House of Delegates Meeting January 2020
By Jim Vail
The Chicago Teachers Union House of Delegates meeting January 8, 2020 did not have the sparks the marred the previous meeting in December.
Two resolutions were quietly passed - Political Endorsements & Black Lives Matter at Schools Week (Feb. 3 - 7, 2020).
The meeting in December was temporarily taken over by Froy Jimenez, a teacher and former head of the union's political action committee that makes endorsements. He was furious he was not endorsed as a CTU member who headed the committee and was a strike captain.
He stormed the stage to say everything was illegal and wrong in the endorsement process because the CTU did not endorse its own member while they encourage fellow members to run for office. He is running for state senator against incumbent Tony Munoz and passed out flyers prior to the meeting.
Eventually he was convinced to sit down and the endorsement was put on hold.
But there was no political endorsement made in his First District.
One delegate asked about this and the CTU said they decided to not make an endorsement at this point.
Some insiders have suggested that the union did not want to upset the current state senator and they felt Jimenez did not have a realistic chance to win.
The union endorsed State's Attorney Kim Foxx, State Reps Theresa Mah (2nd), Omar Williams (10th), Denyse Wang Stoneback (16th), Lindsey LaPointe (19th), Michelle Darbro (20th), Kam Buckner (26th), Justin Slaughter (27th), Mary Flowers (31st) and Jaime Andrade (40th).
There was no debate on the current endorsements, although a chorus of no's from delegates indicated it was not unanimous.
The Resolution for Black Lives Matter resolved to endorse participation in Black Lives Matter Week to begin Black History Month, the CTU to host events during and around the week of Feb. 3-7, 2020 and the CTU to encourage its members to wear Black Lives Matter at School shirts to school that week and teach lessons.
Washington High School delegate Frank McDonald asked the union to make any after school pay pensionable, but the union said this would require a change in the state law.
The meeting focused on the current dilemma facing veteran pay. The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) would just like to give out the $25 million as bonus pay, but the union wants it to go into the steps that increase pay each year.
The CTU filed an unfair labor practice. CTU labor lawyer Robert Bloch said CPS does not like veteran teachers and does not want them. The Mayor initially offered the money to be taken out of the class size budget, which the union rejected. The last minute agreement to give $25 million pay raise to veteran teachers was in response to grumblings from many who see no yearly raises after 14 years of employment, until they get to their 20th year, and then 25th year. Bloch said never in the 50 years of bargaining have teachers gotten bonuses. Step are "the gift that keeps on giving."
Union officials said the contract will not be ratified until this grievance over veteran pay is decided. Therefore, no raises yet.
CTU President Jesse Sharkey had all the delegates stand who filed either successful grievances in their schools, or took a successful stand to prevent the principal from doing something that was against the contract. Most delegates of over 400 in the room stood.
He said the CTU is determined to abolish SQRP - which rates the schools based on test scores and attendance, and student-based budgeting which punishes schools with less students.
Sharkey said the union is in a fight with the management of the Chicago International Charter Schools, who are "on a warpath."
The pension trustee told delegates that charter schools do not pay into the pension fund on time like they are supposed to.
One delegate complained that after field rep Joey McDermott was fired, she has been having a hard time getting field reps to return her calls. Jesse said this is unacceptable, and they will make sure someone returns delegates' calls.
Another delegate asked Jesse what to do when your principal is "systematically targeting teachers and reporting them to DCFS to get them out."
Sharkey laughed and said that is a long discussion, but there needs to be a plan, and quickly moved on to the next questions during the Q&A which is before and after the meeting of official reports and resolutions.
The Chicago Board of Education is also preparing to give outside teachers up to 10 years of experience, or put them in Step 10 in pay. Currently teachers who worked outside the district can only get up to two years of experience in CPS.
By Jim Vail
The Chicago Teachers Union House of Delegates meeting January 8, 2020 did not have the sparks the marred the previous meeting in December.
Two resolutions were quietly passed - Political Endorsements & Black Lives Matter at Schools Week (Feb. 3 - 7, 2020).
The meeting in December was temporarily taken over by Froy Jimenez, a teacher and former head of the union's political action committee that makes endorsements. He was furious he was not endorsed as a CTU member who headed the committee and was a strike captain.
He stormed the stage to say everything was illegal and wrong in the endorsement process because the CTU did not endorse its own member while they encourage fellow members to run for office. He is running for state senator against incumbent Tony Munoz and passed out flyers prior to the meeting.
Eventually he was convinced to sit down and the endorsement was put on hold.
But there was no political endorsement made in his First District.
One delegate asked about this and the CTU said they decided to not make an endorsement at this point.
Some insiders have suggested that the union did not want to upset the current state senator and they felt Jimenez did not have a realistic chance to win.
The union endorsed State's Attorney Kim Foxx, State Reps Theresa Mah (2nd), Omar Williams (10th), Denyse Wang Stoneback (16th), Lindsey LaPointe (19th), Michelle Darbro (20th), Kam Buckner (26th), Justin Slaughter (27th), Mary Flowers (31st) and Jaime Andrade (40th).
There was no debate on the current endorsements, although a chorus of no's from delegates indicated it was not unanimous.
The Resolution for Black Lives Matter resolved to endorse participation in Black Lives Matter Week to begin Black History Month, the CTU to host events during and around the week of Feb. 3-7, 2020 and the CTU to encourage its members to wear Black Lives Matter at School shirts to school that week and teach lessons.
Washington High School delegate Frank McDonald asked the union to make any after school pay pensionable, but the union said this would require a change in the state law.
The meeting focused on the current dilemma facing veteran pay. The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) would just like to give out the $25 million as bonus pay, but the union wants it to go into the steps that increase pay each year.
The CTU filed an unfair labor practice. CTU labor lawyer Robert Bloch said CPS does not like veteran teachers and does not want them. The Mayor initially offered the money to be taken out of the class size budget, which the union rejected. The last minute agreement to give $25 million pay raise to veteran teachers was in response to grumblings from many who see no yearly raises after 14 years of employment, until they get to their 20th year, and then 25th year. Bloch said never in the 50 years of bargaining have teachers gotten bonuses. Step are "the gift that keeps on giving."
Union officials said the contract will not be ratified until this grievance over veteran pay is decided. Therefore, no raises yet.
CTU President Jesse Sharkey had all the delegates stand who filed either successful grievances in their schools, or took a successful stand to prevent the principal from doing something that was against the contract. Most delegates of over 400 in the room stood.
He said the CTU is determined to abolish SQRP - which rates the schools based on test scores and attendance, and student-based budgeting which punishes schools with less students.
Sharkey said the union is in a fight with the management of the Chicago International Charter Schools, who are "on a warpath."
The pension trustee told delegates that charter schools do not pay into the pension fund on time like they are supposed to.
One delegate complained that after field rep Joey McDermott was fired, she has been having a hard time getting field reps to return her calls. Jesse said this is unacceptable, and they will make sure someone returns delegates' calls.
Another delegate asked Jesse what to do when your principal is "systematically targeting teachers and reporting them to DCFS to get them out."
Sharkey laughed and said that is a long discussion, but there needs to be a plan, and quickly moved on to the next questions during the Q&A which is before and after the meeting of official reports and resolutions.
The Chicago Board of Education is also preparing to give outside teachers up to 10 years of experience, or put them in Step 10 in pay. Currently teachers who worked outside the district can only get up to two years of experience in CPS.
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