Kathleen Cleary

Second City Teachers Interview with Members First Facebook Face

Kathleen Cleary on left.

Second City Teachers interviewed the creator and coordinator of the Members First Facebook Page - Kathleen Cleary. Under the dark clouds of censorship, the vibrant teachers facebook pages are alive with commentary, questions and debates, though they are monitored. The three heavy weights are Members First FB with 5.4K followers, Chicago Educators with 6.6K followers and the CTU Members Only FB page with 8.9K followers. Although Members First lost in the election, they are a force online and continue to challenge the ruling party in cyberspace. MF set the tone for developing a vibrant online forum for teachers that caught the CTU off guard. An open war between the MF and Core (CTU leadership caucus) has led to an eventual truce in the rough and tumble jungle of social media.  

Can you tell us about your background. Where and what did you teach and for how long? When did you retire? 

I grew up in a bilingual, immigrant family in a working class neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. My father was a proud member of Amalgamated Transit Workers-Division 241-CTA. I learned at an early age the importance of unions. I have family and friends who are union members and can see first hand how their unions are member driven. In 1970 I was accepted into the Cooperative Urban Education Program at Chicago State University. This program was housed in Robbins, where I student taught. I started in CPS in 1974 as an 8:30 substitute for $40.00 a day. I was happy to get the sub job as there was a teacher surplus. I taught 1st through 8th grades on the south and west sides of Chicago for 38 years. I spent half of my career teaching general education and half teaching special education. My first school was at an upper grade on the west side. It was a strong union school with a diverse, cohesive staff who took pride in helping the new teachers survive CPS. 

Kathleen Cleary on far left

What made you want to be a teacher? 

I had some really great teachers and I had some really poor teachers. I wanted to be like the great ones and not like the poor ones. 

How did you get involved in Members First? 

When I retired from CPS I became a CPS substitute teacher. I started hearing negative comments about CTU leadership from former co-workers and from teachers I met while subbing. I really couldn’t believe what I was hearing. When a CTU delegate named Therese Boyle contacted me asking if I wanted to become involved is a new caucus called Members First I said, “Yes”. I then attended the HOD meetings as a visitor and was shocked at the rudeness towards the delegates displayed by leadership and “inner sanctum” delegates. I was now a believer! 

Were you actively involved in the union as a teacher? 

I walked every picket line between 1974 and 1987. I was the photographer who took pictures of scabs crossing the picket line. “Substance” members George Schmidt and Leo Gorenstein memorialized the pictures on picket signs. I took the orders for “Substance” as it was the only source of truthful information about CPS. I was a school delegate for 25 years, an elementary-vice president, an LSC teacher representative and chair of the CTU special education committee. I also attended CTU delegate workshops, labor conventions and the CTU legislative dinners where I had the pleasure to meet many legislators including former president, Barack Obama. 

What is the problem with the CTU today? 

CTU no longer represents the average teacher or PSRP. CPS is a tough employer and in my 38 years with CPS I always knew CTU had my back - that is no longer the case - members still have to deal with CPS but can no longer rely on CTU-member services have been cut and grievances now take two years. Just like an abusive principal who divides the school staff, CTU leadership appears to have divided the members. There is something seriously wrong with CTU and how they treat members. In 2018 I attended a general CTU retiree meeting and was appalled that CTU had designated a staff member to guard the donuts so that no retiree could take more than one donut. The retirees are a valuable resource and could really help CTU but instead CTU is busy guarding the donuts. 

What needs to be done? 

There’s a leadership election in 2022 and after 12 years of inadequate representation, crappy contracts and dwindling benefits from this leadership it is time for a change. Members First will challenge the current leadership. In 2019 we received 5,000 votes to leadership’s 10,000 - 10,000 disenfranchised members didn’t vote - hardly a mandate. There were 80 schools that experienced some kind of irregularity so the votes did not count. MF had very little exposure and even less money in 2019. In 2022 we definitely will have the exposure and hopefully will have enough monies for campaign literature. 

When did you start the FB Members First page? 

The Member First Facebook page was started in spring of 2018. The administrators are current and retired delegates. 

Did you think it would turn into such a popular social media platform for Chicago teachers? 

No, but I think the popularity of the site is due to CTU’s inept communication and the anonymity we offer. CTU has many employees who have never stepped foot in a CPS classroom and it shows. 

Can you tell us how the Members First FB page differs from the other teachers fb pages, such as CTU Members Only & Chicago Educators? 

The Members First Facebook page is a safe place for members to engage in respectful discourse. Some of the other sites allow comments that allow bullying, FERPA violations and vile, disrespectful language. Members First has four rules and although we have had to remove about 55 union brothers and sisters we do appreciate that 5,000+ members act professionally towards each other. We are happy to post questions or articles for members who desire anonymity. We know what it is like to be at a school with an abusive principal. Many of us veteran/retired teachers and PSRPs remember the Alexander Russo District 299 blog. Alexander Russo allowed posters to be anonymous and actually helped teachers and PSRPs get rid of abusive principals and even an area administrator. We feel the Members First site helps everyone have a voice without the fear of repercussions. Members First Open Forum is a place to get information, ask questions and support each other. It is an Open Forum where our members are allowed to post and share articles from many sources. We believe that our members are intelligent enough to read an article and make up their own minds. We try to show both sides of an issue just as we teach children that there are two sides to an issue. The enemies of public education, teacher unions and public pensions are out there and not always in obvious places. We encourage sharing which is evidenced by our Share button. We also allow non-CTU members to join our site which has garnered criticism. The SECAS and other non-CTU unions members work in the schools and in the classrooms with us. We work together to make the school successful so why would we exclude? We are safe, we allow members to post/share and we include - that’s a huge difference between MF and other sites. 

Do you see a problem with censorship in our union? 

Yes, members who dare to ask questions on the CTU sites either have the questions deleted, are personally attacked or blocked. The repetitive, rhetoric becomes tiresome to teachers and PSRPs who have worked all day and just want the facts. CTU only allows one side of an issue to be presented. The two official CTU FB sites are union sites paid for with union dues so members need to file an unfair labor practice if they are blocked from CTU sites without cause. MF is a CTU caucus site run by volunteers and receives no monies from CTU. As a school delegate, I had 100% membership and represented ALL dues paying members regardless of their politics-that was my job - what exactly is CTU’s role these days - is it as a union or a political entity? 

How much do you work on the FB page? It looks like you are a full time media specialist. 

I am a voracious reader. I’ve been reading the Sun-Times daily since I was in grammar school. I am laughing at the “media specialist” because when I started teaching we used mimeo machines and now I am teaching online. I do appreciate the teachers and PSRPs who send me articles or post articles I may have missed. 

How has the Members First FB page made a difference? 

After Members First lost the election in 2019 we had to make a decision about whether to shut down the site. We agonized over this because many people had contacted us to ask us not to shut down the site. Our MF administrators who are delegates are busy and like all delegates, have taken on more responsibility. Part of the decision was mine and it was based upon my anger that when we started MF, fellow union brothers and sisters would call us names on the site, call us names on other sites or PM me semi-threatening texts. I grew up in a tough neighborhood and when someone comes at me I don’t run … We decided to keep the site open. We receive lots of positive feedback from members who say it is their “go to” site. We can tell from the “insights” FB tracker on the site that many people are reading the posts so we know we are reaching members. I really wish I could answer this question by stating that the presence of MF has caused CTU to reflect, regroup and analyze their behaviors, but unfortunately their arrogance will not allow them any actions that would unify our broken union. 

What is the CTU doing right in your mind? 

I believe that CTU did a great job in increasing the salaries of the PSRPs in the last contract. It was long overdue. I was encouraged to see contract language in the contract regarding special education, but very disappointed that members are reporting that CTU is not enforcing the special education articles. I have asked for the number of grievances filed and the dispositions regarding special education. For the sake of transparency, I think this information should be available to the members. We are unable to attract and retain teachers especially special education teachers. Teachers, especially those in shortage areas, are not going to hang around with a target on their backs waiting for two years for CTU to work on their grievance - they leave CPS. 

What are your thoughts on the latest reopening fight? 

The CTU allowed the clerks, assistant clerks and tech coordinators to be sent into schools that did not have adequate PPE and then allowed the pre-k and cluster teachers to be sent in … why? CTU only reacted due to blowback from members which is another indicator that they are out of touch with the rank and file. 

What are your thoughts on Mayor Lightfoot and her battle with the Chicago Teachers Union? 

Mayor Lightfoot was not CTU’s choice and members have been paying for it ever since. CTU had members go back with 6 days of unpaid strike days - never before in the history of CTU have we ever gone on strike and not been paid for the strike days. Veteran teachers continue to be screwed, but when I look at the make-up of the union leadership I see why. 

Why did you have to remove some people from MF fb. Some teachers with Core complained about this.

MF has a process to remove posters who do not follow the 4 simple rules. It is a group decision not an individual decision. Some of the removed posters are on social media ripping MF to shreds and then complain that they don't have access to MF - actions have consequences. Personally, I believe that because CTU official media sites allow/promote these behaviors that people forget that MF is a caucus site and we want respectful discourse. Teachers and PSRPs need to be able to post without being attacked.

We do our best to vet members and have removed fake accounts. We decline more than we accept.

What do you think of Janice Jackson & Paul Vallas? I see you run articles or comment favorably about them.

Paul Vallas is not a friend of public education. It is my personal opinion as a retiree who worked for CPS for 38 years. I have a lot of respect for Janice Jackson. Unlike former CEOs she came up through the system and seems to truly care about students. Janice Jackson is home grown, grew up in Englewood and went to my alma mater CSU. She taught high school and then became a principal - she knows the system. I believe her detractors need to understand her South Side roots. I have watcher her at press conferences and CBOE meetings and she can not be intimidated by those who have personal agendas. Janice Jackson has a tough job and receives very little praise yet she perseveres. I think Janice Jackson is the best CEO for CPS during these turbulent times.

How would you categorize the fight between Core & MF? Did it get too nasty on fb?

When MF started the blog we were attacked by Core. We took the high road and lost. We were professional. I believe that members are intelligent enough to see that after 10+ years of Core leadership that it is time for a change. 

It is sad that MF gets PMs from members who are afraid to even post questions - we do it for them. A union is supposed to protect ALL of its members, not pick and choose. This does not make for solidarity and may in fact contribute to teachers leaving CPS or CTU. The 2 year backlog on grievances is a deal breaker for many teachers - looking at today's news about a 10-year-ol lawsuit to get jobs back - who can wait that long?

Please feel free to add anything I may have not asked. 

I would like an education reporter to write an article on: 

-CTU finances - no monies for retiree donuts or the calendar book so we must be in bad shape 

-CTU Foundation finances - Where is the 63M from the sale of Fewkes Towers which was built with union monies? 

-Which community organizations and politicians have received monies from CTU? We need an explanation on where the funds come from: PAC, dues or dues being passed through via the IFT/AFT 

-How much Is United Working Families receiving from CTU?

-Number of grievances filed since 2010 and the dispositions Number of lawsuits filed by CTU since 2010 and the summaries 

-Which schools have a stack of grievances against abusive principals? 

-How many grievances were filed involving special education and the dispositions? 

-Why have the three employee groups NOT represented by CTU in the CTU offices been without contracts for at least 2+ years? 

-How many grievances have the employee groups in the CTU offices filed? 

-Why hasn’t the 2019 CTU contract book been printed for the members? 

-Where is the list of employees working for CTU and their qualification? 

-Have there been any payments on the Chuy Garcia million dollar loan? 

-Since the CTU compound has been closed for a year will the savings lower the member dues? 

-Why can’t all future HOD meeting have a remote component for delegates? Some delegates have child care/elder care responsibilities and work at the edges of the city-takes an hour to an hour and a half to get to the HOD meeting from Hegewisch. Female dominated profession and all that… 

-Will the election in 2022 be conducted online by an outside company so that we don’t have a repeat of the 2019 election where we had 80 schools with missing ballot boxes, missing sign-in sheets or boxes never picked up? 

-Will CTU practice the hyper-democracy it espouses?