Chicago Teachers Union House of Delegates Flexes Its Muscle in Contract Fight

The Chicago Teachers Union’s governing body said it would encourage all 27,000 active members to vote “yes” for strike authorization when the organization conducts a three-day vote in all Chicago Public Schools (CPS) where members work, according to the House of Delegates (HOD).  State law requires a 75 percent of the entire CTU membership to approve strike authorization; and, voting will be conducted December 9 – 11 at the start and end of the school day in most buildings.

At the conclusion of the voting, ballots will be processed by the union’s Rules and Elections Committee and District Supervisors at CTU headquarters. The process will be monitored by several members of the clergy who will act as independent observers of the process.

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Chicago Teacher's Union president, Karen Lewis

CTU President Karen Lewis reminded union leaders, “Our ability to withhold our labor is our power,” she said.  “Teachers, paraprofessionals and clinicians have told us they are tired of the contract stalemate facilitated by the Board. CPS has rejected all of our proposals, many of which have no cost associated with them. This is unacceptable and time to show them we are serious about fighting for our profession and for the students in our classroom.”

Added Financial Secretary Kristine Mayle, “We will continue the count until every vote is recognized and every member has had a chance to cast their ballot. This means if people are out on maternity or ill we will identify those members and work with them to have them cast their ballot. This is a democratic process and all voices will be heard.”

The Dec. 2nd HOD session also approved a resolution calling for a Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC) that will provide stricter and more transparent oversight on the pattern and practices of the Chicago Police Department (CPD). The ordinance would give the council the power to prosecute law enforcement officials who are guilty of committing a crime.  CPAC

“The CTU is not anti-police and never has been, contrary to the misinformation that’s being put out there by the leader of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP),” said CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey. “We were against what happened to Laquan McDonald and what has happened in the wake of the release of that horrific video. We are opposed to the cover-up that is going on. That is why we’ve joined people across this city and nation for a federal investigation into who knew what and when. Why did it take 400 days for this officer to be charged with murder? There are too many questions but all of them illustrate why the CTU supports a democratically elected civilian police accountability council. We have no confidence in the mayor’s hand-picked blue ribbon commission.”

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