HOD March

Report on the Meeting of the House of Delegates held on March 9, 2022

By George Milkowski

Pres. Jesse Sharkey announced that he has tested positive for COVID 19, has comparatively mild symptoms, and is self-isolating in his home.

I. Officers Reports

A.   Christel Williams- Hayes – Recording Secretary.  Christel kept her remarks very brief, announcing that the CTU will be hosting a series of in-person meetings for PSRPs.

B.  Kathy Catalano – Financial Report.  Kathy reported that we have completed the first half of our fiscal year and the current deficit is $2,780,130.  This deficit will be declining as dues were not collected over this past summer and we are currently receiving more dues that expected in our budget.

C. Maria Moreno – Financial Secretary – Our membership is currently 28,281 and retirees make up 1,638 of that total.

This is an election year in the Union and the deadlines for caucuses and individuals to submit their nominating petitions is March 25.

D.  Chris Baehrend – Charter Division – Chris was pleased to announce that in all 13 charter operator schools and systems COVID mitigations continue with 3 feet guaranteed social distancing and remote learning operations when required..

Chris also announced that the members in the various charter schools are starting to meet to develop common bargaining proposals when their contracts expire.  He also said the Charter Division is planning a rally in May.

E.  Stacy Davis Gates - Vice President – Stacy gave a large portion of her time to Dr. Monique Redeau-Smith, an educational researcher.  She said that ISBE is planning on increasing testing, replacing the one currently required math and reading test with three more spread out over the school year, including for grades K-2.  She cited research on the lack of validity of so much testing and said that 37 Illinois State legislators have signed a letter to ISBE opposing the measure.  She pointed out that ISBE made it clear that it did not intend to consult with parents and other stakeholders on this issue.  To learn more you can go to: teachnottest.org.  There are two bills to try to rein this plan in in the General Assembly, HB5285 and SB3986.  Contact your legislators and ask them to support these bills.  The ISBE plan would cost school districts $228 million over ten years.

Stacy has been visiting schools and has been impressed about the Union organizing and energy in the ones she visited.  She also visited striking teachers in Proviso Township and Riverdale whose members said their actions have been inspired by what the CTU has done.

Lastly, Stacy said the CPS is planning 60 poorly advertised vaccination events in March.  She asked delegates to see if their school is on the list and then contact parents to urge them to allow their children to get the vaccine.

II. President’s Report

Pres. Sharkey reported that the unilateral decision by CPS to end the mask mandate next year is a direct violation of our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).  The CPS should have met with and bargained with the CTU over this but did not, so the CTU filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaint with the Illinois Labor Board.  The Labor Board will hold a hearing on March 16, which is “lightning quick” for this body, and if we win, the Illinois Attorney General will be asked to seek an injunction against the CPS.  In a pre-meeting poll of delegates, 48.5% favored universal masking while 40% felt it should be optional. 

Those in schools with mostly white student bodies with higher vaccination rates were more inclined to prefer optional masking while those in schools that had higher percentages of students of color and lower vaccination rates wanted masking to still be mandatory. 

CTU attorney Latoyia Kimbrough is also in contact with disability rights groups who have an interest in this.

Jesse said we want to have universal masking re-imposed, specific open metrics that the Board should use for having or ending masking, specific requirements to protect immuno-compromised students, faculty, and staff, and a greater push to increase vaccination rates. He asked delegates to document inadequate COVID related safety conditions in the schools and bring these up to the safety committees and the CTU.

Jesse spoke regarding a previous proposal to have a CTU strike/hardship fund.  He did not have a specific proposal on this issue at this time.  To have one would cost an estimated $500,000, would probably require a membership vote, and would have to be co-ordinated with the AFT.  Most strike funds are run by international labor bodies, not locals.

III. Items for Action

A.  “Resolution to Divest from Fossil Fuels and Re-invest in Workers and Communities”.  This urges the AFT and all affiliated locals to divest from fossil fuels.  Collectively, they have an estimated $250 billion in assets in these types of companies.  Sandra Beck pointed out that it is not as easy to divest as many assume.  A lot of unions are invested in hedge funds and mutual funds so it is hard to pull out from these companies directly.  Bea Lumpkin  (retired, 103) maintained that the value of these companies are high now and this is a good time to pull out because she sees their value declining in the future.  The resolution was approved 88-12%.  I voted “yes” on this.

B.  “Resolution for Student Debt Cancellation”.  This urges Pres. Biden to cancel all student debt in his power before the moratorium on payments ends in two months on May 1, 2022.  Jesse asked delegates to put into the “chat” how much student debt they currently have for themselves or for their children.  One individual said his debt was over $145,000!  This passed, 92-8% and again I voted “yes”.

C.  The House of Delegates approved the endorsement of a number of individuals, with more endorsements to come at future meetings.  These endorsements passed 93-7%.  Those endorsed are:

U.S. House – Delia Ramirez (3rd)

Illinois Senate – Omar Aquino (2nd)

- Mike Simmons (7th)

- Ram Villivalam (8th)

- Rob Martwick (10th)

- Celina Villanueva (12th)

- Robert Peters (13th)

- Bill Cunningham (18th)

- Christina Pacione-Zayas (20th)

Illinois House – Aaron Ortiz (1st)

-Lilian Jimenez (4th)

- Lakesia Collins (9th)

- Lindsey LaPointe (19th)

- Theresa Mah (24th)

- Kam Buckner (26th)

- Marcus Evabs (33rd)

- Will Guzzardi (39th)

Cook County Board – Brandon Johnson (Dist. 1)

          - Alma Anaya (Dist. 7)

D.  There was a proposal to clarify a rule for the upcoming CTU election.  Anyone or any caucus who wanted to pay to have their campaign material mailed to Union members had been required to submit a copy of their material to the CTU beforehand.   Some felt this would “tip off” incumbents as to the election plans of challengers.  The rule was changed to end that practice.  I voted “yes” and it passed 87-13%.

E.  Lastly, there were two proposals regarding union meetings.  The first, which would allow a masked in-person delegates training workshop on March 26, passed 53-47%.  I voted “no’ on this.

The second proposal was to start having in-person House of Delegates meetings beginning in April with a virtual “Option for Medically Fragile” delegates.  I spoke and voted against this and it failed 75-25%.  The idea of meeting in-person may revisited at future meetings this school year.

IV. Committee Reports

A. Organizing - LaShawn Wallace stressed the importance of having CTU meetings in schools regarding the CPS change in mask policy.  She said delegates should strongly urge their members to continue wearing masks, contact the LSC and continue to document safety violations to the Safety Committee and the CTU.  The Union also has prepared flyers that can be handed out to parents before and after school and also door posters that can be hung in classrooms.

B.  Grievance – Jose Jiminez – Jose announced that Special Education Funds are now available in all schools and the money needs to be spent by the end of the school year.

PSRPs should have received their mid-year evaluation and is they haven’t they cannot be laid off out of seniority order when the school year ends.

Georgia Waller announced that David Prado and James Foster have been named substitute teacher of the month.

C.  Political/Legislative – Kurt Hilgendorf.  Kurt reported from Springfield that the bill to restore sick days to those who missed work due to COVID for themselves or their families, HB1167 passed the House and is now in the Senate.

Bills to prevent standardized testing in grades K-2, SB 3986 and HB 5285 have been introduced.  CTU members should contact their legislators and ask them to support this legislation. 

Another bill, SB3663, would reduce, by 20%, professional development requirements as the pandemic has made it difficult for some to meet them.

Lastly, Kurt asked for volunteers to help get our endorsed candidates elected.  If you would like to help, go to: ctulocal1.org/vote.

V. New Business/Question and Answers

Mary Esposito, a clinician delegate, asked about the status of our ULP complaint filed over the lost days due to the January lockout.  CTU attorney Robert Bloch said that, unlike the ULP filed over the change in mandatory masking, this one is still in its preliminary phase.