Chicago Teachers Strike

Chicago Anti-war Coalition (CAWC) Statement on the Chicago teachers’ and staff strike: 

==================

With spirit and determination Chicago Teachers Union and SEIU Local 73 win significant gains

— A VICTORY FOR ALL OF CHICAGO’S WORKING PEOPLE

Teachers, support staff and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 workers won much more in their contracts ratified in November  than Mayor Lightfoot wanted to give up. She complained endlessly that their contract proposals cost too much. But, as the strikers pointed out she makes sure that businesses and banks continue to snatch public money for their private real estate and other projects. 

Lightfoot has refused to give priority to education in budgets. TIF (Tax Increment Financing) money, which is siphoned off from taxes that would otherwise go to schools, is going into the pockets of contractors and other businesses. She also refuses to push for higher taxes on the rich or adding a small tax on financial transactions at the Chicago Board of Trade, etc., which would quickly bring in BILLIONS of dollars. 

The striking teachers and staff made clear in their contract demands, in their massive demos, and in press conferences, that they were fighting for the rights of all working people. 

The victories from the strike open the door to further progress. 

Raising the pay of the poorest paid workers in the system, mainly Black and Brown women, proclaims that all workers have the right to get a living wage.  This should begin with the $15 an hour minimum that workers across the country are winning. 

Capping class sizes, though not at the speed and level teachers demanded, will mean a better learning environment and shows that teachers are bargaining for more than wages and benefits.

 

For example, they demanded stronger sanctuary  protection for immigrants, and services and housing for the 16,000 homeless students.

 

Forcing Chicago Public Schools to comply with special education laws will help these very vulnerable students get their human rights.

 

Teachers also demanded all around support for students, and made some headway toward having nurses, social workers, librarians, and counselors in each school every day, with manageable case loads.

 

And there is to be a freeze against further privatizing public education through additional charter schools.

 

Public support for the strikes was based on the widespread understanding that without these basics and sufficient office workers, maintenance crews, and bus assistants, it’s impossible to create a positive learning environment.

This teaches students the importance of putting what they believe into action. 

New possibilities are now open for an educational system which enables students to help solve problems around peace and justice.

The bold spirit of the strikers can be an inspiration to students, who can develop the same spirit for tackling long-standing problems-- such as presidents and Congresspeople who launch aggressive wars against other countries which have not attacked the U.S. (examples: Iraq, Libya, Syria, etc.) 

Students can dig into why today Trump is using economic warfare (sanctions) to try to overthrow  governments which refuse to give up oil and other resources so that U.S. corporations can make superprofits (examples Venezuela, Iran, etc.). 

With smaller classes and more librarians, etc. teachers can go outside textbooks which promote the arrogant narrative that the U.S. should be #1, and that the U.S. government should decide what goes on in other countries. 

Instead, students need to discuss what is wrong and why—such as the racist police murders of Black and Brown youth and why so many end up in prisons even for minor offenses or through forced confessions and unjust trials.  

Some teachers have already been teaching beyond officially required lessons and the unfair standardized tests and constricting Common Core  curriculum. Even under bad conditions, teachers have encouraged children to reject the fairy tale that Columbus is a great hero who should be celebrated. They have supported Native Peoples’ Day to recognize not only the slaughter but also the brave resistance by Native Nations—which continues until today. 

Just as parents and the broader community supported the strikers, they will support teachers who encourage students to actively question the many myths that textbook corporations and the corporate media have fed them. 

Teachers emboldened to challenge fairy tales which claim that the U.S. is “the land of the free and the home of the brave” are key players.

To go forward, we can all become better informed by reading and discussing independent media and challenging so-called “news” that is one-sided-- in favor of the U.S. ruling class, or hides the struggles of working people in history. 

Working people, rather than staying in the background, have to fight to be decision makers to solve problems caused by the ceaseless drive for profits by the banks and corporations. Together we can decide what steps to take toward creating a better world with equal rights for all..

11.24.19