video is a sign of the amazing work the CTU/CORE leadership has done in a very short time. This work won't stop with the settlement.



http://youtu.be/SqXmX5caH7k

PARENT LEADERSHIP PROJECT
There's too much material coming in. Got to combine them. I'm not sure who are the folks  *** see below for background on PLP and La Union.

 but their sentiments are welcome I'm sure by the CTU.

The Parent Leadership Project and La Union in New York City stand in solidarity with the Chicago Teachers Union. Like Parents 4 Teachers in Chicago, we know that teachers’ working conditions are our children’s learning conditions. In New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been implementing similar reforms to Rahm Emanuel's in Chicago. In both cities, structures of Mayoral Control combined with federal reforms such as No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top have claimed to make schools more accountable to students and their parents.

But our experience has shown us that the opposite is true. Closing historically under-resourced schools in low-income communities of color and opening up charter schools have only increased segregation within city school districts.

Moreover, too many of our children have been shut out or kicked out of charter schools because they are English Language Learners, students with special needs, or because of zero tolerance “discipline” polices. At the end of the day, charter schools do not better serve our children, and neither does merit pay. 

We know that the single instrument of high-stakes tests does not measure our children’s capacities or learning. They also do not measure the hard work or worth of teachers. Rather, for poor communities of color particularly, tying teachers’ pay to high-stakes tests means that experienced teachers would likely be less inclined to teach in the schools and communities where they are most needed.

We need public schools that truly reflect, respect, and serve the communities that they are part of –and this requires that teachers are valued and respected as workers, that schools are well-resourced with the materials, resources, and staff that they need. Public schools can work, and do every day---but only for a small minority of the population. In these schools, classes are smaller, services are ample, and curriculum is wide and expansive. All our children deserve these conditions---and all our teachers need these conditions. This historic and brave stand by CTU is not a strike of choice as Emanuel claims. 

Rather, it’s a fight that is about our children, their futures, and dignity and fundamental rights for their teachers.

***

The Parent Leadership Project (PLP) grew out of over a decade of collaboration between the Center for Immigrant Families (a social justice community organizing center in the New York City uptown neighborhood of Manhattan Valley) and the Bloomingdale Family Program (a head start center with three sites in the same neighborhood). In 2010, the two organizations decided to combine their efforts to address the realty of segregated and unequal public schools that their constituencies have long confronted. Through combining popular education, community organizing, and advocacy with much-needed services, PLP works to build parent leadership, power, and organizing for educational justice in District 3 schools and beyond.

 

La Unión is an organization of people of the global south working to advance the social, economic, and cultural rights of the communities where we now live and the communities we left behind. The 600 members of La Unión are predominantly from the Mixteca region of Mexico and immigrants from across Latin America. La Unión is based in the neighborhood of Sunset Park, Brooklyn; one of New York City’s largest Mexican immigrant neighborhoods

Chris Hedges on Chicago

Julie Woodward, (Under Assault blog which she discontinued upon retirement) sent this suggestion.

For those who missed the powerful interview Pulitzer-prizewinning journalist Chris Hedges did with Amy Goodman (Democracy Now) last week on the Chicago teachers' strike, the video is available on www.Democracy Now. <http://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/11/chris_hedges_dems_owe_chicago_public>. 

 

In his latest book, Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt, he speaks of "sacrifice zones," the poorest pockets of the country that have been exploited by the for-profit sector, and it is within this context that he discusses the historical importance of this strike.  

Fortunately they put the transcript up, so you don't even have the listen to it, you can read it.  I think this is a FABULOUS summation of what's happening in the school systems, including in New York.

[QUOTED BITS]

     " . . . the teachers’ strike in Chicago is arguably one of the most important labor actions in probably decades. If it does not prevail, you can be certain that the template for the attack on the union will be carried out across the country against other teachers’ unions and against the last redoubt of union activity, which is in the public sector, of course—firemen and police."

     " . . . these corporate forces that have made these sacrifice zones prostrate themselves before corporate profit, corporate greed, are turning on the rest of us, as we rapidly reconfigure this country into a neofeudalistic society, an oligarchic state. And it is, I think, emblematic that the reptilian heart of the Democratic Party is sort of represented by the mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, who has, like—as far as I can tell, all major Democratic figures turn their backs on the union activity and the struggle on the part of the Chicago teachers, including, of course, Barack Obama."

And most importantly:

       "And it really boils down to the fact that we spend $600-some billion a year, the federal government, on education, and the corporations want it. That’s what’s happening. And that comes through charter schools. It comes through standardized testing. And it comes through breaking teachers’ unions and essentially hiring temp workers, people who have very little skills. This is what Teach for America is about. They teach by rote, and they earn nothing. There’s no career. I mean, there’s quite a difference between teaching people what to think and teaching people how to think. And corporate forces want to teach people what to think. It’s a kind of classism. People get slotted. It’s vocational. And so, I see what’s happening in Chicago as, you know, one of the kind of seminal uprisings of our age. And if they don’t succeed, we’re all in deep trouble."

The full transcript here. <http://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/11/chris_hedges_dems_owe_chicago_public#transcript>

 

and below the break.

 

I call them the "two Julies," Woodward and Cavanagh, both of whom have had big influences on me, Julie W helped found ICE and was an important voice with her Under Assault blog until she retired over a year ago. We spent years conspiring and I miss her voice in my ear.

What's in the CTU Contract and Will There Be a Backlash?

Let's put this contract in the context of 17 years of ed deform in Chicago. Does anyone want to compare it to Cleveland, Washington and other cities? Was the CTU strike a line in the sand to send a message to the ed deformers but delivering little in substance? We will find out more today.

No deal was going to be in place until two or four layers of real democracy had examined it and held the deal — not the personalities — accountable. -- G. Schmidt

 

MORE's JULIE CAVANAGH DID A GREAT JOB ON MSNBC CHRIS HAYES THIS MORNING - HERE'S THE LINK.

I was at a meeting the other night where there were already hints of blow back when one person said "we must hold the CTU leadership feet to the fire." Listen, not everyone will be happy. Clearly there will be 30% on evals but that is state law, so that is a given. Rahm wanted to escalate each year. Sadly nothing so far on class size.

9AM UPDATE FROM MICHAEL FIORILLO:

My understanding is that Illinois state law requires some test-based teacher evaluations, so that was the benchmark upon the CTU was negotiating. The next step for the CTU is to work towards changing the law, but if by striking they have been able to lessen the damage caused by these evaluations, they have made real progress.

Not knowing the details of the tentative agreement, it's premature to judge it overall. Nevertheless, teachers (and all working people) across the country own the CTU a debt of gratitude: they took on a very broad coalition of Power, stood up the bullying of Emanuel and the lies of the media, reawakened people to the power and potential of collective action, and have started to change the terms of the debate. The CTU was also able to keep Weingarten from helicoptering in and betraying them. As Norm's report on his encounter with Mark Sternberg suggests, there is no doubt much anxiety at Tweed, TFA, StudentsFirst,  the foundations, etc. 

And at 52 Broadway and AFT headquarters in Washington.

Can't we at least take satisfaction and feel some gratitude in the CTU wiping some of the smugness and arrogance off the faces of these bastards, and showing that the destruction of the public schools will not be passively allowed to happen? 

This was an epochal strike, one that will be seen as the opening round in the battle to reclaim public education. After decades of being slandered and knocked back on our heels, the CTU has shown that we can fight back and begin to reclaim the territory that is rightfully ours. They deserve our thanks and support.

George Schmidt posted on what may be in the contract this morning: CTU press release gives some inkling of the content of the deal so far

The Bargaining Team is expected to share new details about proposed contract language which includes a number of victories for teachers, paraprofessionals, clinicians, and students.
The earliest teachers and other school personnel could return to their schools could be Monday; however, no decision has been made to do so. Delegates, the elected leaders of their schools, have the authority to suspend or lengthen the strike. They could also ask for at least 24-hours to talk to individual members in their schools before making a decision on what to do next. The 29,000-member CTU has been on strike since Sept. 10.

“We are a democratic body and therefore we want to ensure all of our members have had the chance to weigh-in on what we were able to win,” said CTU President Karen GJ Lewis. “We believe this is a good contract, however, no contract will solve all of the inequities in our District. Our fair contract fight has always been about returning dignity and respect to our members and ensuring resources and a quality school day for our students and their families.”

The new proposed CTU/CPS contract will:  *Secure Raises & Ensure Fair Compensation:* The CTU wants a three-year contract. It will secure a 3% raise in the first year, 2% raise in the second and 2% raise in the third, with the option to extend to a 4th year by mutual agreement at another 3% raise.

*Defeat Merit Pay*: The CTU successfully fought the star of national misguided school reform policies. The Board agreed to move away from “Differentiated Compensation,” which would have allowed them to pay one set of teachers (based on unknown criteria) one set of pay versus another set of pay for others.

*Preserve Steps & Lanes:* The new contract will preserve the full value of teachers and paraprofessionals career ladder (steps); and, it will increased the value of the highest steps (14,15 and 16)

*Provide A Better School Day:* The Board will hire 512 additional ‘special’ teachers in art, music, physical education, world languages and other classes to ensure students receive a better school day, a demand thousands of parents have called for since last year

*Ensures Job Security:*Creates a “CPS Hiring Pool,” which demands that one-half of all of CPS hires must be displaced (laid-off) members.
 ·*Adds An Anti-Bullying Provision: *No more bullying by principals and managerial personnel. The new language will curtail some of the abusive practices that have run rampant in many neighborhood schools.
·*Paraprofessional & Clinicians Prep Time:*The new contract will guarantee preps for clinicians.
 ·*Racial Diversity:*The CTU continues to fight the District on its
 lay-off policies that has led to a record number of African American educators being laid off and eventually terminated by the District. The new contract will ensure that CPS recruits a racially diverse teaching force.
·*New Recall Rights &

Tackling School Closings:* Acknowledging, the CTU will continue its ongoing legal and legislative fight for a moratorium on all school closings, turnarounds and phase-outs, the new contract requires teachers to “follow their students” in all school actions. This will reduce instability among students and educators. The contract will also have 10 months of “true recall” to the same school if a position opens.
 ·*Fairer Evaluation Procedures:* The new contract will limit CPS to 70% “teacher practice,” 30% “student growth” (or test scores)—which is the minimum by state law. It also secures in the first year of implementation of the new evaluation procedures there will be “no harmful consequences” for tenured teachers. It also secures a new right—the right to appeal a Neutral rating.
 ·*Reimbursement for School Supplies:*The contract will require the District to reimburse educators for the purchase of school supplies up to $250.
 ·*Additional Wrap-Around Services:* The Board agrees to commit to hire nurses, social workers and school counselors if it gets new revenue. Over the past several months, the CTU has identified several sources of new revenue, including the Tax Increment Financing program.
 ·*Books on Day One:*For the first time, the new contract will guarantee all CPS students and educators have textbooks on day one and will not have to wait up to six weeks for learning materials.
·*Unified School Calendar:* The new contract will improve language on a unified calendar. The District will have one calendar for the entire school district and get rid of Track E and Track R schools. All students and teaching personnel will begin on the same schedule.
·*Reduced Paperwork:*The new contract ensures the new paperwork requirements are balanced against reduction of previous requirements. 

I think the spin above means there were some victories but there will be critics (I saw nothing on class size -- even a minimal "no sizes over 40 would be something.) Here's a great chance to keep embarrassing Rahm this when he sends his kids to schools with 20 in a class).

I received emails this morning from people here in NYC about a "Unity style sellout." I don't agree. I imagine Unity will spin this as "We got all this without striking." My sense is the very fact the CTU went on strike is a victory. But how will that play with the membership, a crucial point, given that CORE has to run for re-election this spring. (History shows from the Debbie Lynch contract 10 years ago that bad blowback to a disappointing contract can blow you out of the water.)

An interesting article in Substance pointed in the direction critics will take this:

Capitulation in Chicago? Reading the news on a Friday night, it sounds that way by Steven Lendman

 By the time this article circulates, it may be all over but the shouting, finger-pointing, and bitterness among rank-and-file loyalists over another union sellout. As this is written, it looks that way. It won't surprise. Across America, union bosses keep prioritizing their own positions and welfare over workers they represent.
Instead of fighting for rights they deserve, they capitulate to corporate and government scoundrels. Wisconsin public workers learned the hard way. The state was ground zero to save public worker rights.

By the time this article circulates, it may be all over but the shouting, finger-pointing, and bitterness among rank-and-file loyalists over another union sellout. As this is written, it looks that way. It won't surprise. Across America, union bosses keep prioritizing their own positions and welfare over workers they represent. [They] hint darkly that the strike is 'illegal' because teachers are talking about issues the Board refuses to allow into the union contract."
They include class size, recalling laid off veteran teachers, proper year-round classroom temperatures, and others. They're major ones essential for all contracts.

I heard from one parent leader late last week that there will be great disappointment amongst Chicago parents who supported the strike if the CTU doesn't bring back something positive on class size. I'm still hoping they do but not holding my breath.

Did anyone think they would purge the contract of any evaluation based on test scores? They did seem to win a partial victory in their version of the ATR pool by requiring half the teachers hired come from the laid-off pool. (Rahm has to protect those TFAs, of course.)

There is going to be great drama played out with whatever the final deal looks like. There is some thinking out there that the CTU could have played their cards given the national scrutiny in more effective ways. Like, I thought they should have emphasized that they are not traditional union bosses (as the writer above calls them) but they are teachers who saw their kids being hurt in addition to teachers and they forced them to take action 4 years ago to move to take over their union from the real bosses.)

After all the excitement of the strike from teachers all over the nation, when the results undergo analysis, expect disappointment with what was and could have been won. To me it looks like there were some victories but watch the ultra left go wild.

My guess is there was a lot of symbolism in the strike led by people just two years out of the classroom and still feeling its way politically. Like who ever heard of Karen Lewis (other than us ed freaks) until a week ago? At the minimum, the strike has pushed many of the issues it was about into the national debate (see Julie Cavanagh on MSNBC this morning and Megan Behrent yesterday) as just one example

So even if they didn't bring back all the bacon, they have moved the ball up the field, bloodied their arch enemy Rahm Emanuel, tainted Arne Duncan and Obama on their ed policies and turned themselves into heroes to teachers all over the nation.

My sense was that there was a limit on how long they could only sustain a strike of a mostly younger team of teachers who the leadership (CORE) is trying to mobilize into a potent force -- and managed to pull them out for enormous rallies, along with parent support. But was that limit reached in one week? Could they have stayed out a month and impact on the presidential race?

And then there is the possibility the teachers actually turn down the contract in the House of Delegates today or in the follow-up referendum of all the members, which I imagine will have to take place after they go back.

See Substance on the democratic process where George Schmidt makes the point that the CTU tried to make the point time and again that they are the anti-union bosses building a democratic union movement. (See the video I put up yesterday of Karen Lewis saying that even if she tried to order people around they would laugh at her -Exclusive Video: Karen Lewis, at the AFT Peace and Justice Caucus, AFT Convention 2012)

Here are excerpts of what George wrote (click the title to read it all):

No Deal?... 'This is what democracy looks like'... House of Delegates meeting at three in the afternoon on September 16, 2012.... The same democracy that transformed the Chicago Teachers Union and transfixed the nation calls a halt to media frenzy about ending the Chicago Teachers Strike of 2012.

By George N. Schmidt - September 16th, 2012 |
For weeks before the Chicago Teachers Strike of 2012 began, the union's leaders have been warning the union's members not to believe anything they read, heard or saw in the corporate press. "Aren't the corporate media the worst place to learn the truth during a strike?" CTU vice president Jesse Sharkey, less than three years from a history teachers' classroom at Chicago's Senn High School, repeatedly reminded the unions members and delegates at rallies and meetings which eventually became too numerous to list for the history books. And with her almost trade-marked smile, CTU president Karen Lewis had tried (and failed) to remind reporters from the corporate media that the strength of the movement she was leading was its democracy.

And yet, as the first week of the strike ended and the size of the protests and rallies continued to grow, news reports kept looking for a reality that the strike (and the movement that created it) had rendered obsolete in U.S. history: the Chicago "union boss." For all the talk about "accountability" from those in the ruling class who want accountability to only go one way, when the real accountability of democratic leaders was in front of them, those who thought they were telling Chicago what was real were completely missing the truth that was before their own eyes.

No deal was going to be in place until two or four layers of real democracy had examined it and held the deal — not the personalities — accountable.

For weeks before the Chicago Teachers Strike of 2012 began, the union's leaders have been warning the union's members not to believe anything they read, heard or saw in the corporate press. "Aren't the corporate media the worst place to learn the truth during a strike?" CTU vice president Jesse Sharkey, less than three years from a history teachers' classroom at Chicago's Senn High School, repeatedly reminded the unions members and delegates at rallies and meetings which eventually became too numerous to list for the history books. And with her almost trade-marked smile, CTU president Karen Lewis had tried (and failed) to remind reporters from the corporate media that the strength of the movement she was leading was its democracy.

And yet, as the first week of the strike ended and the size of the protests and rallies continued to grow, news reports kept looking for a reality that the strike (and the movement that created it) had rendered obsolete in U.S. history: the Chicago "union boss." For all the talk about "accountability" from those in the ruling class who want accountability to only go one way, when the real accountability of democratic leaders was in front of them, those who thought they were telling Chicago what was real were completely missing the truth that was before their own eyes.

No deal was going to be in place until two or four layers of real democracy had examined it and held the deal — not the personalities — accountable.

It was always a bit more than many in the media and an era of one-liners, sound bites, an "Gotcha!" could grasp. It is a form of learning disability that has its really dramatic exemplars, my favorite of which is Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Having covered more than 40 of his press conferences during his first year in office, it eventually struck me that the man's mind was not only addled, but crippled. He really believed the world could be manipulated like he sort he had been doing with the 24-hour news cycle inside the Beltway. But of course, not matter how big the ego, he is only a spare part in the machine of empire.

The plodding drama of democracy in the Chicago Teachers Union, even as it unfolded month after month, was more than most people in that ruling arena could grasp.

And now come the next steps: [READ MORE]

---------
The opinions expressed on EdNotesOnline are solely those of Norm Scott and are not to be taken as official positions (though Unity Caucus/New Action slugs will try to paint them that way) of any of the groups or organizations Norm works with: ICE, GEM, MORE, Change the Stakes, NYCORE, FIRST Lego League NYC, Rockaway Theatre Co., Active Aging, The Wave, Aliens on Earth, etc.

MORE Events: Chapter Organizing Sept. 19, General Meeting Sept. 22 and MORE

MORE on TV: 
Julie Cavanagh on Chris Hayes Sunday 8AM

Meghan Behrent was on the Melissa Perry show on Saturday. I will put up links to both appearances

The MORE ride continues. 
Come to the chapter organizing training by MORE and Labor Notes on Weds. Sept. 19 - see below for details.

MORE continues its efforts with a CL and Del support listserve where people post questions and get answers they won't get elsewhere. Email more@morecaucusnyc.org if interested.

Many MORE members were at the UFT Chapter Leader meeting on Sept. 12 with a possible record being set by 9 week old Jack Cavanagh.

– the first Delegate Assembly will be in October. (For those not aware, the DA is made up of chapter leaders and delegates. Each school has at least one of each and bigger schools get one additional delegate for every 60 members.)

After the meeting, MORE held a Planning Committee meeting at a local bar, and Jack wasn't even asked for ID. The Planning Committee is MORE's temporary steering committee to run the group while we figure out more lasting structures – sort of trying to build the house while living in it.

Over 20 people showed up, which created a few logistical issues – like how do I get my beer and food while trying to meet? Unlike some groups (E4E Screens People Out at Screening of WBD,) MORE is totally open and some people who had their first contact with MORE were welcome to join in. No pledges to sign before entry. MORE does have a mission statement with basic principles of agreement decided on democratically and to be a voting member (when MORE does vote) people should be in basic agreement.

Get Involved! Attend our upcoming general meeting next Saturday or our Activist Training Wednesday, and distribute our latest leaflet "Why we are running in the Election" Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Movement of Rank & File Educators Weekly Newsletter #24 - September 15, 2012

Norm: It has been an electrifying week as the Chicago Teachers' Union has led the way in fighting back.  MORE has been picketing, rallying, wearing red and educating our coworkers about how a grassroots approach has led to this successful struggle. Please check out our statement in solidarity with Chicago!  Look for our roundup of analysis of the strike coming soon to morecaucusnyc.org. Take the next step by attending our general meeting on September 22nd. CUNY Graduate Center 365 5th Ave @ 34th rm. 5414 12 - 3pm We will be organizing our work for the fall - forming committees around action, education, internal and external communication, and the upcoming elections and we need your help!  Also we will be assessing and analyzing the national and local impact of the Chicago strike. Spread the word about MORE to your coworkers by distributing our latest leaflet: "Why we are running in the elections" MORE believes that we can transform the UFT into a force that can win us a good contract, build an activist alliance with parent and community groups to stop the political assaults against our schools and our union, and stop the testing craze which threatens students’ learning conditions and teachers’ job protections.... Read more here   Please take a second to forward this to a friend or coworker, and consider joining our discussion list or our chapter leader meetup list. Other Upcoming Events:  Fundraising Party -  9/29 - 7:00pm - 132 16th st (btwn 4th and 5th Ave.) R Train to Prospect District 15 Happy Hour - 10/19  Freddy’s Bar - 627 5th Ave. - R to Prospect Evaluations petition now online!  Go to the MORE website to sign the petition to call for a vote on the new evaluation scheme.  You can also download a copy to distribute at your school. In February, the UFT agreed to a new framework that will base 25-40% of our future evaluations on standardized test scores. The union will be negotiating the final details with the city over the fall and winter, but the membership deserves a discussion and a vote on the agreement. Wednesday September 19 MORE and Labor Notes present: Secrets of a Successful Organizer A training for new chapter leaders, new delegates, and all teachers who want to organize in their schools. MORE is joining forces with Labor Notes, a publication and organizing project focused on “putting the movement back in the labor movement” for a workshop on how to engage members and build rank-and-file power in your school.  Wednesday September 19th 5pm Murphy Institute 25 w. 43rd St., 18th floor click here for flyer

Fred Klonsky Reports: 30,000 filled the park. “We are still on strike.”

Breaking: Julie Cavanagh will be on a panel on MSNBC at 8AM Sunday - Chris Hayes show.

UPDATE: Mike Klonsky has video of Karen Lewis' speech at the rally.

Or listen here: bit.ly/TYuktx

Below
Fred's pictures tells a million words. We had MORE people in the crowd -- waiting for their reports and pics. See below the pics for Mark Naison's view of the strike as a game changer. One pic I'm stealing from NYC Educator, my fave Rahm sign.

September 15, 2012

CTU President Karen Lewis told the crowd of 30,000 that the CTU was still on strike.
No rush. No Rahm tricks.
And the 30,000 roared their approval.
The House of Delegates meets tomorrow to look at what they got.

And this from Mark Maison

Why the Chicago Teachers Strike is a "Game Changer"

Sep 14

http://withabrooklynaccent.blogspot.com/2012/09/why-chicago-teachers-strike-is-game.html

Why the Chicago Teachers Strike is a "Game Changer"

Every since No Child Left behind, School Reformers promoting school closings, privatization, and the use of high stakes testing in teacher and school evaluations have had no significant political opposition and no "grass roots pushback" strong enough to make them think twice. That is, until the Chicago Teachers Strike. Yes, there was the Save Our Schools March, attracting 8,000 people, and yes, there have been petitions all over the country against high stakes testing, but none of these represented something strong enough to make those promoting school reform initiatives to back off. Shutting down the school system of the nation's third largest city, however, and filling the streets of that city with 50,000 red shirted marchers is a "game changer." It will not stop the Reform Juggernaut or even slow its momentum, but it will encourage opponents to ratchet up their opposition to the Testing/ Privatization regime on all fronts, including strikes by teachers, test refusal by students and parents, and lawsuits against reform policies which are abusive and discriminatory. If the Save Our Schools March showed that there was significant opposition among teachers and educators to the Obama Administration's Education Policies, the Chicago Teachers Strike shows that the opposition has the power to challenge those policies in ways that command attention and respect because they are now mobilizing parents along with teachers. And anyone who thinks that this strike is the last gasp of of a dying movement may find the future holds quite a few surprises!

Exclusive Video: Karen Lewis, at the AFT Peace and Justice Caucus, AFT Convention 2012

Don't call them reformers or even deformers. Call them what they are: privatizers. Don't call them Stand for children. I call them Stand on children. -- Karen Lewis

Karen was a panelist discussing rank and file teacher movements in a video I taped on July 27, 2012 at an AFT P&J caucus meeting. All the panelists were excellent.

In this video, which I edited down to 12 minutes, Karen touches on organizing efforts of CORE from their beginnings in 2008 with 8 people, each of whom recruited 8 more. Two years later they were running the union.




http://youtu.be/wvn32-AXMOU

CTU Video: The TRUTH in Black & White

Parents, students and teachers speak out in a beautifully produced video.
They make every political point.

On you tube: http://youtu.be/prM0HWKrWVI or below.

Karen Lewis Slams "Chicago Cash Strapped" Bull and Phony Charter Demand

The mayor loves to tout unsubstantiated statistics about how popular charter schools are among Chicago parents. Today he used a new number: Now apparently the waiting list is whopping 19,000 students. Wow—that’s a lot of children who were “so unfortunate” to not get a seat at a coveted charter school.

Really? Then why did only a few hundred families show up at last year’s New School Expo, even though Chicago’s corporate elite spent so much money on promotional advertisements and even provided a free shuttle bus to Soldiers Field. Why did the UNO Charter School Network admit at the press conference at St. Scholastica last month that its organizers were going to go door-knocking in the neighborhood to try to recruit a couple hundred families to open the school this fall? Why did Andrew Broy of the Illinois Charter School Network say this week that there are several thousand slots still available at Chicago charter schools for parents who didn't want to wait out the strike?

Chicagoans need to understand what is happening to our school system. The mayor and his hedge fund allies are going to replace our democratically controlled public schools with privately run charter schools. This will have such disastrous results; people need to rise up and refuse to allow this to happen. --- Karen Lewis

We've been saying the same thing here. That there is artifical/phony demand pumped up by the charter lobby. Make charters show us the names of people who sign whatever it it they throw in people faces.

Don't mistake it, the strike had to do with charters and TFA in many ways -- I have to elaborate more in this --- and don't expect that the CTU won a moratorium on charters --there was no way to stop that train at this time but it will stop as the weight of crooked charters drag the charter movement down the drain --- and don't think that the charter teachers aren't supporting the strike.
 
By the way the Chicago/CORE group put up a resolutions at the AFT calling for a moratorium on charters and closing schools and a great testing accountability reso for the corporate leaches) and guess who rigorously opposed all these resos? Yes our pals in Unity Caucus with people like Jackie Bennett and Queens HS Dist Rep playing a big role -- so the next time you read or hear their bullshit just ask then what they did in Detroit.

Here is my morning post on more land grabs by Eva and Hubby Eric in Williamsburg Greenpoint (I'll report on the big enchilada, Washington Irving HS in Grammercy Park later): Parent Brooke Parker Won't Back Down as Eva and Eric Keep Glomming Up School Buildings (Condos, Here We Come)

  ---------

Letter from CTU President Karen Lewis: ‘Students Suffer in Low-Performing Charter Schools’

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/13846/letter_from_ctu_president_karen_lewis/

By Karen Lewis

Karen Lewis (Chicago Teachers Union / Flickr)

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is so cash-strapped that it plans to close and consolidate under-utilized schools, with rumors that it could be upwards of 120 schools this coming year. Many people would consider this to be fiscally prudent. Mayor Emanuel is of course going to blame the soon-to-be agreed upon new union contract.

What the public does not understand, however, even though both the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times have been writing about it for months, is that CPS is also simultaneously planning to open 60 new charter schools in the next few years. That decision was made last year under the “Gates Compact” in which CPS went into an agreement with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to increase charter schools in Chicago.

The CPS district has seen declining enrollment over the last decade, as have many other urban districts, because urban sprawl is sending our families to far-flung suburbs like Oswego where the housing is much larger and much cheaper than in the city. This is not because Chicago schools are “failing”—this is an urban planning phenomenon that we have seen many times in the last century. Illinois’ farmlands are being converted into towns, and just as the highways of the 1940s and 1950s allowed for suburban commuters to live comfortably outside the city and quickly get to work downtown every day, the Metra and I-355 have been expanded out to Oswego and other suburbs to help push that housing development.

Thus, the decline in enrollment in CPS District 299 is a natural phenomenon. Populations ebb and flow over the decades.
But, what is not natural is the city’s push for unprecedented charter expansion. The mayor loves to tout unsubstantiated statistics about how popular charter schools are among Chicago parents. Today he used a new number: Now apparently the waiting list is whopping 19,000 students. Wow—that’s a lot of children who were “so unfortunate” to not get a seat at a coveted charter school.

Really? Then why did only a few hundred families show up at last year’s New School Expo, even though Chicago’s corporate elite spent so much money on promotional advertisements and even provided a free shuttle bus to Soldiers Field. Why did the UNO Charter School Network admit at the press conference at St. Scholastica last month that its organizers were going to go door-knocking in the neighborhood to try to recruit a couple hundred families to open the school this fall? Why did Andrew Broy of the Illinois Charter School Network say this week that there are several thousand slots still available at Chicago charter schools for parents who didn't want to wait out the strike?

Chicagoans need to understand what is happening to our school system. The mayor and his hedge fund allies are going to replace our democratically controlled public schools with privately run charter schools. This will have such disastrous results; people need to rise up and refuse to allow this to happen. As a parent, do you really want your child wearing a three-piece polyester suit every day to school and pay a fine every time your child’s tie isn’t on straight? Do you really believe that it’s okay for a school to punish your child with a three-hour detention because he or she wanted to eat some Flaming Hot Cheetos?

And then of course, there is the dismal achievement outcome of the majority of charter schools. Urban Prep brags about its 100 percent college-bound rate when the average ACT score of its student is only 16. Where are those students going to college?

Finally, and most importantly, there is the cost. Mayor Emanuel says we will have to close and consolidate public schools to save money to pay for the new union contract. Does anyone in the public have any idea how much money it costs to open a brand new charter school and pay for the first few years while the school gets up and running? Hundreds of millions of dollars! CPS has an entire department dedicated to soliciting charter proposals, reviewing them, and then supporting the charter during its “incubation period." During this incubation period, the school is not held accountable for its test scores, because CPS understands that of course the school will not do well initially.

This is what we want for our children? Parents don’t want their kindergartner, 5th-grader or 9th-grader acting as a guinea pig for a charter school that might eventually become a good school. There is not a single charter management network that can say that all of its campuses are doing well.

Mayor Emanuel and his charter -school friends are complaining that the Chicago Teachers Union strike has kept students out of school for a few days—what about the years that students suffer in low-performing charter schools that are still trying to figure out how to manage themselves as an academic institution? Even the hedge fund billionaires that are behind this push admit that every charter school is not going to succeed—so why are we doing this? Why aren’t we simply looking at what already works, at the 30 percent of CPS’ neighborhood elementary schools that are scoring 85 percent and above—some at 100 percent—on state tests? Why aren’t we replicating that?