Resolution to Bring Open Bargaining to CTU
(Note: The following is a draft resolution delegates will present to the Chicago Teachers Union to demand more democratic oversight when bargaining for a new contract. The CTU currently has a "big bargaining team" hand selected to negotiate the teachers union contract.)
Whereas, membership engagement during contract negotiations is key to winning a strong contract,
Whereas, reengaging CTU members in the bargaining process and giving members agency in negotiations is necessary to build the kind of powerful unity needed to win significant improvements to our teaching and learning conditions in the schools,
Whereas, CTU’s use of the Big Bargaining Team has been a successful first step to broaden membership engagement,
Whereas, the current wave of teachers strikes across the country primarily in red states, has seen new excitement around building teacher power through rank & file-driven resistance,
Whereas, the impending Janus Supreme Court decision means unions must ensure meaningful membership engagement in order to prevent serious membership attrition,
Whereas, Open Bargaining is a strategy used by some union locals to increase membership engagement in the bargaining process and overall union power. Locals conduct bargaining sessions in large, open, sometimes public venues where membership and community members are encouraged to attend and observe the bargaining. Locals also send out detailed weekly bulletins, weekly press releases, and updates via social media in order to ensure transparency. Locals create strong lines of communication for constant membership feedback and voice throughout the bargaining process,
Whereas, other AFT locals such as the Minneapolis Teachers Union have seen great success with the use of Open Bargaining strategies,
Whereas the Chicago Public Schools is a public entity which uses public tax dollars and should be open to public conversations on issues that affect the school system, including contracts.
Be It Therefore Resolved, that the Chicago Teachers Union will develop protocols to use Open Bargaining during our contract negotiations,
Be It Further Resolved, that CTU eBoard will conduct a “Listening Tour” leading up to the beginning of negotiations in order to hear directly from as many members as possible. CTU committees, eBoard, and Leadership will also conduct membership surveys on important contract issues prior to negotiations. A concise platform will be developed of top issues to negotiate around,
Resolved, that the CTU will demand that CPS hold all bargaining sessions in evenings or weekends in venues large enough for ample CTU membership to observe all proceedings. The venue should also be located in a central location that is easily accessible with free/inexpensive parking,
Resolved, that the CTU Bargaining Team shall invite CTU members and retirees, sister unions which operate in our schools, as well as community members to observe in bargaining sessions,
Resolved that the CTU Bargaining Team shall let membership know the specific topics of bargaining in advance and invite experts from membership on the given topic into bargaining sessions,
Resolved, the CTU Bargaining Team shall develop weekly all membership updates using email, newsletters, and/or social media,
Resolved, the CTU Leadership and Bargaining Team shall develop quick polling strategies using technology and/or phone/text trees in order to get direct and immediate feedback from membership on specific topics,
Resolved, The CTU Leadership and Bargaining Team with the House of Delegates shall develop ways for continuous membership communication throughout the bargaining process. Use of current union structures, ie use of District Organizers, House of Delegates, email blasts, and other forms of communication will be intentionally utilized to create strong two-way communication avenues,
Resolved, the CTU will arrange for the most important bargaining sessions to be live broadcast via social media or other technologies in order to maximize membership participation,
Resolved, the CTU Bargaining Team shall inform CPS that there will be a 48-hour freeze on negotiations prior to the beginning of a work stoppage action in order to communicate with membership about current offers on the table and to prepare for the work stoppage.
(Note: The following is a draft resolution delegates will present to the Chicago Teachers Union to demand more democratic oversight when bargaining for a new contract. The CTU currently has a "big bargaining team" hand selected to negotiate the teachers union contract.)
Whereas, membership engagement during contract negotiations is key to winning a strong contract,
Whereas, reengaging CTU members in the bargaining process and giving members agency in negotiations is necessary to build the kind of powerful unity needed to win significant improvements to our teaching and learning conditions in the schools,
Whereas, CTU’s use of the Big Bargaining Team has been a successful first step to broaden membership engagement,
Whereas, the current wave of teachers strikes across the country primarily in red states, has seen new excitement around building teacher power through rank & file-driven resistance,
Whereas, the impending Janus Supreme Court decision means unions must ensure meaningful membership engagement in order to prevent serious membership attrition,
Whereas, Open Bargaining is a strategy used by some union locals to increase membership engagement in the bargaining process and overall union power. Locals conduct bargaining sessions in large, open, sometimes public venues where membership and community members are encouraged to attend and observe the bargaining. Locals also send out detailed weekly bulletins, weekly press releases, and updates via social media in order to ensure transparency. Locals create strong lines of communication for constant membership feedback and voice throughout the bargaining process,
Whereas, other AFT locals such as the Minneapolis Teachers Union have seen great success with the use of Open Bargaining strategies,
Whereas the Chicago Public Schools is a public entity which uses public tax dollars and should be open to public conversations on issues that affect the school system, including contracts.
Be It Therefore Resolved, that the Chicago Teachers Union will develop protocols to use Open Bargaining during our contract negotiations,
Be It Further Resolved, that CTU eBoard will conduct a “Listening Tour” leading up to the beginning of negotiations in order to hear directly from as many members as possible. CTU committees, eBoard, and Leadership will also conduct membership surveys on important contract issues prior to negotiations. A concise platform will be developed of top issues to negotiate around,
Resolved, that the CTU will demand that CPS hold all bargaining sessions in evenings or weekends in venues large enough for ample CTU membership to observe all proceedings. The venue should also be located in a central location that is easily accessible with free/inexpensive parking,
Resolved, that the CTU Bargaining Team shall invite CTU members and retirees, sister unions which operate in our schools, as well as community members to observe in bargaining sessions,
Resolved that the CTU Bargaining Team shall let membership know the specific topics of bargaining in advance and invite experts from membership on the given topic into bargaining sessions,
Resolved, the CTU Bargaining Team shall develop weekly all membership updates using email, newsletters, and/or social media,
Resolved, the CTU Leadership and Bargaining Team shall develop quick polling strategies using technology and/or phone/text trees in order to get direct and immediate feedback from membership on specific topics,
Resolved, The CTU Leadership and Bargaining Team with the House of Delegates shall develop ways for continuous membership communication throughout the bargaining process. Use of current union structures, ie use of District Organizers, House of Delegates, email blasts, and other forms of communication will be intentionally utilized to create strong two-way communication avenues,
Resolved, the CTU will arrange for the most important bargaining sessions to be live broadcast via social media or other technologies in order to maximize membership participation,
Resolved, the CTU Bargaining Team shall inform CPS that there will be a 48-hour freeze on negotiations prior to the beginning of a work stoppage action in order to communicate with membership about current offers on the table and to prepare for the work stoppage.
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