My Blog

Tag: CTU

  • ‘Why Didn’t White Folks Keep Them for Themselves?’

    The Chicago Teachers Union, and school employee unions in general, are pulling out all the stops to slow down a school choice and education reform movement that is bowling them over in numerous states and cities. Bold reform efforts are being pushed by the likes of Republicans like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and New Jersey…

  • Chicago Teachers Union Wants to Strike

    The Chicago Teachers Union says internal polling shows there is support for a strike if contract talks with Chicago Public Schools break down. A new state law requires the union to get approval from 75 percent of its members before a strike, leading many to question if the union could muster support for a walkout.…

  • WI Billboard: Truth to Power on Teachers’ Unions

    This is an idea I’ve discussed with CTU reps at a meeting one time.  CTU cannot represent “the children.”  The truth is that CTU, WEAC, and all other teacher’s unions have a fiduciary duty to the union members.  The union cannot do anything which would advance the interests of non-members (i.e. children) to the detriment of the…

  • CPS Teacher’s Union Fights Everything

    Having absolutely no logic to defend their position: With a 90-day deadline on negotiations with the teachers union having passed, Chicago Public Schools can implement a teacher evaluation system that will see student performance count for 25 percent of an elementary school teacher’s assessment, a figure that will rise to 40 percent in five years.…

  • State Rep. Derrick Smith Charged, Arrested

    Ha ha ha ha! State Rep. Derrick Smith, a Democrat from Chicago, was arrested today for allegedly pocketing a $7,000 cash bribe to write an official letter of support for a day care center he believed was seeking a state grant. The arrest came after an undercover operation launched by the FBI in December with…

  • Emanuel vs. Lewis

    Karen Lewis, the Chicago Teacher’s Union President, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, have a testy relationship at best.  … The two leaders met privately last year ahead of Emanuel’s inauguration.  They went for dinner and to attend a dance — both are fans of the art form — and to develop a working relationship.   ……

  • Chicago Teachers Asking for 30% Raises

    The Chicago Teachers Union is asking for raises amounting to 30 percent over the next two years, the opening salvo in heated contract negotiations with school officials who are implementing a longer school day across Chicago Public Schools next school year. Documents obtained by the Tribune show that in the face of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s…

  • Aldermen Push For What?

    This is just insane: On Sunday, Aldermen Deborah Graham (29th), Robert Fioretti (2nd), and Toni Foulkes (15th) joined members of the Chicago Teachers Union, Action Now, and a group of parents and community safety advocates for a press conference urging Mayor Rahm Emanuel to make the Vacant Property Safe Passages Ordinance a priority. If approved,…

  • Team Crane Unveil Turnaround Plan

    Crane is not a school; it’s voluntary daytime detainment for youth.  It can’t die soon enough.  If only parents had a real choice of schools they would never send their children to Crane.  But some refuse to let it die. A coalition of Crane teachers, students, parents and Near West Side community activists unveiled a plan Friday…