Change the Conversation

Do We Really Need to Change the Conversation?

By Jim Vail 

Yet another caucus has jumped into the explosive upcoming Chicago Teachers Union election this May.

Change the Conversation has been collecting signatures to get placed on the ballot. The deadline is Friday, March 24. 

The four declared caucuses running in the upcoming election are Core which currently leads the CTU, Members First, a vocal opposition group, Real, a group made up of former active Core members, and Change.

But who exactly is Change the Conversation?

Second City Teachers caught up with Mea Robinson-Davis, who is running on their ticket for recording secretary.

She said their caucus was formed about two months ago and currently has 4 members - Dr. Winnie Williams Hall, president; Nicole Flores, vice president, Jenna Brandon, treasurer and Davis.

They are currently gathering signatures and hope they will have enough to be on the ballot come election time with the other caucuses.

Davis said it has not been easy getting petitions signed.

"We've gotten some pushback," Davis told Second City Teachers. "A Members First school said they didn't want to sign the petitions because they didn't want to split the vote. There is also a lot of apathy."

Change the Conversation say they want more transparency and communication and less politics - very similar to what Members First wants.

So how are they different?

"Equity and equality," Davis said.

Davis said that their caucus wants to focus on the students as well as the teachers. 

"We are very passionate about the teachers and their lives," she said. "I feel quite ignored by our union leadership."

It appears the whole city, if not the country, is looking at this teachers union election. The CTU leadership is on edge about outside influences. They just filed a lawsuit against a former Mayor Lori Lightfoot aide who they claimed was illegally trying to influence the union election. They also called a special House of Delegates meeting where the delegates passed a resolution to denounce any outside influences on the election.

Change the Conversation uses corporate reform rhetoric such as equity and equality that groups like Educators for Excellence have used to influence union politics. This group appeared in the wake of the first Chicago teachers strike in 2012 when the union was involved in a life and death struggle with ed reformers who tried to take away the right of teachers to strike for better wages and conditions. Educators for Excellence held many meetings with teachers across the city - including at my school Hammond Elementary - where they paid for lavish lunches while saying they were concerned about the teachers and their conditions.

But there are no free lunches! This group is funded by the Gates Foundation which along with the other billionaire ed reformers want to privatize public education by closing public schools and opening up non-union charter schools. 

Davis is a special education teacher like her running mate Dr. Winnie Williams Hall. They both teach at Nicholson Elementary School in Englewood on the South Side. Niki Flores, a kindergarten bilingual teacher, and Jenna Brandon, a case manager, both teach at Peterson Elementary School on the North Side.

While they criticize union politics, their ticket looks like the perfect political statement. They have three races represented - African-American, Latinx and White, and both regions of the city represented - the South and North Sides.

But their social media presence is practically non-existent. Their Twitter account has less than a dozen followers and their Facebook page is almost non-existent.

Are they merely a plant to further increase opposition to a union that has battled the Mayor and big business plans to privatize education?

Or are they truly concerned that the teaching profession is not adequately represented by a current leadership team that critics argue is too focused on politics at the expense of rapidly deteriorating teaching conditions in the schools?

"Like many of you I've been feeling the frustration as of late," Williams Hall says in her social media campaign video. "Although grateful for the gains made by our current union leadership I do feel it is time for a change. For a while now teachers have felt their frustrations with politics over classrooms. Let's put the focus back where it belongs - support for students, teachers and staff. Educators let's change the conversation." 

HOD March

Report on the Meeting of the House of Delegates held on March 9, 2022

By George Milkowski

Pres. Jesse Sharkey announced that he has tested positive for COVID 19, has comparatively mild symptoms, and is self-isolating in his home.

I. Officers Reports

A.   Christel Williams- Hayes – Recording Secretary.  Christel kept her remarks very brief, announcing that the CTU will be hosting a series of in-person meetings for PSRPs.

B.  Kathy Catalano – Financial Report.  Kathy reported that we have completed the first half of our fiscal year and the current deficit is $2,780,130.  This deficit will be declining as dues were not collected over this past summer and we are currently receiving more dues that expected in our budget.

C. Maria Moreno – Financial Secretary – Our membership is currently 28,281 and retirees make up 1,638 of that total.

This is an election year in the Union and the deadlines for caucuses and individuals to submit their nominating petitions is March 25.

D.  Chris Baehrend – Charter Division – Chris was pleased to announce that in all 13 charter operator schools and systems COVID mitigations continue with 3 feet guaranteed social distancing and remote learning operations when required..

Chris also announced that the members in the various charter schools are starting to meet to develop common bargaining proposals when their contracts expire.  He also said the Charter Division is planning a rally in May.

E.  Stacy Davis Gates - Vice President – Stacy gave a large portion of her time to Dr. Monique Redeau-Smith, an educational researcher.  She said that ISBE is planning on increasing testing, replacing the one currently required math and reading test with three more spread out over the school year, including for grades K-2.  She cited research on the lack of validity of so much testing and said that 37 Illinois State legislators have signed a letter to ISBE opposing the measure.  She pointed out that ISBE made it clear that it did not intend to consult with parents and other stakeholders on this issue.  To learn more you can go to: teachnottest.org.  There are two bills to try to rein this plan in in the General Assembly, HB5285 and SB3986.  Contact your legislators and ask them to support these bills.  The ISBE plan would cost school districts $228 million over ten years.

Stacy has been visiting schools and has been impressed about the Union organizing and energy in the ones she visited.  She also visited striking teachers in Proviso Township and Riverdale whose members said their actions have been inspired by what the CTU has done.

Lastly, Stacy said the CPS is planning 60 poorly advertised vaccination events in March.  She asked delegates to see if their school is on the list and then contact parents to urge them to allow their children to get the vaccine.

II. President’s Report

Pres. Sharkey reported that the unilateral decision by CPS to end the mask mandate next year is a direct violation of our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).  The CPS should have met with and bargained with the CTU over this but did not, so the CTU filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaint with the Illinois Labor Board.  The Labor Board will hold a hearing on March 16, which is “lightning quick” for this body, and if we win, the Illinois Attorney General will be asked to seek an injunction against the CPS.  In a pre-meeting poll of delegates, 48.5% favored universal masking while 40% felt it should be optional. 

Those in schools with mostly white student bodies with higher vaccination rates were more inclined to prefer optional masking while those in schools that had higher percentages of students of color and lower vaccination rates wanted masking to still be mandatory. 

CTU attorney Latoyia Kimbrough is also in contact with disability rights groups who have an interest in this.

Jesse said we want to have universal masking re-imposed, specific open metrics that the Board should use for having or ending masking, specific requirements to protect immuno-compromised students, faculty, and staff, and a greater push to increase vaccination rates. He asked delegates to document inadequate COVID related safety conditions in the schools and bring these up to the safety committees and the CTU.

Jesse spoke regarding a previous proposal to have a CTU strike/hardship fund.  He did not have a specific proposal on this issue at this time.  To have one would cost an estimated $500,000, would probably require a membership vote, and would have to be co-ordinated with the AFT.  Most strike funds are run by international labor bodies, not locals.

III. Items for Action

A.  “Resolution to Divest from Fossil Fuels and Re-invest in Workers and Communities”.  This urges the AFT and all affiliated locals to divest from fossil fuels.  Collectively, they have an estimated $250 billion in assets in these types of companies.  Sandra Beck pointed out that it is not as easy to divest as many assume.  A lot of unions are invested in hedge funds and mutual funds so it is hard to pull out from these companies directly.  Bea Lumpkin  (retired, 103) maintained that the value of these companies are high now and this is a good time to pull out because she sees their value declining in the future.  The resolution was approved 88-12%.  I voted “yes” on this.

B.  “Resolution for Student Debt Cancellation”.  This urges Pres. Biden to cancel all student debt in his power before the moratorium on payments ends in two months on May 1, 2022.  Jesse asked delegates to put into the “chat” how much student debt they currently have for themselves or for their children.  One individual said his debt was over $145,000!  This passed, 92-8% and again I voted “yes”.

C.  The House of Delegates approved the endorsement of a number of individuals, with more endorsements to come at future meetings.  These endorsements passed 93-7%.  Those endorsed are:

U.S. House – Delia Ramirez (3rd)

Illinois Senate – Omar Aquino (2nd)

- Mike Simmons (7th)

- Ram Villivalam (8th)

- Rob Martwick (10th)

- Celina Villanueva (12th)

- Robert Peters (13th)

- Bill Cunningham (18th)

- Christina Pacione-Zayas (20th)

Illinois House – Aaron Ortiz (1st)

-Lilian Jimenez (4th)

- Lakesia Collins (9th)

- Lindsey LaPointe (19th)

- Theresa Mah (24th)

- Kam Buckner (26th)

- Marcus Evabs (33rd)

- Will Guzzardi (39th)

Cook County Board – Brandon Johnson (Dist. 1)

          - Alma Anaya (Dist. 7)

D.  There was a proposal to clarify a rule for the upcoming CTU election.  Anyone or any caucus who wanted to pay to have their campaign material mailed to Union members had been required to submit a copy of their material to the CTU beforehand.   Some felt this would “tip off” incumbents as to the election plans of challengers.  The rule was changed to end that practice.  I voted “yes” and it passed 87-13%.

E.  Lastly, there were two proposals regarding union meetings.  The first, which would allow a masked in-person delegates training workshop on March 26, passed 53-47%.  I voted “no’ on this.

The second proposal was to start having in-person House of Delegates meetings beginning in April with a virtual “Option for Medically Fragile” delegates.  I spoke and voted against this and it failed 75-25%.  The idea of meeting in-person may revisited at future meetings this school year.

IV. Committee Reports

A. Organizing - LaShawn Wallace stressed the importance of having CTU meetings in schools regarding the CPS change in mask policy.  She said delegates should strongly urge their members to continue wearing masks, contact the LSC and continue to document safety violations to the Safety Committee and the CTU.  The Union also has prepared flyers that can be handed out to parents before and after school and also door posters that can be hung in classrooms.

B.  Grievance – Jose Jiminez – Jose announced that Special Education Funds are now available in all schools and the money needs to be spent by the end of the school year.

PSRPs should have received their mid-year evaluation and is they haven’t they cannot be laid off out of seniority order when the school year ends.

Georgia Waller announced that David Prado and James Foster have been named substitute teacher of the month.

C.  Political/Legislative – Kurt Hilgendorf.  Kurt reported from Springfield that the bill to restore sick days to those who missed work due to COVID for themselves or their families, HB1167 passed the House and is now in the Senate.

Bills to prevent standardized testing in grades K-2, SB 3986 and HB 5285 have been introduced.  CTU members should contact their legislators and ask them to support this legislation. 

Another bill, SB3663, would reduce, by 20%, professional development requirements as the pandemic has made it difficult for some to meet them.

Lastly, Kurt asked for volunteers to help get our endorsed candidates elected.  If you would like to help, go to: ctulocal1.org/vote.

V. New Business/Question and Answers

Mary Esposito, a clinician delegate, asked about the status of our ULP complaint filed over the lost days due to the January lockout.  CTU attorney Robert Bloch said that, unlike the ULP filed over the change in mandatory masking, this one is still in its preliminary phase.

HOD Core Defeat

Delegates Reject CTU Proposal for In Person Meetings

By Jim Vail

The CTU went from refusing to work in the schools due to Covid
to requesting delegates return to in person House of Delegates meetings.
President Jesse Sharkey just announced that he too has Covid.

A majority of the delegates voted against a Chicago Teachers Union proposal to return to in person delegate meetings for the near future.

Two proposals were voted down to go back to in-person meetings. The first one asked if delegates wanted to attend the next March 26 delegates training workshop in person at the CTU headquarters and a simple majority of just over 50 percent said no. The second proposal asked delegates to vote on returning to in-person delegates meetings in April, May and June and a resounding 75 percent voted no.

Several delegates asked why the CTU leadership would push for holding meetings now in person when the union has been leading the fight for safety measures during a pandemic that has killed almost 1 million Americans.

"This would not look good with the media covering our next delegates meeting and see delegates entering the building without masks," one delegated stated.

Many spoke out against the measure because they are immuno-compromised and are therefore still afraid of catching the potentially deadly virus.

The CTU leadership pushed for the proposals by stating they were giving the delegates an option to stay home if they still felt threatened (medically fragile) and that it was important for democracy and union meetings to be in person where people can see each other and understand better what is happening.

As more and more delegates spoke out against the resolutions (one delegate said her voice was shaking with anger), VP Stacy Davis Gates interjected to defend the union's position which was that the proposal was only a test for one meeting and that the executive board voted "unanimously" in favor of the two proposals.

The CTU executive board is mostly under the control of CTU President Jesse Sharkey, similar to the Chicago Board of Education which is under the mayor's control. However, the executive members who almost all represent Core are elected, while the mayor selects her members. That will change soon after the CTU got an elected school board bill passed into law that will begin in 2024.

President Sharkey mentioned that the upcoming delegates elections was also on their mind for arguing for in-person meetings. He said seeing the debates live is much better.

Politics is certainly playing a bigger and bigger role before the May CTU President election.

The CTU led by the Core caucus angered many teachers when they decided to call off the work stop action that the mayor called a strike when the teachers refused to return to the buildings after the winter break as Covid was raging.

It appeared that the union was split - with almost 50 percent of the teachers, clinicians and aides voting against returning to school.

The House of Delegates meetings could be considered the boiling pot of union politics where critics and supporters battle each other out at the microphones to speak for or against resolutions, ask questions and hear officer reports.

A special House of Delegates meeting was called last month after the media reported that there were outside players connected to the mayor who were trying to influence the CTU election. The resolution that passed denounced any outside influences which is against the federal union laws. 

Some saw calling the special meeting a political move to criticize the opposition caucus Members First who were implicated in the scandal. Big business media including the Chicago Tribune are openly calling for the members to elect a new president.

Outside influences on internal union elections is nothing new. Former CTU President Debbie Lynch won a lawsuit against the Chicago Board of Education that allowed all teacher union caucuses the ability to distribute flyers in teachers' mailboxes. The lawsuit benefited Core and the other 4 caucuses who ran in the historic 2010 election. Prior to the ruling, then Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman said only the union had access to the mailboxes. Many believed Huberman under then Mayor Richard Daley preferred UPC to the other caucuses like Core who were demanding an end to the city's privatization of public education.