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CTU press release gives some inkling of the content of the deal so far

George N Schmidt - September 16, 2012

A press release issued by the Chicago Teachers Union gives an outline of the proposals that will come before the union's House of Delegates at its 3:00 p.m. meeting on September 16, 2012. The press release in the latest iteration received by Substance reads as follows:

NEWS RELEASE*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, CONTACT: Stephanie Gadlin

September 15, 2012. 312/329-6250 StephanieGadlin@ctulocal1.com

CTU President Karen Lewis, Recording Secretary Michael Brunson, and attorney Robert Bloch during the process of negotiations in September 2012. Photo courtesy of the CTU Facebook page.*House of Delegates to review new contract language this Sunday at 3 p.m.*

*CHICAGO –*The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU)’s ruling body will decide whether or not to call off its strike against the Chicago Public Schools during a 3 p.m. House of Delegates meeting tomorrow at Operating Engineers Hall, 2260 Grove Street. The Bargaining Team is expected to share new details about proposed contract language which includes a number of victories for teachers, paraprofessionals, clinicians, and students.

The earliest teachers and other school personnel could return to their schools could be Monday; however, no decision has been made to do so. Delegates, the elected leaders of their schools, have the authority to suspend or lengthen the strike. They could also ask for at least 24-hours to talk to individual members in their schools before making a decision on what to do next. The 29,000-member CTU has been on strike since Sept. 10.

“We are a democratic body and therefore we want to ensure all of our members have had the chance to weigh-in on what we were able to win,” said CTU President Karen GJ Lewis. “We believe this is a good contract, however, no contract will solve all of the inequities in our District. Our fair contract fight has always been about returning dignity and respect to our members and ensuring resources and a quality school day for our students and their families.”

The new proposed CTU/CPS contract will:

*Secure Raises & Ensure Fair Compensation:* The CTU wants a three-year contract. It will secure a 3% raise in the first year, 2% raise in the second and 2% raise in the third, with the option to extend to a 4^th year by mutual agreement at another 3% raise.

*Defeat Merit Pay*: The CTU successfully fought the star of national misguided school reform policies. The Board agreed to move away from “Differentiated Compensation,” which would have allowed them to pay one set of teachers (based on unknown criteria) one set of pay versus another set of pay for others.

*Preserve Steps & Lanes:* The new contract will preserve the full value of teachers and paraprofessionals career ladder (steps); and, it will increased the value of the highest steps (14,15 and 16)

*Provide A Better School Day:*The Board will hire 512 additional ‘special’ teachers in art, music, physical education, world languages and other classes to ensure students receive a better school day, a demand thousands of parents have called for since last year

*Ensures Job Security:*Creates a “CPS Hiring Pool,” which demands

>>> that one-half of all of CPS hires must be displaced (laid-off) members.

>>>

>>> ·*Adds An Anti-Bullying Provision: *No more bullying by principals

>>> and managerial personnel. The new language will curtail some of the

>>> abusive practices that have run rampant in many neighborhood schools.

>>>

>>> ·*Paraprofessional & Clinicians Prep Time:*The new contract will

>>> guarantee preps for clinicians.

>>>

>>> ·*Racial Diversity:*The CTU continues to fight the District on its

>>> lay-off policies that has led to a record number of African American

>>> educators being laid off and eventually terminated by the District.

>>> The new contract will ensure that CPS recruits a racially diverse

>>> teaching force.

>>>

>>> ·*New Recall Rights & Tackling School Closings:* Acknowledging,

>>> the CTU will continue its ongoing legal and legislative fight for a

>>> moratorium on all school closings, turnarounds and phase-outs, the

>>> new contract requires teachers to “follow their students” in all

>>> school actions. This will reduce instability among students and

>>> educators. The contract will also have 10 months of “true recall”

>>> to the same school if a position opens.

>>>

>>> ·*Fairer Evaluation Procedures:* The new contract will limit CPS to

>>> 70% “teacher practice,” 30% “student growth” (or test scores)—which

>>> is the minimum by state law. It also secures in the first year of

>>> implementation of the new evaluation procedures there will be “no

>>> harmful consequences” for tenured teachers. It also secures a new

>>> right—the right to appeal a Neutral rating.

>>>

>>> ·*Reimbursement for School Supplies:*The contract will require the

>>> District to reimburse educators for the purchase of school supplies

>>> up to $250.

>>>

>>> ·*Additional Wrap-Around Services:* The Board agrees to commit to

>>> hire nurses, social workers and school counselors if it gets new

>>> revenue. Over the past several months, the CTU has identified

>>> several sources of new revenue, including the Tax Increment

>>> Financing program.

>>>

>>> ·*Books on Day One:*For the first time, the new contract will

>>> guarantee all CPS students and educators have textbooks on day one

>>> and will not have to wait up to six weeks for learning materials.

>>>

>>> ·*Unified School Calendar:* The new contract will improve language

>>> on a unified calendar. The District will have one calendar for the

>>> entire school district and get rid of Track E and Track R schools.

>>> All students and teaching personnel will begin on the same schedule.

>>>

>>> ·*Reduced Paperwork:*The new contract ensures the new paperwork

>>> requirements are balanced against reduction of previous requirements.

>>>

>>> “This Union has proven the Chicago labor movement is neither dormant

>>> nor dead,” Lewis continued. “Our members are on the line because we

>>> all believe there is an assault on our profession and public

>>> education in general. We will always do what is in the best

>>> interest of our students and our own children, many of whom attend

>>> these schools. We showed our solidarity and our strength, and with

>>> this new contract we have solidified our political power and

>>> captured the imagination of the nation. No one will ever look upon a

>>> teacher and think of him or her as a passive, person to be bullied

>>> and walked on ever again.”

>>>

>>> ###

>>>

>>> The union is not on strike over matters governed exclusively by

>>> IELRA Section 4.5 and 12(b).

>>>

>>> The Chicago Teachers Union represents 30,000 teachers and

>>> educational support personnel working in the Chicago Public Schools,

>>> and by extension, the more than 400,000 students and families they

>>> serve. The CTU is an affiliate of the American Federation of

>>> Teachers and the Illinois Federation of Teachers and is the third

>>> largest teachers local in the United States and the largest local

>>> union in Illinois. For more information please visit CTU’s website

>>> at www.ctunet.com .

>>>

>>> With regards,

>>>

>>> *Stephanie Gadlin*

>>>

>>> *Communications Director*

>>>

>>> Chicago Teachers Union, Local 1

>>>

>>> (312) 329-6250 (direct)

>>>

>>> StephanieGadlin@ctulocal1.com

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