HOD May

CTU House of Delegates May Meeting

By George Milkowski

 

Note: This is NOT part of the House meeting but I am involved with this as a Union member, history buff, and former steel worker, so I thought you should be aware of this event. The Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees is hosting a commemoration of the Memorial Day Police Riot Massacre at Republic Steel in 1937.  The ceremony will be on Saturday, May 21, at 11731 S. Avenue “0”, just three blocks down the street from George Washington H.S..   (Avenue 0 is 3432 east).  Doors open at 1:00 p.m. and the ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m..  Fred Redmond of the AFL-CIO will be the keynote speaker and Ald. Sue Garza, a CTU member, will also speak.  Not yet committed is CTU Vice-president Stacy Davis Gates.  I hope you can attend.   

Report on the meeting of the House of Delegates held on May 4, 2022

The meeting began at 4:35 p.m. and was a Zoom webinar.

I. Officers Reports

A.   Christel Williams- Hayes – Recording Secretary.  Christel said the CTU is fighting CPS plans to increase the privatization of Technology Coordinators as they had tried to do, unsuccessfully, with school clerks. 

Christel also reported that a delegation of PSRPs recently attended a PSRP convention sponsored by the AFT in St. Louis.

B.  Kathy Catalano – Financial Report.  Kathy reported that revenues for the year are right on track.  As of February 2, 2022, we are $1,315,432 in the red, but as more revenue comes in we expect to have a surplus of about $500,000 by the end of June.

As required by the CTU constitution, a proposed budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year was presented.  Kathy described it as a “conservative” budget. There will be no expenses for a Union election next year so it is projected that we will have a surplus of about $750,000 by June, 2023.  Typically, a little over 50% of our revenue goes to the AFT and IFT as “pass throughs” although some is rebated to us and there are re-imbursements when we host or are involved in IFT or AFT programs or legal actions.

The current CTU staff is at 62.

C. Maria Moreno – Financial Secretary – Our membership is currently up to 28,261 and retiree membership has dropped by 3 to 1,652. 

The May print edition of the Chicago Union Teacher was mailed out this week.

D.  Chris Baehrend – Charter Division – Chris reported that plans to conduct negotiations as a group with all the charter school operators.  Also, he said that a new unit of art teachers has filed to become affiliated with the CTU charter division.

The Charter Division will conduct a rally at the CPS headquarters, 42 W. Washington, on May 17 starting at 4:30 p.m. and all CTU members are asked to join in.

E.  Stacy Davis Gates - Vice President – Stacy lauded Tara Stamps for her role in organizing the “We Care Mentoring” program for teachers with less than four years of experience.  The program currently has about 175 teachers but there are hopes to increase that to 300-500 next school year. Veteran teachers who would like to be mentors may apply for those positions and there will be a stipend provided.

Stacy also referred to a Tribune article that came out that day that dealt with educators demanding an end to standardized testing.  She said that we have been able to change the narrative on this issue so that the negative affects of too much testing is the main point.

Stacy provided a list of schools that are having mobile COVID vaccinations.  She said the CPS does not really push this information..

Lastly, Stacy referenced the news that it looks Like the U.S. Supreme Court is set to overturn Roe v. Wade.  She said that this may be used as a precedent to overturn other assumed rights that we have that are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution.

II. President’s Report

Pres. Sharkey also referenced the Roe v. Wade news.  He said that numerous assumed rights, like maternity leave and other issues specifically affecting women, are on the line.

Jesse said that action by CTU members are starting to have an effect on some school budgets.  Some schools are having budgets slashed dramatically yet the CPS is STILL sitting on $1.4 billion in federal COVID relief funds.  The total cuts the Board is planning on making is about $42 million, a small fraction of the funds that are available.

The Union has not yet taken any action on any of those members who went in to “work” those four days in January.  The CTU is still investigating and recognizes that individual situations vary widely.

Jesse said he testified at an Unfair Labor Practice hearing regarding the CPS’ unilateral decision to stop requiring masks in the schools..  He expects the hearing board to make a decision by June.  He thinks we will win on the point that the CPS violated a written agreement on the issue with the CTU.

The CTU will conduct its traditional debate between candidates for president and vice president on May 5.  This time it will be a hybrid event with some people being present in the Union main hall and others viewing it on-line.  If one wants to see it one must register in advance.    

III. Items for Action

A.  A resolution in Opposition to the New State Testing Regime was passed.  A growing body of evidence shows that too much standardized testing does little good and takes time away from actual learning in the classroom.  The resolution passed 97-2%.  I voted “yes”.

B.  Political endorsement of Lamont Wilson for the 16th State district was amended from the floor to include Sonja Harper in the 6th district.  It passes 92-8%

C. Resolution Against CPS Budget Cuts passed 98-2%

IV. Committee Reports

A.  Organizing – Linda Perales – To continue to fight the CPS budget cuts the Union is encouraging and supporting members and having meetings with parental and community groups and with alderpersons plus putting pressure on the Board at its meetings.  These actions appear to be having some affect.

The Union is planning its 12th annual CTO Organizing Institute.  It will take place over three weeks in the summer and a stipend and gas mileage allowance will be provided.

B. Grievance – Gervaise Clay – Gervaise went over the rules and procedures for the end of year assessment at each school.

The CPS is providing opportunities for members who lost income by staying out for four days In January to make up that loss.  Gervaise explained what members need to do to apply for this extra work and pay.

Gervaise also made it clear that teachers should be receiving their end of year preference sheets, the schedule for the REACH evaluations, and when to expect their tentative schedule for next year.

Lastly, she made it clear that those who were docked sick days for being out do to COVID are eligible by State law to have those days restored, but the need to be vaccinated and fill out the proper form by May 6.

C.  Subs of the Month – Georgia Waller – The two recognized subs (guest workers new political correct term) are Ray Weisman at Locke School and Patrice Thomas at Vicky Early childhood Center.

D. Political/Legislative – Kurt Hilgendorf – Kurt reported on bills that have passed but have not yet been signed into law by the governor.  They are a doubling of educator’s expense tax credit from $250 to $500, the bill to limit testing in grades K-2 and the bill to allow retirees to sub up to 140 days in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years with no reduction in their pension benefits,

Kurt reminded the assembly that the Primary election is unusually late, on June 28 this year, and if one would like to see the CTU’s endorsements, go to ctulocal1.org/vote.

V. New Business/Question and Answers

Margaret Taylor (Chappell) asked about five positions in the proposed budget that have no names specified.  Jesse said that those were lobbyist engaged by the CTU.

Jim McIntosh (Roosevelt) asked when will the House return to in-person meetings.  Jesse said that the House voted against doing that for the last three meetings of this school year, but he hopes we will return to in-person or perhaps hybrid meetings by September.

Scott Zwierzychowski  (Lincoln Park) asked if the Union would help members at individual schools to organize protests over the Roe v. Wade probably repeal.  Jesse said that the Union is planning on something in its committees.

Debby Pope (Retired) introduced a resolution requiring the CTU to take strong public action to defend Roe v. Wade, stressing the emergency nature of the issue.   Jesse ruled to submit it to a committee, but the House overruled him and the resolution was debated and passed, 95-5%.  Everyone who spoke argued in favor of it, including me.  I concluded my remarks buy saying that “any man who opposes Roe v. Wade should be required to get a vasectomy”.

There was a motion to extend the meeting but it failed.  As is usual, I vote d to continue going.

The meeting ended at 7:53 p.m..