SOCIAL MEDIA AIDS UNION WORK: Facebook helps turn the heat up on CPS after Chicago temperatures drop below freezing for the first time this season and once again CPS officials fail to maintain facilities for teachers, staff and children
Facebook ain't just for having fun and promoting propaganda anymore. Yesterday morning, [October 23, 2013] after logging into my account I saw that one of my delegates, Sarah Chambers, had a heating problem at Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy in the Little Village Neighborhood. After reading her post at about 7:20 am (10/23/2013) and making a comment, I promised to get out to the school ASAP.
Sarah Chambers
Yesterday at 9:37pm [10/22/2013]
In less than eight weeks, temperatures in Chicago's real public schools have gone from being too hot (as high as in the 90s) to being too cold. Social media and digital technology are helping the Chicago Teachers Union document the problems so that Board of Education officials cannot deny the truth as they try so often to do. Substance photo by John Kugler.My school's furnace to heat the building is broken and now we have to wait for the Board to approve the parts we need to fix it. All of my students had to wear their coats today and many were shivering. Because the board does not care for students having healthy learning conditions, we are not supposed to receive these parts until Friday. The low is 30 degrees!!!! feelingangry.
I hopped into my car and drove over to the local Home Depot to buy a $30 laser thermometer. Before driving to the school I took a picture of the thermometer and posted on my Facebook page and made it clear I was heading to the school to document the cold conditions at the school and file multiple health and safety grievances.
John Kugler
14 hours ago
Digital thermometer $30 + DrK + CPS = Health and Safety Violations up the Wazoo!
While on the road to the school I was in contact with both delegates who sent me the principals cell phone number. I made a call and told the principal that I was heading to the school to document the violations at the school. The principal explained to me that the boiler had a broken part. She said that the engineer could not purchase the part and install it, due to CPS changes in the procurement process. I learned from the principal that there is now no emergency funds available, so if the engineer has to buy an emergency part it must go through the procurement approval process. I told the principal that the heat needed to be fixed as soon as possible or I would be filing emergency grievances under Articles 14-1 and 14-2 regarding Health and Safety of the current Union contract with the Board of Education of Chicago.
When I reached the school I got a call back from the principal that the engineer got approval to buy the part and the boiler should be fixed by noon. Later that day after getting to Union Headquarters the principal called me again and said they had the part and the heat would be on soon. Later in the day one of the school delegates posted on her Facebook page that the heat was back on.
Sarah Chambers After unleashing the Kugler, the heat is back on today!!! 5 hours ago
Facebook Comments:
Kristine Mayle File a health and safety grievance tomorrow. Your school isn't the only one.
Yesterday at 9:39pm via mobile Unlike 5
Andrew James That's ridiculous!
Yesterday at 9:40pm via mobile Like
Kate Mann Garrgh
Yesterday at 9:40pm Like
Nina Vogele Aube No air in the summer, no heat in the winter.....sheesh.....only the best for you and your kids, huh? Yesterday at 9:40pm Like
Jim Cavallero It was too hot beginning of the year and now too cold. It's ridiculous.
Yesterday at 9:41pm via mobile Unlike 3
Matt Meister It won't fix it, but I'll be sure to share your story with my fellow workers and students tomorrow. That's inexcusable, but I realize what you're dealing with in Chicago is just unfathomable. Maybe you could commit fraud and submit the request for parts via changing your school name to something charter academy, inc? They'll be in within the hour.
Yesterday at 9:42pm Unlike 9
Ashley Reyes It is like a meat locker in my room. Stop by tomorrow and feel the brisk chill!
Yesterday at 9:44pm Unlike 1
Shoneice Reynolds I can believe it! Parents need to use their power! BOE doesn't listen to us on behalf of the students. But I bet they will listen to parents!
Yesterday at 9:45pm via mobile Unlike 4
Xian Barrett Send something to Linda Lutton, Karp or Fitz at the S-T
Yesterday at 9:59pm Unlike 4
Timothy Meegan I agree. Let the media in your room and interview your colleagues
Yesterday at 10:54pm via mobile Unlike 1
Becca Ritchie Holy crap!! so not good!!
23 hours ago Unlike 1
Liz Brown Reporters don't need to come inside ... just reports. A phone call will do. Kristine Mayle -- a few phone calls?
22 hours ago Unlike 1
Maria Teresa Cosme We should call the media because two schools are affected by this problem.
16 hours ago Like 1
Camille Griffin Remember the classroom in 'Light it Up'? I'm imagining that, as I read this. Light It Up (film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_It_Up_(film)
Light It Up is a 1999 American drama film starring an ensemble cast that consist...See More
16 hours ago via mobile Like
Elaine Fleming WTF This is ridiculous!
15 hours ago via mobile Unlike 1
John Kugler At BoE meeting tomorrow $$$ millions will be given to cronies but the heaters will still becbroken. I ll stop by in am. DrK
15 hours ago via mobile Like 1
Sarah Chambers After unleashing the Kugler, the heat is back on today!!! 5 hours ago Unlike 5
Kati Gilson We were without heat for a week. They put these monster heaters in our room. Of course we got the one that didn't work while there was one in an empty room only used once a week. The damn thing is so loud you have to raise your voice to hear yourself. No wonder I'm hoarse. Hopefully all is fixed and it will be gone tomorrow. It didn't feel any warmer today though.
3 hours ago Like
https://www.facebook.com/sarah.chambers.50999/posts/10103017938923020?comment_id=25884681if_t=like
Comments:
By: John Whitfield
An Illinois Department of Labor Complaint
As we did with GWHS leaky roof situation, an IDOL complaint to compliment the grievance, might be helpful, as it was with us, with a citation having been issued which is posted publicly in the building. Good luck with this safety and security grievance.
By: Kati Gilson, NBCT
heat
Well, the heater was unplugged and guess what, the boiler isn't working. 63 degrees at 11:45 a.m. The Engineer and others were trying to fix the heat when I left for 1/2 pb day. Many of my preschoolers were wearing their coats and I heard the kindergarteners next door complaining of the cold. Usually it's hot in my room. I wish they'd fix it already!