HOD May

HOD Meeting Debates Budget

By Jim Vail

CTU President Karen Lewis made her first HOD appearance in a while.

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is facing a budget crisis that they say they will weather as the war on unions continues full speed under the Trump administration.

In the budget presentation made by CTU trustees to the delegates at the CTU House of Delegates (HOD) meeting on Wednesday, the biggest cuts will come by cutting staff in order to trim $1.5 million.

That will be done by forcing early retirements, asking employees to take pay cuts, and one known union official - chief of staff and Core founder Jackson Potter heading back into the classroom, perhaps saving close to $200,000 in terms of total compensation (includes pension, salary, health benefits and other perks). 

The trustees said there are about 60 CTU employees today, the same number 15 years ago. However, this is not sustainable because the number of members 15 years ago was 34,000 while there are only 23,000 members today. The fall in members has seriously hurt the union finances.

The union only expects a few layoffs. The field reps who help enforce the members' contract rights are under a Teamsters contract, while the union organizers are under an Operating Engineers & Electrical Workers union contract.

"The union has to tighten its belt," one trustee told the delegates. "The cuts will not affect members' services."

CTU President Karen Lewis made her first appearance in quit some time. She looked frail sitting in her wheel chair and was wheeled out of the meeting before it ended. However, she spoke with some of the passion she's known for by reiterating how important it is to pass the budget so the union can concentrate on the next contract fight. She also said to remember the PPC (Professional Problems Committee) is more important that the ILT - which the board set up in schools to circumvent democracy. PPCs are elected, while ILTs are appointed by the principal.

Members from the newly formed caucus Members First questioned the union about finances, in particular how much reserves there are and why the union is paying double rent, $1.5 million for Merchandise Mart plus rent to the CTU Foundation.

VP Jesse Sharkey, who runs the meetings these days, said the CTU did well when it sold the Fewkes Tower for $48.5 million and bought the building today because it is now worth $10 million more (however, not good when it comes to paying higher taxes). He said the problem is the CTU continues to pay rent for a 15-year lease it signed at the Mart because of a glut of new office space built in downtown Chicago, and commercial tenants do not want to sign a short lease where the CTU only has three years left til 2021. While it is costing the union $200,000 in rent per month now, it will save $1.5 million per year after 2021 because they bought their own building, Sharkey said.

AFT President Randi Weingarten told the delegates that a poll showed 78% of the American public think teachers should be paid more, and an NPR poll showed two-thirds of the people support unions for teachers.

Weingarten hugged and kissed the three officers when she left the podium, while she gave Lewis a hand tap on her shoulder.

The CTU said there are 69 new delegates, however only a handful stood up at the meeting in acknowledgement. 

The CTU said 79 percent of the members have re-carded with the union so that their dues will be paid after an expected upcoming Janus Supreme Court ruling in which members can opt out of paying the union its dues.

One delegate who ran for executive board elementary stated that he would advocate all future contracts end before a mayoral election to ensure full bargaining power.

The CTU said that $10 million will be paid to 20 pilot neighborhood schools as part of the community schools agreement in the contract. These school that will be selected from a list of over 100 will get full wrap-around services, including possibly additional staff.

The proposed budget cuts also included a 40 percent reduction in publications, printing far less CUT magazines and switching to online.

The teachers, teacher aids and clinicians delegates will vote on the budget at the next HOD June meeting.