CTU Delegates Do Not Endorse Bernie at HOD
By Jim Vail
The Chicago Teachers Union leadership suffered a minor set back when the resolution to endorse Bernie Sanders did not pass at the Feb. 5, 2020 House of Delegates meeting.
About 136 delegates voted no, and 121 delegates voted yes to endorsing Sanders for U.S. President.
The Political Action Committee did not recommend the endorsement. The unusual resolution was made by the Executive Board. The teachers union traditionally does not make federal endorsements.
CTU VP Stacy Gates said they are focused on state legislators who pass legislation that affects the public schools.
The lively debate to endorse Bernie Sanders included those in favor: he supports Medicare for All so that everybody has access to health care and says no to corporate and wealthy interests (we do not need billionaires!) Those not in favor said: there are two candidates that the teachers like in the race (but Warren has backed away from Medicare for All) and Bernie did not support reparations to the former African slaves.
Stacy Gates made a follow-up motion that passed which states the CTU is neutral in the presidential race.
The Los Angeles Teachers Union earlier endorsed Bernie Sanders.
In the beginning Q & A one delegate asked the union what can you do when you have a student who calls the teachers a ¨fucking bitch¨ every day and he is taken out and re-enters the class and nothing is done. The union said you should gather evidence, and the delegate replied that they have documented the harassment for three years but nothing has been done. President Sharkey said they could file a grievance for an unsafe environment and a behavior plan should be in place. He recommended having someone from the union come out.
Welcome to the reality of teaching in CPS!
The power of party politics was on display in the election of Paula Barajas over Terri Hehn for elementary functional vice president. Hehn made a superior speech in which she outlined her qualifications for the position. The Members First caucus - which is still very active - campaigned for Hehn, while the CTU Core party backed Barajas who won.
VP Gates stated the union´s priorities are racial, economic, social and educational justice. She twice mentioned racial first, and education last.
The SEIU union - who represents the teacher aids or PSRP´s and custodial staff in CPS schools in addition to many other workers - stated that they will also focus on social justice.
The last election for president was between Members First who want to focus on teachers first, vs. Core who fight for social and racial justice.
The union endorsed state reps Thaddeus Jones in the 29th district and Andre Thapedi in the 32nd.
¨We don´t have many enemies anymore,¨ Gates said. ¨They just say yes and don´t want to fight us.¨
Power in the state legislature is especially important to pass an elected school board (the mayor has backed off this after she promised one during her campaign), ensure teacher pension protection and protect public schools and public school teachers that groups funded by billionaires have tried to attack over the years via privatization and laws to take away the union´s collective bargaining rights & seniority.
By Jim Vail
 |
| Bernie Sanders did not get CTU endorsement. |
The Chicago Teachers Union leadership suffered a minor set back when the resolution to endorse Bernie Sanders did not pass at the Feb. 5, 2020 House of Delegates meeting.
About 136 delegates voted no, and 121 delegates voted yes to endorsing Sanders for U.S. President.
The Political Action Committee did not recommend the endorsement. The unusual resolution was made by the Executive Board. The teachers union traditionally does not make federal endorsements.
CTU VP Stacy Gates said they are focused on state legislators who pass legislation that affects the public schools.
The lively debate to endorse Bernie Sanders included those in favor: he supports Medicare for All so that everybody has access to health care and says no to corporate and wealthy interests (we do not need billionaires!) Those not in favor said: there are two candidates that the teachers like in the race (but Warren has backed away from Medicare for All) and Bernie did not support reparations to the former African slaves.
Stacy Gates made a follow-up motion that passed which states the CTU is neutral in the presidential race.
The Los Angeles Teachers Union earlier endorsed Bernie Sanders.
In the beginning Q & A one delegate asked the union what can you do when you have a student who calls the teachers a ¨fucking bitch¨ every day and he is taken out and re-enters the class and nothing is done. The union said you should gather evidence, and the delegate replied that they have documented the harassment for three years but nothing has been done. President Sharkey said they could file a grievance for an unsafe environment and a behavior plan should be in place. He recommended having someone from the union come out.
Welcome to the reality of teaching in CPS!
The power of party politics was on display in the election of Paula Barajas over Terri Hehn for elementary functional vice president. Hehn made a superior speech in which she outlined her qualifications for the position. The Members First caucus - which is still very active - campaigned for Hehn, while the CTU Core party backed Barajas who won.
VP Gates stated the union´s priorities are racial, economic, social and educational justice. She twice mentioned racial first, and education last.
The SEIU union - who represents the teacher aids or PSRP´s and custodial staff in CPS schools in addition to many other workers - stated that they will also focus on social justice.
The last election for president was between Members First who want to focus on teachers first, vs. Core who fight for social and racial justice.
The union endorsed state reps Thaddeus Jones in the 29th district and Andre Thapedi in the 32nd.
¨We don´t have many enemies anymore,¨ Gates said. ¨They just say yes and don´t want to fight us.¨
Power in the state legislature is especially important to pass an elected school board (the mayor has backed off this after she promised one during her campaign), ensure teacher pension protection and protect public schools and public school teachers that groups funded by billionaires have tried to attack over the years via privatization and laws to take away the union´s collective bargaining rights & seniority.
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