Chicago Teachers Union Delegates Unanimously Reject Concessions at Special Meeting on August 11

[Hannah Bell]

Chicago Teachers Union delegates voted unanimously to reject the Board of Education's demands that the teachers give up nearly $100 million — in salary adjustments and other concessions (such as furlough days) — at a special delegates meeting on Wednesday, August 11. More than 500 delegates and other union members filled the auditorium at the Local 399 Operating Engineers union hall for the two hour meeting.

...speaker after speaker voiced their vehement opposition to any concessions, which many said, including the newly elected Chicago Teachers Union leadership, will not guarantee saving teacher jobs. Since the beginning of summer, Chicago school officials have been firing and laying off veteran teachers and others across the city, following the claim, since proven false, that CPS was facing an unprecedented "deficit."

"If you give up concessions, will that stop the layoffs," asked newly elected CTU President Karen Lewis, who presided over her first House of Delegates meeting. Almost 400 delegates quickly answered a thundering: "NO!"

President Lewis said the Board's lawyers, asking for concessions, showed a list of what other unions across the city have given up. "I was a little offended because I don't care what others have done," Lewis said. "I did not back down."

The delegates meeting was highly charged politically, unlike any delegates meeting in the past five years. "I think it may be Daley's last chance to bust the union," said Taft High School delegate Sam Duarte. "If we give them one penny, we cease to exist."

http://www.substancenews.net/articles.php?page=1588§ion=Article


If you lead them, they will come.

[patrice]

1. Haven't you heard? The Unions don't matter until the Professional Left says they do.

:sarcasm:

[maryf]

2. k&r

solidarity!

[txlibdem]

3. I never thought a Dem Pres. would be as focused on union killing as Ronnie Raygun

But I helped elect him to office so I bear some of the responsibility. Let's get a real Democrat in the Presidency.

Dean/Hillary 2012 ! ! !

[femmocrat]

4. I am so proud of my union brothers and sisters for standing up for teachers.

God Bless them.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. These teachers are correct; they have done their homework.

Unlike the officials running the city and the school district.

I so admire what these brave teachers in Chicago are doing.