Kugler Fired

CTU Fires Beloved Long Time Field Rep Kugler 

By Jim Vail

CTU fired Field Rep John Kugler shown here next to 
Alderwoman & CTU member Sue Garza.

The Grinch stole Christmas for beloved Chicago Teachers Union Field Rep John Kugler after the CTU fired the long-time active fighter just before the holiday break.

"The reason they say I was fired was filing complaints against CPS attorneys and saying that I hid it from CTU management," Kugler said in a statement to Second City Teachers. "I had no notice. I was fired on the spot and locked out of all my work and records immediately."

He said he was given two weeks during the Christmas Holiday to find a job and get insurance for his family of six.

An outpouring of support for Kugler on the teachers Facebook pages followed the announcement that was posted this week by former Pension Trustee and retired high school Teacher Bernie Eshoo who wrote, "Just heard that CTU leadership fired, highly regarded and long time rank and file supporter, field rep. Dr. John Kugler."

"This is a great loss for Members," David Benjamin wrote on the Members First fb page. "John was an experienced and knowledgeable field rep. There were so many times I reached out to him to get clarification or guidance when helping members."

"John Kugler is one of the field reps that members give accolades to consistently," wrote Kathleen Cleary. "What a terrible thing to do right before Christmas."

Kugler was the face of the CTU's historic radical fight back against the ruling business class that went to war against the teachers union and public education. The city's rulers were used to getting their way with the old company union until everything flipped when a group of "radical Trotskyites" took control of the union, as former Mayor Rahm Emanuel put it.

He was talking about people like John Kugler who got in everyone's face when going to bat for the union members. 

Kugler's fiery rhetoric, fighting spirit and keen mind forged what some would say was the heart and soul of a union that took it to the streets to fight back.

Kugler backed down to no one, whether it was the principals he was fighting or his bosses at the CTU headquarters on Carroll Street. He was a member of the Teamsters union and filed many grievances and lawsuits. 

John Kugler is speaking out at the Chicago Board of Education
where he fought privatization schemes that closed many public schools.

His CTU bosses then said enough is enough and fired him.

The Teachers Union is known for purging any outspoken radicals who may have played a key role to help put the union in power. It is the classic playbook any group in power deploys in order to stay there.

His fellow field rep Joey McDermott was similarly fired for criticizing the union bosses despite his outstanding performance as a field rep who the teachers loved. Over 1200 CTU members signed a petition to unsuccessfully reinstate McDermott who was dismissed two years ago.

"We were two field reps who filed grievances and called out leadership's dishonesty and malfeasance," McDermott wrote to Second City Teachers. "We both met a similar fate. This leadership is more concerned with maintaining their own power than they are concerned with serving our members." 

CTU fired former Field Rep Joey McDermott

Everybody has a Kugler story. Here's mine:  When Race to the Top was implemented after Core's historic win in 2010, the city's power brokers went to war against the union and its teachers. My principal and Mr. Kugler battled it out like a couple of gangsters vying for control of the streets. The teacher who told me about this explosive fight in the office said she then fainted as she saw both sides almost at each other's throats. I said to myself, damn - this union is in good hands!

Kugler never backed down to anyone, anywhere. When he was the delegate at Hyde Park High School, he was known to wear a tape recorder around his neck as he walked the hallways and would record any confrontations with the administrators.

He was so good he drove himself out of his jobs. He took his work very seriously, and always had time to talk to any member.

Kugler told me CPS always breaks its policies, the only way to stop it is by fighting them. Dr. Kugler and CTU President Karen Lewis who passed away last year both emphatically spoke about fighting back. 

Kugler took over the reigns of Substance News after editor and long-time union activist George Schmidt passed away in 2018. Schmidt was similarly fired by the union for his calling out his bosses, and fired many times as a teacher delegate because he always went to war with the principals. Mayor Richard Daley fired Schmidt and put him on a blacklist after he published the Case Exam questions to protest a silly standardized test that then CPS Chief Paul Vallas implemented on behalf of his corporate chieftains.

Kugler didn't miss a beat exposing the bosses including the union while he edited Substance. A recent article noted that the CTU lawyers led by Core founder Jackson Potter's mother Robin Potter will pocket most of the money from a settlement that faulted CPS for unfairly firing many black teachers during the massive school closings in 2013.

That type of courage puts a target on you.

Kugler said he will speak more about his case in the future. For now, he'll do what he's always done - fight the bosses!

McDermott, who settled his dismissal case with the union and is now back to being a high school teacher, said Kugler will contest his firing. 

"Unfortunately they will probably waste members dues money with another costly settlement," McDermott said. "They like to throw money at a problem to make someone disappear."

Pension Meeting Dec

Chicago Teachers Pension Fund Meeting December, 2021

By Jim Vail

The Chicago Teachers Pension Fund got back down to work for its monthly December meeting to discuss the fund's business since the appointment of the new CTPF Executive Director on August 2, 2021.

The meeting began with public participation and only John Butterfield from RTAC - the Retired Teachers Assoc. - spoke on countering the bill which was passed earlier this year, waiving payback for overpayments from retired members. 

CTPF President Jeffery Blackwell and Principal Trustee Jerry Travlos were not present at the Thursday, Dec. 16 pension meeting.

CTPF Director Carlton Lenoir told Teacher Trustee and Investment Chair Phil Weiss that they were addressing his concern about missing several report card pickup days due to the board meetings being held on Thursdays when the high schools meet parents which upset his principal.

The next topic on the agenda entailed approval to amend the Employee Handbook. The trustees asked questions about the grievance procedure vs. whistleblower complaints. The fund was rocked by numerous whistleblower complaints against trustees and other employees over the last year but the validity of many were called into question. 

Retired Teacher Trustee Lois Nelson asked what is the process when a complaint is made and an employee complains about not being treated fairly by a manager. The fund's attorney Daniel Hurtado said the employee complaint first goes to the HR Director (the fund is currently searching for a new HR Dir.), they talk to the employee, write it up, read the complaint and sign off on it, then conduct an investigation before making a recommendation to remedy the complaint. He said the employee handbook spells it out clearly.

However, if the employee is not satisfied with the outcome they can escalate their concern to the Executive Director and then to the Executive Board that was formed in the wake of Blackwell's letter who accused the fund of racism and misogyny. The Executive Board is comprised of 4 trustees - Pres. Blackwell, VP Mary Sharon Reilly, Recording Sec. Jacqueline Price-Ward and Investment Chair Phil Weiss. The lawyer added that an employee who files sex harassment charges, for example, can also go to the EEOC or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. CPS Board Trustee Dwayne Truss said he was concerned about employees filing frivolous cases that were more about personality issues rather than legitimate concerns.   

The next interesting question concerns the fund's nearly 125 employees and the issues of raises. Trustee Maria Rodriguez said she is concerned that they were not following a uniform policy of giving employees raises, which can create an unpleasant atmosphere given that the 5.9% raise will be given to everyone in January 2022.

The board's attorney said that that the raises are not really raises because it is stated the maximum amount they can earn. Hurtado said it is tough to attract employees due to the pandemic and they need to make salaries competitive. There have been complaints that some employees are not getting raises.

The concern about pay raises raises the question of unionization. The fund's employees are not members of a union, ironically enough, even though the fund is for the Chicago Teachers Union members. CTU Employees are members of a union and the Field Reps who file grievances are members of the Teamsters.

There was a mention of forming a union for CTPF employees over 10 years ago during the dark days of Race to the Top and No Child Left Behind that were designed to attack unions. The funds' employees were subjected to merit pay, where raises were tied to performance. The teachers had successfully fought off merit pay where it became very subjective based on test scores and other questionable measurements that in turn created an unhealthy competition between teachers. CTPF employee merit pay ended in 2019.

The board said that trustees who wish to attend conferences that involved costs exceeding a $250 registration fee need to seek approval in advance. Trustees enjoy attending investment conferences in exotic places which critics argue can be a way to buy off their votes for those who sponsor the conferences.

A presentation was then made concerning the Trustees fiduciary responsibilities when overseeing a $13.3 billion teachers pension fund. The presenters said there have been a lot of lawsuits filed against 401ks and 403bs. There have been many suits filed against 403b retirement accounts at universities, including a current lawsuit against Northwestern University and its 403b supplemental retirement accounts that is being heard at the U.S. Supreme Court level with a ruling expected next summer.

The concerns are there are too many investment options which leads to investment paralysis, locked in investments which favor certain vendors, and excessive fees.

There have been concerns when the Chicago Public Schools turned over all its 403b supplemental retirement accounts to AIG Finance. While it appears there are no concerns among activists who have been writing about the changes here on the Chicago teachers facebook pages, AIG is no stranger when it comes to corruption. Their executives were notorious for collecting pay raises after the 2008 subprime financial meltdown in which they needed a government handout to stay afloat after backing toxic investments from Goldman Sachs and other investment funds that ultimately bankrupted some municipalities. 

HOD Dec

Report on the Meeting of the House of Delegates on December 8, 2021

By George Milkowski

Please note:  Because of the COVID 19 pandemic, this meeting was conducted as a webinar via a video conference

The meeting began at 4:36 p.m..

I. Officer Reports

A. Recording Secretary Christel Williams-Hayes – Christel used most of her time talking about the CTU member at Carnegie School who contracted COVID and died and the actions teachers there have taken.  They have refused to go back into the building and are teaching remotely.

B. Financial Report Kathy Catalano – Kathy said that figures are in for our first fiscal quarter.  Although we have started receiving member dues from the Board, we also have obligations for “pass through” assessments to the IFT and AFT.  We are $4,555.000 in the red right now but this is normal and we had planned in our budget to be $4,801,000 in the red at this time so we are in better shape than expected.

C. Recording Secretary Maria Moreno – Our membership is 27,466 of which 1,364 are retiree members.  

    Maria announced that the CTU will host an in-person New Member event on December 15 from 4-30-6:30 p.m. in the Union building.

    The Union has started a mentoring program for new teachers and clinicians.  The “We Care” program is being led by Tara Stamps and she asked delegates who are interested in being mentors to contact her.

D.  Charter Division – Chris Baehrend – Chris reported that one of the smallest charter schools, the Youth Connection Leadership Academy, is threatening to close.  The teachers will be conducting a picket protest at 3:30 p.m. at 3424 S. State, just a few blocks from Police Headquarters.  Because it is a small school, they are asking for help in picketing. They also plan to transfer the students to one of their non-union schools.

E. Vice President Stacy Davis Gates  - Stacy said the Union has been receiving a lot of phone calls from members who are stressed out.  She said it is important to take care of one’s physical and mental health and there is help in the contract that is available to all at little or no out of pocket expenses.

    Stacy also asked for donations of winter outerwear in good condition and/or monetary donations to the CTU Foundation.  Students in need will be eligible for the donations.

II. President’s Report – Jesse Sharkey

Pres. Sharkey said that there are attempts by well-funded right wing lawyers to sue the Union on behalf of certain faculty or staff.  These are individuals who opted out of Union membership and would like the Rauner Era Janus decision to be retroactive.  They have lost at the district level and the appeals level and Jesse does not see them winning based on the law even if they appeal to the Supreme Court.

Jesse addressed the continuing problem of a deep sub shortage.  The CPS is offering a bonus of $420 to subs who work at least 12 days in a month.

Jesse said that coaches will be receiving their promised higher stipends per agreement with the CPS.  The increase should be reflected in their paychecks starting December 17.

Jesse gave two teachers from Carnegie a chance to explain what happened that led to the death of JonL Bush and the actions teachers have taken.  One of them said that there are 23 classrooms at Carnegie and half have been in and out of quarantine since the school year began.

Jesse also turned over the microphone to Nora Flanagan.  She works at North Side Prep but was involved in a problem at Taft H.S..  She said that a white nationalist group, Turning Point, USA, has been trying to recruit and organize students at Taft.   However, as parents and teachers learned more about the group, they and the principal took quick action to deny them access to the building.

Jesse also asked the House to change the date of the next House meeting from January 5 to January 12.  This was approved 96-4%.

.III. Item for Action

The CTU passed a resolution to call this month “New Member December”.  Its purpose is to recruit and welcome new members into the Union and to let them know how important the Union is to their daily working lives.  This passed 98-2%.

IV. Department/Committee Reports

A.  Organizing – Jim Cavallero – The CTU has helped organize a vigil for Carnegie School member Jonl Bush and he asked that delegates have their members were red tomorrow, December 9, in solidarity with the Carnegie teachers.  He also said delegates should make use of a Cleaning/Facilities toolkit to help document problems of cleanliness in the buildings.

Jim announced the CTU will be hosting a webinar on December 15 for clinicians.

B.  Grievance Report – Leah Raffanti – The Union has been working with the CPS and has used the contract to get 64 more Cadre subs hired although more are needed.  She added that the CPS has agreed to accept standards set by the ISBE to allow individuals with two years of college to be subs.

Leah also reported that the class size committee has acted to establish 220 new teaching positions.

C.  Political/Legislative - Kurt Hilgendorf – Kurt highlighted two new laws signed by Gov. Pritzker.  The first, HB1975, addresses sexual misconduct in the schools.  This was a direct response to the recent scandal at Marine Leadership Academy.  The second law, SB 101 re-instates authority and power to certain LSCs.

There are two bills the Governor has not yet signed.  The first is HB 2778 that deals with paid leave for people who contract COVID.  The second is SB1784, which imposes a moratorium on all school closings.

Lastly, due to the late arrival of figures from the Census Bureau, the spring primary has been moved to June 28.  This means that signature collection for politicians who are friendly to the CTU begins in January and lasts a few months.  Given the time of year it will be difficult to help our political allies out but Kurt said we need to support them as they have supported us.

V. New Business/Questions and Answers

Kim works in a middle school that is departmentalized like in the high schools.  Many classes are oversized and they need TAs but are not eligible for the remedies that are offered to high schools.  Jesse recognized that she had a valid point and the CTU will work to see if anything can be done.

Denise said that the vaccination deadline for teachers has been rescinded and she has concerns about the COVID variants.  She asked what the Union is doing regarding this.  Jesse answered, saying the CPS is dragging its feet on vaccinations and testing.  He said the Union has taken a position in favor of vaccination but is opposed to teachers and staff being fired when police, firefighters, and other employees of the City are not.

A far Southside delegate said her principal has refused to meet with the Safety Committee.  She said the school is not cleaned properly and air filters on the machines are filthy and not changed very often.  Jesse responded and said that the problem of non-co-operation by principals has occurred at other schools, too.  When brought to their attention many of the principals have been contacted by the CPS and told that they are required to co-operate with the Committee by law.

Moselean said that COVID testing at her school is impractical as teachers cannot leave their full classes to go to on-site testing location and there is no proper sub coverage.  The CTU will try to get extended on-site hours for the testing.

The meeting ended at 7:03 p.m..