Chicago teacher strike poses test for unions

[longnecker]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The massive teacher strike in Chicago offers a high-profile test for the nation's teacher unions, which have seen their political influence threatened as a growing reform movement seeks to expand charter schools, get private companies involved with failing schools and link teacher evaluations to student test scores.

The unions are taking a major stand on teacher evaluations, one of the key issues in the Chicago dispute. If they lose there, it could have ripple effects around the country.
Both the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers are "a bit weaker," said Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. "They are playing on more hostile terrain and they are facing opponents the likes of which they have not had to face before."
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union — the AFT's oldest local — walked off the job Monday for the first time in 25 years over issues that include pay raises, classroom conditions, job security and teacher evaluations.
They are pitted against Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a powerful Democrat — and former chief of staff to President Barack Obama — who wants to extract more concessions from teachers while the school district faces a nearly $700 million deficit.
Major teacher strikes have been rare in recent years, compared with the 1960s and 1970s, when teachers went on strike frequently for better pay and improved bargaining rights. While unions generally got what they wanted in the past, they face a tougher climate today.
With the weak economy, unions have seen massive teacher layoffs, increased class sizes and school districts unable or unwilling to boost teacher salaries. Like other public employee unions, they are also under attack from Republican governors like Scott Walker of Wisconsin, who signed a measure last year to curb collective bargaining rights and limit benefits for state workers.
The 2.2-million member NEA has lost more than 100,000 members since 2010, as fewer public school teachers are hired and more charter schools open, most of which are not unionized. At the 1.5 million-member AFT, years of steady growth have leveled off.

[longnecker]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The massive teacher strike in Chicago offers a high-profile test for the nation's teacher unions, which have seen their political influence threatened as a growing reform movement seeks to expand charter schools, get private companies involved with failing schools and link teacher evaluations to student test scores.

The unions are taking a major stand on teacher evaluations, one of the key issues in the Chicago dispute. If they lose there, it could have ripple effects around the country.
Both the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers are "a bit weaker," said Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. "They are playing on more hostile terrain and they are facing opponents the likes of which they have not had to face before."
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union — the AFT's oldest local — walked off the job Monday for the first time in 25 years over issues that include pay raises, classroom conditions, job security and teacher evaluations.
They are pitted against Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a powerful Democrat — and former chief of staff to President Barack Obama — who wants to extract more concessions from teachers while the school district faces a nearly $700 million deficit.
Major teacher strikes have been rare in recent years, compared with the 1960s and 1970s, when teachers went on strike frequently for better pay and improved bargaining rights. While unions generally got what they wanted in the past, they face a tougher climate today.
With the weak economy, unions have seen massive teacher layoffs, increased class sizes and school districts unable or unwilling to boost teacher salaries. Like other public employee unions, they are also under attack from Republican governors like Scott Walker of Wisconsin, who signed a measure last year to curb collective bargaining rights and limit benefits for state workers.
The 2.2-million member NEA has lost more than 100,000 members since 2010, as fewer public school teachers are hired and more charter schools open, most of which are not unionized. At the 1.5 million-member AFT, years of steady growth have leveled off.
http://www.mediacomtoday.com/news/re...org%3E&ps=1011

[EpicWin]

Soon there will just be private and charter schools that remain, with no union affiliation.

[max1]

Its
all
about
the
children..........


effin unions are killing this country.

[longnecker]

Its



effin unions are killing this country.

Some where their should be a middle ground. Powerful unions sent the steel mills to other countries and caused a big automotive bailout. On the other hand we have nonunion workers working for minimum wages or close to it with no benefits.

[Bellicose]

You OK today Longnecker, did you have the hiccups when you posted the thread? lol

[Crabby]

Unfortunately, I understand both sides. Public school teachers have to do the best they can with whatever "product'' comes through the door.
Some teachers shouldn't be teaching and should be able to be let go. It's not "just a job." For a good teacher, it's calling.
Supportive parents, who are a strong part of their child's education, who work with their kids and speak well of the teachers in front of their kids, and even inconvenience themselves on behalf of their kids, are stuck knowing that in that same classroom are kids of parents who could care less, and say as much in front of their own kids. They do not talk up the importance of education and never urge their kids to be involved in their own education. They don't care if their kids go to school or not. After all, it's those "Government Schools" out to indoctrinate children and make communists out of them!( I actually still hear this crap!) Their kids never do home work, are commonly absent and fall farther and farther behind, so they become even less interested and even more uncomfortable in the typical middle class school setting because they are clueless as to what is going on. Some of those parents actually resent the teaching of proper grammar and spelling, because their own is terrible they see it as a criticism of themselves in front of their own kids. What is a teacher to do?
(Now, kids who really try, but still have a hard time, are something else. I know teachers who will just about break themselves in half to help.It's a real balancing act between doing their best for their students and their own families.)
Acting out becomes more common, and real trouble can follow until they are tossed or quit.
Teacher pay is always a big issue because it's tax money and parents who care want their money's worth. But, teachers have to go to college. Already they may be behind because of student loans.They would like to make enough to be able to pay their bills without food stamps and send their own kids to whatever post high school education is right for their child.
Teachers need encouragement.They have to know that what they are doing matters! They too are pleased when a child's face lights up because they finally "get it." Is is so sad to have to go to mandatory PTA meetings and have almost no parents attend.
What's the answer? I wish I knew.The big inner cities have serious problems that go back for generations. Do we just abandon them?
Can teachers in general do better? Not always. Some are working at their peak performance,others can definitely use improvement.I have a friend who just finished her masters in Special Ed. She still can't spell worth a darn and her "country'' grammar is still terrible. I wish I knew all the answers,I could make millions!

[longnecker]

You OK today Longnecker, did you have the hiccups when you posted the thread? lol

No hiccups.Call it a senior moment. I forgot I had hit the button to post.

[Bellicose]

Ok, just wanted to make sure everything was good with you.

[Beau Stockard]

longnecker,

Powerful unions sent the steel mills to other countries and caused a big automotive bailout. On the other hand we have nonunion workers working for minimum wages or close to it with no benefits.

Hardly. You did not make a factual statement,my friend. The 'auto bailout' of GM and Chrysler was authorized by President George W Bush and finalized by President Obama that saved the US auto industry-- GM investor bondholders were given a choice to accept the terms of the Government deal or sell their shares to the Government and the UAW was told that they had to accept similar terms such as a cut in pay and benefits freeze in order to save the autoworker pension fund. It worked as both GM and Chrysler are still alive and untold millions of American workers remained employed or rehired. Nissan and Toyota are two non-union foreign-owned auto companies operating in the United States and I doubt very much that their non-union auto workers 'make minimum wage or close to it with no benefits'. I haven't seen an actual auto worker contract with Nissan since my pal Gus from Alabama showed me one about five years ago, but I can tell you that contract was pretty much comparable to the union contract in wages and overtime (slightly less at the non-union shop) , but the benefits package very close to the same.

I don't know much about the Chicago school system or its teachers ,but this country does need good pay to attract and keep good teachers so they don't get frustrated from the evaluation and peformance testing of their teaching skills and quit on our kids. Keep in mind that teachers are one of the lowest-paid professions in this country and it takes a lot of hard work to teach schoolchildren well and good, and develop imagination and critical thinking in our children's education .

[Beau Stockard]

Soon there will just be private and charter schools that remain, with no union affiliation.

Chicago Teachers Union-Strike- September 10,2012- 3rd largest public school in the United States. Taking a stand to bring imagination and critical thinking back into the classrooms.

[longnecker]

Beau I know there is really no sense in arguing with you.. However my point was that all the great wages and benefits including the great retirement packages caused the major auto makers to end up in financial trouble. If you want to see nonunion workers get walked all over by employers come down state.

[max1]

Chicago Teachers Union-Strike- September 10,2012- 3rd largest public school in the United States. Taking a stand to bring imagination and critical thinking back into the classrooms.

hahaha this is rich!

No beau they are not

Why are the teachers striking? The Chicago Teachers Union is looking for a contract that includes the following (information courtesy of Gadlin):
Pay Fairness: "CTU seeks a fairer distribution of pay [i.e. higher compensation for teachers] and to preserve the schedule for career advancement established 45 years ago in the Union's first labor contract."



The city has no more money

• Protection of Benefits: "Maintain our existing benefits and sick days without increasing the contribution rate [how much teachers have to pay out-of-pocket for health care]."

The city has no more money

• Fair Evaluation Procedure: "The Chicago Public Schools' proposed evaluation procedures could result in 6,000 teachers, or nearly a third of all CPS teachers, facing discharge within one or two years. It places too much emphasis on standardized test scores, which diminishes children’s education and punishes teachers unfairly." In other words, teacher performance will be judged by standardized test scores.

Because the city want to make sure they are getting their monies worth? Sounds fair

• Teacher Training: "Chicago Public Schools is imposing a new curriculum at all schools and a strict evaluation system. Teachers have asked for more training, but CPS proposes no increase, or in some cases decreased, teacher training."

The city has no more money

• Timetable for air conditioning: "Teachers insist that Chicago Public Schools agree to a reasonable timetable to install air conditioning in student classrooms. In July and August, students sit in sweltering 98-degree heat." (In case you're wondering what students are doing in a classroom during the summer, Chicago has implemented some year-round public schools.)

Democrats always so concerned with doing what LOOKS right didn't think this through


Wait a minute this mayor is who? and he was working for who before this and this hometown is where what president came from. Take a good look cause this is what the country will look like when obamma is done..

[EpicWin]

Chicago Teachers Union-Strike- September 10,2012- 3rd largest public school in the United States. Taking a stand to bring imagination and critical thinking back into the classrooms.

[Josef]

Chicago Teachers Union-Strike- September 10,2012- 3rd largest public school in the United States. Taking a stand to bring imagination and critical thinking back into the classrooms.

Seriously?


It's ALWAYS about the money.

[Josef]

Can we combine the 2 threads on this? It's messing with my brain, lol.

[Beau Stockard]

hahaha this is rich!

No beau they are not

Why are the teachers striking? The Chicago Teachers Union is looking for a contract that includes the following (information courtesy of Gadlin):
Pay Fairness: "CTU seeks a fairer distribution of pay [i.e. higher compensation for teachers] and to preserve the schedule for career advancement established 45 years ago in the Union's first labor contract."



The city has no more money

• Protection of Benefits: "Maintain our existing benefits and sick days without increasing the contribution rate [how much teachers have to pay out-of-pocket for health care]."

The city has no more money

• Fair Evaluation Procedure: "The Chicago Public Schools' proposed evaluation procedures could result in 6,000 teachers, or nearly a third of all CPS teachers, facing discharge within one or two years. It places too much emphasis on standardized test scores, which diminishes children’s education and punishes teachers unfairly." In other words, teacher performance will be judged by standardized test scores.

Because the city want to make sure they are getting their monies worth? Sounds fair

• Teacher Training: "Chicago Public Schools is imposing a new curriculum at all schools and a strict evaluation system. Teachers have asked for more training, but CPS proposes no increase, or in some cases decreased, teacher training."

The city has no more money

• Timetable for air conditioning: "Teachers insist that Chicago Public Schools agree to a reasonable timetable to install air conditioning in student classrooms. In July and August, students sit in sweltering 98-degree heat." (In case you're wondering what students are doing in a classroom during the summer, Chicago has implemented some year-round public schools.)

Democrats always so concerned with doing what LOOKS right didn't think this through


Wait a minute this mayor is who? and he was working for who before this and this hometown is where what president came from. Take a good look cause this is what the country will look like when obamma is done..

max1, I can't believe that you are taking sides with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel over the American workingman and woman.( Oh, maybe I can if I remind myself that you do tend to be conservative statist in your views) It can not be possible that the richest country on the planet hasn't "enough money" That really is absurd! Here’s a few things you need to know about the Chicago Teachers Union strike, and why the CTU is right and Mayor Rahm Emanuel is wrong:

1.) Last year, outside education privatization groups like Stand for Children worked with the city coun...cil and mayor to raise the strike threshold limit to 75 percent — meaning that 3/4 of teachers had to vote to strike.

2.) Being a teacher takes hard work, and it’s one of the most most poorly-paid professions relative to the work load. The leadership of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) had agreed to offer teachers a four percent raise last year, but Mayor Emanuel canceled this agreement. The district has refused to address this raise in negotiations. While gutting teachers’ pay increases, CPS is calling for longer school days.

3.) Over-crowded classrooms are bad for students, teachers, and parents. That’s why 32 states have limits on classroom size. Illinois does not. CTU wants to see limits on class sizes in its contract but the city refuses to discuss it.

4.) Rahm has been laying the groundwork for a rapid expansion of charter schools, and wants to create nearly 250 more within five to ten years (this would amount to half the system). The most comprehensive study of charter schools in the United States found that most deliver results similar to those of public schools. Charter school teachers tend to earn 8 percent less than normal public school teachers.

www.boldprogressives.org

[max1]

Blah blah blah
I wonder how many of those rank and file teachers would rather be in the classroom teaching? I bet its quite a few, but some high up in the union dont give two shits about those kids otherwise those teachers would be in the classroom teaching. So dont give me that "all about American worker bullshit" its not gonna float here this is about a powerful union trying to flex muscle.

The kids lose, period.

[Beau Stockard]

max1,

this is about a powerful union trying to flex muscle.

The teacher's union can't be all that powerful if all they could get was a 4% raise which Mayor Emanuel easily defeated. My own Seafarer Union just negotiated a five year contract with 4% raises (5% in the last year) with the major US shipping companies. U.S. Shipping took one of the hardest hits in the 2008-07 Great Recession. So, 1. the economy must have recovered quite a bit since 2009 for American ship owners to agree to such terms. 2. Are you saying that an American merchant mariner deserved a 4% raise more than American teachers entrusted with our most valued resource: our children's education? I thank you max1 for the compliment, but in all honestly I have to say that you are not right;buddy. You don't know your 'arithmetic' or priorities very well.

[Beau Stockard]

Let's do what we can to stop the demonization of public employees, the very idea of public schools... Remember when we understood that some people did things because they were good, right and rewarding, rather than it made them money?