HOD Special

Report on the Special Meeting of the House of Delegates on January 20, 2021

By George Milkowski

Please note:  Because of the COVID 19 pandemic, this meeting was conducted via video conference.  This is a Special Meeting called by the CTU to deal with the concerns over the CPS forcing all teachers back into the school buildings

The meeting began at 4:37 p.m..

The meeting started with some experiences of teachers who have refused to co-operate in returning to the classroom.,  Linda Perales of Corkery has been locked out of her on-line teaching since January 12.  She teaches cluster students who are unable to practice social distancing.  She said only ONE student has shown up but there are FOUR SECAs there!  Quentin Washington is an elementary school music teacher and unlike other teachers, he sees all students, not just those in a “pod” as the CPS maintains.  He has been locked out since January 11.  He argues that he has a right to be in a safe environment.

Stacy Davis Gates cited Pres. Biden’s pledge to provide proper resources to open schools.  That is what we want, she said; safe schools.  She referred to Gov. Pritzker shutting the schools over the objections of Lighfoot, Janice Jackson and Dr. Arwady of the Chicago Health Department.  She cited that now 42 of 50 aldermen have signed on to the letter to the CPS questioning their plans to open the schools to in person learning.  She also mentioned that to date 6,000 students were to already be in the classroom but the CPS refuses to release figures as to how many actually showed up.

Financial Secretary Maria Moreno said that for months the CPS has ignored our proposals in negotiations on re-opening until a few weeks ago.  That’s when public pressure and publicity over our members’ refusal to go into buildings started to have an effect.  Only in the past week has the CPS been taking our proposals seriously.  Maria is now enjoying negotiations; watching the CPS showing stress and “squirming” now.

Recording Secretary Christel Williams Hayes added that negotiations have been “torture” sitting with the CPS people since August and getting nothing done.

Thad Goodchild, deputy counsel for the CTU said we gave the CPS five distinct proposals.  They included enforceable school safety protocols with a mutually agreed upon safety checklist, the establishment of school and district safety committees, flexible schedules to minimize in-person work, granting all medical accommodations, robust testing (once a week) and vaccinations for all staff and students, and the need for the CPS to adapt a public health metric based on actual data.  Thad feels that Union actions to date have had a huge impact on the CPS.

Robert Bloch, the Union’s general counsel, cited the CPS ignoring the arbitrator’s decision regarding Paras from months ago.  He said the CPS just picked arbitrary dates to return to in classroom learning regardless of the science.  He also said that if Pritzker signs the recently enacted bill that would restore bargaining rights to the UNION, that that would strengthen our hand.  (NOTE: call the Governor’s office about this again).  Robert said that the Supreme Court decades ago ruled that workers can strike over Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) but this hasn’t been tested in our case, so if we strike it will be in uncharted legal territory.

CTU President Jesse Sharkey thinks the Board wants to find some mutual agreement.  He also mentioned that a CTU Executive Board member with a 5 or 6 year old son has a wife that has cancer and was rejected for accommodations.  Why should he be forced back into the classroom?

Jesse then turned to the proposed resolution.  It would be an action for members to vote on staring Thursday, January 21 through Saturday, January 23.  It would, due to the ULP, ask CTU members to refuse to go into any buildings and instead offer to continue remote learning.  If the CPS then retaliates by cutting salaries or other disciplinary actions, the resolution asks the membership to authorize a strike.  A strike date would have to be set by another meeting of the House of Delegates.

Then the meeting went into a Question and Answer period.  Karen Soto of Waters School asked if those who abstain from voting are considered “No” votes.  Jesse said no to that.  Karen also expressed concerns over social distancing while picketing.

Frank MacDonald of Washington High suggested separating the strike authorization until we see what the Board does.  Jesse said that would stretch out the time frame and put us back into the classrooms before we can act.

Felicia Sanders-Ward of Ward school said she has a young staff but they support the CTU’s planned action.

Mary Esposito asked if members will lose their health insurance.  Jesse said they might but that requires a lot of paperwork and time.  The law requires coverage to continue at least 60 days and then members can continue coverage under COBRA.

Then the actual debate on the resolution began.  Chris Pedersen of Amundsen High motioned to delay any action until February1 in order to build support among the CTU’s rank and file.  This motion failed 79-21%.  (NOTE: as a retiree delegate I am not allowed to vote on strike matters).

Karin Moreno of Infinity High opposed the resolution because it is would be bad for the students.  However, all other delegates supported it, including Paul D’Addario, Karen Soto of Waters Anita Hill of Jackie Robinson and Natasha Carlsen.  Natasha said that a staff member died this past year from the coronavirus and that it is a question of when, not if, more will die.

The resolution passed 84-16%.

The meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.