Chicago Teachers Settle Contract

http://www.solidarity-us.org/site/node/4854
Date Written:  2017-01-01
Publisher:  Against the Current
Year Published:  2017
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX21517

While an almost 3-1 vote in favor is decisive, the vote against is significant in showing both dissatisfaction and anger among teachers. Who voted against the contract?

Abstract: 
-

Excerpt:

One group campaigning against the contract were a segment of Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE) members. Opposition centered around anger at abusive conditions in schools that have been imposed by the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board of Education, the insecurity of teachers' jobs as over 50 schools have been closed since 2012, and the loss of many teaching positions that heavily affect African-American teachers and other teachers with more experience.

Social workers voiced the view that the contract "has nothing in it for us." Another sentiment was that if they had gone on strike they could have gotten even more concessions from Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Despite the dissatisfaction, several factors convinced a 72% majority of members to approve the contract. The major concession being demanded by the school board, elimination of the board picking up a 7% teacher pension fund payment, was withdrawn for current employees and offset by an equivalent raise for new employees.