Strike Vote Successful?
- Chicago teachers have shown their solidarity in massive numbers. More than 90 percent of teachers have given the OK for a work stoppage, multiple sources told NBC Chicago.
That number is well above the 75 percent needed, by law, to authorize a strike.
Chicago Teachers Union spokesman Stephanie Gadlin declined to provide an official number but said that some schools have seen 100 percent of teacher approve a strike.
Looks like a long summer ahead for Rahm. He finally pissed off enough of one group to unite behind a cause. Now if he tries his fancy bullshit, all Lewis has to do is pull the trigger.
Labels: city politics
posted by SCC at 12:02 AM
79 Comments:
I actually like Lewis! This woman is not going to be intimidated by the "Big Guy".
What does Rahm lose if the teachers strike? Actually he saves money because he doesn't have to pay them. And most people will blame the teachers for the strike, not Rahm. A lot of people will simply leave CPS, which again helps the City, not the teachers.
Please teachers!!!!!! Make it at tough fight for yourselves. You deserve everything you can get!
funny how every "breaking news" story the past few days has been anti-police, i.e. taze, releaved of duty, etc......right before contract negotiations
Sooo...The legislature is now gonna make it 95% have to vote for a strike?
I imagine as I type this Rahm is on a mission to discover exactly which schools voted 100% so that they can be targeted for "charter school" replacements.
Gotta bust those unions! It's what the corporations want.
Did all those who voted show a picture ID card.? Gots too stop that their vote fraud. Guess democrats left speechless , no RHAMS men stuffing da voter ballot boxes... Now STRIKE!!!!!!
great job teachers enough is enough being pushed around by this administration!
Rahm only wants what's best for the CHILDREN.
If I hear that phrase one more time I'm gonna gag.
All of Rahms ridiculous moves can be traced to him doing everything for the CHILDREN. Remember the cash cameras, oops I mean speed cameras ? They're for the safety of the Children not revenue.... yeah right.
When Rahm went whining down to Springfield pushing hard for pension reduction, er I mean reform he said if the city doesn't accomplish pension reduction , er reform it will be bankrupting the Children's future!
He's a broken record who's obviously worn very thin on the teachers already.
We will live in interesting times..
can a mayor be recalled?
Rahm is a "Pretend" tough guy and Play Bully. The teachers have NO job security. They are not re-hiring possibly hundreds with less than three yrs., so that they will never get tenure. And now principals who are brought in with community approval can fire teachers virtually without cause. How can a community of high school drop outs effectively determine if a principal is qualified to lead a school? The CPS System is more political today than ever and they are setting it up to go Charter and bust the Union.
What does Rahm lose if the teachers strike? Actually he saves money because he doesn't have to pay them. And most people will blame the teachers for the strike, not Rahm. A lot of people will simply leave CPS, which again helps the City, not the teachers.
6/09/2012 12:16:00 AM
Each day a student is absent from school the city loses State and Federal funds. The food companies ( clout) who provide free lunches at the taxpayers cost lose money. Plus all the honor students running around 2nd watch could have an effect on stats.
Please believe the Evil One loves raking up shit and he got his wish.
does karen lewis have the chops that jackie vaughn had--- rahmbo and brizzard started this fight--- they took away the 4 percent raise last year that was contractual and tried to bust the union--- now they want a longer work day and 10 more days added to the school year--- they woke up a sleeping beast that is ready for a fight--- if the teachers walk it could be for quite some time because we all know the little guy has an ego the size of wyoming and pouts when things don't go his way....
And what is the FOP doing?
A couple of weeks until our contract expires and we haven't heard a peep.
They should be screaming it from the rooftops: "We have made our contributions to our pension fund--the city blatantly disregarded the law that required them to do the same."
I loved watching the kids at my local elem school in 8 being sent home early (1pm) for three days so the 'committed educators' wouldn't have to stay five minutes later to make an X.
Suburban teachers start three weeks before CPS, are actually teaching until 3 to 3:30pm and rarely on the way home before 5pm, few make as much money, and have these people they call graduates who seem to be kids that actually do 4 years of High School and are are actually employable or accepted to college. Just like the private schools where you send your kids and the CPS employees sends their kids.
If you really support CTU, pull your kids out of those private schools and send them to CPS
Just a rumor. Votes are still being tallied. Official results will be announced soon (probably early next week), immediately followed by CPS assertions about questionable voting procedure, count, and result. (JCB and RE are both d-bags.) Last time we had a vote similar to this (to accept or reject a contract offer), the vast majority of high school teachers rejected whereas the elementary school teachers accepted. This go around is not like that... both high school AND elementary teachers appear to be in agreement to authorize a strike.
And to all the commentators that slam on teachers, you are just like the anti-police commentators that generalize all LEOs from the few bad apples that exist. Yes, there are those that definitely need to go, but the vast majority of teachers are dedicated, hard-working, TAX-PAYING, qualified individuals who care about the students they teach. Our children attend a CPS school and they are being taught by some AMAZING teachers under difficult conditions - lack of resources, slashed budgets, etc. Don't blame teachers for the lack of parental involvement or a basic set of values of some CPS students. Hold their parents and their communities accountable.
-CPD Wife and CPS Teacher
Oh, and JCB and RE are d-bags.
Rahm will fire any strikers.
When you get your next real estate tax bill and see how much goes for education you might not be so charitable toward the teacher's union. The tax payer does sympathize with the hard job of a teacher, but can only afford so much. Teachers have had a good deal for many years and when things go south they always blame the parents, never themselves. This should be a two way street.
Anonymous said...
Sooo...The legislature is now gonna make it 95% have to vote for a strike?
6/09/2012 12:48:00 AM
Public employees should not have the right to strike. There is no federal law granting them that ability. It is only state law. Time to change the state law and make striking by public employees illegal. Lets, see, raise taxes on the middle class working man who has not had a raise in years, has been laid off, is losing his benefits and then give this money to teachers and other public employees so they can make far above what the private sector pays with benefits the private worker can only dream about along with a pension and early retirement. Yes, that is right. Ask the voters in Wisconsin how they feel about that plan ??
Rham will have the law changed so that they need 100%.Rham is a piece of shit.
Sorry CPS, most working people have little sympathy. You'll just have to pay a little more for a little less LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. Except the linkers and the illegals (cant upset the solid democrat voting block). The democrats you support and help keep in office are the ones that screwed the pooch and got us in the very situation that requires you to take a hit. Keep voting madigan, quinn, etc..
tick tock tick tock.......
No schools. That's a lot of extra money to pass around. I'm going to be one popular guy. Now if I can just get rid of police and fire...
- 9.5
I am not a pro union (not a union hater either). I understand them being upset. So you want me to work a longer day without really being paid for it? Sure!
Go, CTU, GOOOOOO!!!
Congratulations Karen Lewis!
Best wishes for the success of negotiations. It is great that you go to the table knowing (and showing) that you have the support of your members.
I'd like to know precisely why teachers are striking. Sure, the City shits on everyone it employs, but certainly they are already enjoying cadillac benefits at enormous cost to taxpayers for only working 3/4 of the year?
My mother-in-law worked for CPS for 16 years as an aide and was recently let go. They offered her the option to pay for her own healthcare through their program. "Can you believe they want $960 a month for health insurance!?!?" she tells me. "It used to only cost me less than $50!" What she fails to realize is that the taxpayers were on the hook for the other $910, and this is seen as some sort of entitlement - a given contribution that is deserved. Over in the private sector I make less than 6 figures and my healthcare costs me almost $500/month for my family of 3. Somehow I think the playing field is not nearly level when it comes to what unionized government workers pay, and what the rest of the world pays - esp since base compensation has increased over the years significantly.
Since government employees do not create wealth, their funding has to come from someplace (us). Coupled with gross mismanagement and underfunding of pensions - which is criminal - I just don't see how demanding more and going on strike is going to serve any long-term goals without deep reform. CPS wastes a good portion of its allocation in various ways, and it's a known fact that $/student spent is no indicator of improved performance (you can't teach stupid).
I think Rahm is a piece of shit but I don't think going on strike and demanding more more more more more at the cost of the working is a solution either. Don't teachers do their jobs for the children?
-Edison Park Resident
Rahm & his mouth pieces cry like little bitches about "the integrity" of the vote...
Let's visit this for a second shall we?
The North Shore Shit-Ass along with Buzzard, corporate contributors and outside agitators(edelman?) lobbied to enact law to MAKE IT HARDER IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE FOR TEACHERS TO CAST A VOTE TO STRIKE.
Law passes...
They proceed in their attempt to porch-fuck the teachers fully confident that they'll never garner enough votes to authorize a strike...
"Your negotiated pay raise? Fuck you, you can't have it."
...And other silly shit.
Lo and motherfucking behold, the teachers have enough of being pissed on.
Pay raises tied to a student body woefully equipped BY THEIR PARENTS TO PERFORM IN SCHOOL?
Hah... PARENTS? Teachers can't teach because these kids aren't in the mindset to learn.
Rahm knows this... He's a vile little coward and a North Shore lib-tard elitist and racist of the worst sort.
He has political cover and big brass balls to fuck over the people in the trenches but he curls up in the fetal position and whimpers like a whipped bitch (if he says anything) when it comes to having the moral courage to address the REAL REASONS FOR THE FAILURE of public education in this town...
The issue of teacher pay (for being zoo keepers and combat baby-sitters) and pension is a distraction when the root causes are political fuckery and catering to a non-contributing constituency.
You know he's just waiting to unleash on The Police when he realizes he's going to lose this battle.
We hope the teachers lift the stinking hide off his narrow ass.
Does this really matter? Isnt school out by now?
What does Rahm lose if the teachers strike? Actually he saves money because he doesn't have to pay them. And most people will blame the teachers for the strike, not Rahm. A lot of people will simply leave CPS, which again helps the City, not the teachers.
6/09/2012 12:16:00 AM
==
What will Rahm lose? A lot.
Rahm will lose his standing with the President and with the Democratic Party. A major, nasty, teacher's strike in one of the nation's largest cities, just before a tightly contested Presidential race... now, that's a big problem.
Rahm has publicly allied himself very closely with the President, so now he will alienate a LOT of potential Obama voters. There will be a lot of pressure on him from the White House and the party to get this thing under control.
As for his own political aspirations, that White House run he says he "has no plans for"... well, if you tick off the teachers, they will work tirelessly, across the country, to decapitate your dream of the biggest power-grab in the land.
Rahm and Quinn engineered that new State law to GUARANTEE the teachers could never get enough votes to go out on strike and embarrass the mayor. Guess what? The teachers are SO angry, they overcame the 75% majority hurdle. Rahm has PLENTY to be worried about at this point.
I SAY "RECALL VOTE" of our politicians, for the children.
i have much respect for the teachers. they have proven how strong they are when they need to come together to overcome an evil. good job you guys. we at cpd, and i'm sure the rest of the city workers, support you guys and will continue to fight for our futures as well.
Those who make public education policy in our city seek out a very different kind of education for their own kids.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMUboOIQT48
Raul and the teachers and the City Council and the unions are all LIBERAL DEMOCRATS and have more in common with each other than any of them do with most Police. They all need to be flailed.
If I was mayor I'd have the police, fire, and teachers well paid and be loyal to their cause. They ALL protect and help the children. So simple but whats wrong? Why ......I ain't the mayor.
Just wish the union leader did a better job of bringing out ALL the points that are important to the teachers. (Unless, of course, she is and it's the media choosing only to cover the sound bites on the pay issue.) The issue of pay is only one issue and it is not the be-all, end-all issue at that.
I actually like Lewis! This woman is not going to be intimidated by the "Big Guy".
6/09/2012 12:08:00 AM
I agree. I like her, too. When TD 9.5 mother-fucked her, she mother-fucked him right back. The woman has some stones. TD 9.5 was surprised when she came right back at him. Surprise TD 9.5!
Here is a recommendation for the teachers for their contract. If these speed cameras are really for the children then all the revenue made from them should go toward CPS. Then they can pay the teachers,fund their pension and pay for all other things to run a school. Just curious what every happened to the % of the illinois lottery funds going toward education?
Rahm had to know this was coming. You can't screw over people like he has and not expect a backlash.
Ok...so my little brother and his wife (from NY) came to visit for memorial weekend. They are both public school teachers in NY (she is in Queens and he is in lower manhattan. They laughed at CPS teachers b/c they make MORE than mthe NY public school teachers do and have shorter school days and shorter school years. Not saying that I wish anyone lose something they already have...but seriously...the teachers aren't going to get much sympathy from any administration.
Teachers--Pull the pin on those bitches!
What does Rahm lose if the teachers strike? Actually he saves money because he doesn't have to pay them. And most people will blame the teachers for the strike, not Rahm. A lot of people will simply leave CPS, which again helps the City, not the teachers
If the kids leave it doesn t help the city. In fact they lose because the amount of money going to schools depends on the # of kids in school which is why the want all the kids in school the 1st couple of days and why they never takes kids off the daily attendence roll even though they haven t been in school for weeks.
As a fierce supporter of public school teachers, I think Lewis often defeats the cause. That said, this blog - whose politics I often oppose - has helped me see that, at the very least, she deserves great credit for refusing to be rolled by Emperor Emanuel.
Though I'm a lifelong leftie, I'm also a staunch defender of cops. Whenever I can, I thank you on the street. Yesterday, hearing Mitt Romney say that the message from Wisconsin is that we need FEWER cops/teachers/firefighters, I was enraged. If you folks march in the streets, I'll be cheering you, loud and proud.
Thank you!!!
They should strike. This administration is very high on itself. Rahm is nothing but a bully on a power trip. This strike is not only salaries and benefits.....it is about the way that Emanuel is treating the PROFESSION of teachers. He will attempt to do this to the Firemen and Policemen as well. It ain't gonna work!
RE: RAHM
I love watching SUBURBANITES run around trying to act like this is their CITY they grew up in because they went to a CUBS game and saw a black guy banging on white buckets....LOL!
Yeah ya scammed everyone to get elected in with your slick moves and connections...enjoy your CITY now!
Go back to NORTHBROOK or wherever you grew up and run for mayor there...
3 bars
Rahm respects the pointy end of a knife and the fat end of a bat. He refuses to even acknowledge the teachers concerns AFTER negating their existing contract and raise. Be mindful bros, if he crushes their Union, he'll be emboldened to crush ours...
When the little bastards are out roaming the streets, 'doin' da thangs dat dey do best', is when 9-Point-5 will start catching major heat.
All it'll take is a few of our 'best and brightest' hailing from the Manley, Marshall or Mather idiot factories getting mowed down in the prime of their life when they should've been up in the school. Not that being warehoused in any of Chicago's ghetto high schools is much safer...
Around that time, expect to see the usual gaggle of miscreant 'holy' men slither forth from their holes to assemble and make demands of the striking teachers.
There'll be the requisite marches to rally a sympathetic public and angry parents, further demonizing the CTU members. Maybe some of the leftover "Occupy" douchebags will volunteer to tutor the fine, inner city pupils until resolution is found.
Stand pat, CTU.
I hate to see a teachers strike. Nobody wins thoise things.But, someone HAS to shit on 9.5, and soon If I had failed to pay into Social security for my employees, I'd be in prison. What about 40 years of legislators, govenors, aldermen and mayors who failed to pay for the retirement plans of their employees? Every one of those bastards should be facing prison in a RICO case.
Anonymous said...
And what is the FOP doing?
A couple of weeks until our contract expires and we haven't heard a peep.
They should be screaming it from the rooftops: "We have made our contributions to our pension fund--the city blatantly disregarded the law that required them to do the same."
6/09/2012 07:29:00 AM
Yet another uninformed jackass. Try getting to a FOP meeting
Ok...so my little brother and his wife (from NY) came to visit for memorial weekend. They are both public school teachers in NY (she is in Queens and he is in lower manhattan. They laughed at CPS teachers b/c they make MORE than mthe NY public school teachers do and have shorter school days and shorter school years. Not saying that I wish anyone lose something they already have...but seriously...the teachers aren't going to get much sympathy from any administration.
6/09/2012 01:27:00 PM
-
You're going to have to be more creative than this. No one believes you are anything but a shill for the Emanuel administration trying to plant seeds of dissent. Shoo. Go.
Anonymous said...
Does this really matter? Isnt school out by now?
6/09/2012 10:07:00 AM
-
Yes, it really matters.
No, school isn't out by now.
This is a strike AUTHORIZATION vote. It permits the union to determine if a strike will occur, and to determine when it will begin.
In other words, the first day of school, in September, two months before national and local elections.
When you get your next real estate tax bill and see how much goes for education you might not be so charitable toward the teacher's union. The tax payer does sympathize with the hard job of a teacher, but can only afford so much. Teachers have had a good deal for many years and when things go south they always blame the parents, never themselves. This should be a two way street.
6/09/2012 08:31:00 AM
-
Rahm's staff is hard at work posting disinformation here on SCC's blog, trying to 'divide and conquer'.
Dear scc:
To Edison Park Resident
What in the hell are you talking about? The teachers shouldn't ask for anything more in their contract because they are government workers and do their jobs for the children? What color crack are you smoking?
The teachers are tax paying citizens, therefore, they are paying their own salary, just like all government workers. Just because our boss is the government, doesn't mean that we are somehow less than others who are not. The benefits that goverment workers receive are part of their salary package.
Evidentially you don't understand how contract negotations work. I will give you a short lesson. Boss wants to take away what you have already contracted for years ago, so the worker has to ask for more in order to hopefully keep what they already have. A measley raise of a couple to a few percent will hopefully cover the cost of living that will be increasing over the period of the contract.
And how are you going to compare teachers, or firemen, paramedics, or police to the private workforce? The only comparasion might be with private schools, but you still can't compare, they are apples and oranges. If you are going to compare, it has to be with a comparable job in the same field. You need to learn a little about how a company or government, any employer, has to decide how their employees are paid. Along with it all comes with the amount of liability the worker carries, or the compensable factors. Bridge workers are highly paid because the liability factor is high. Doctors are also paid highly because of the education they receive,along with the amount of responsibility they carry. The amount of responsibility for a teacher, paramedic, fireman or policeman is pretty high. So the salary is based on a lot of things-these jobs are not comparable to private work, otherwise pay me like the CEO of Chase or Apple. I will gladly give up my raise for the rest of my life.
CPS teacher here. System is full of affirmative action hires who cannot write, spell or do basic math. Face it we are screwed as long as race is a factor who gets hired or fired !
-Edison Park Resident
6/09/2012 09:56:00 Am
You don’t see a problem with going from $50 to $960 for health insurance??? And since you are using your healthcare costs as a norm (hey, why should anyone have it better than you right?), how angry would you be if your employer increased yours by $460. Why should he have to pay for your health care??
Try to be more informed when you decide to complain about somebody elses situation. Just to skim a couple major issues (and there are many more, stop just watching the news and educate yourself rather than just believing whats fed to you). They were promised a 4% raise that was in their contract. That was taken away from them (your not outraged by that, but you would probably be if they just arbitrarily added 4% to their salary without approval by the city right?) The city attempted to circumvent their union and their contract by trying to implement a longer work day in some schools and are still trying to get that passed. That longer work day comes out to the teachers having to work 20% more than they currently do. The city offered something ridiculous like a 2% raise over a couple years and claim it is bargaining in good faith. A good faith bargaining would START with at least the 20% pay raise for the extra time and should even include the 4% contractual raise that they are owed.
See how quick you cry foul if your employer told you that you had to work an extra 20% and take a 2% pay cut on top of it..
And they are not going on strike, the vote gives the union the authority to call a strike if the city continues to push their anti-union agenda and insulting offers. They are so far apart (2% city, 24%+ union) that the hope is that the solidarity of the union and putting the city on notice of a possible strike will actually lead to good faith bargaining. If it doesn’t, they are prepared to act.
And lose the If I don’t have it than why should they attitude, get another job if your unhappy with yours or your lack of union representation. "government employees" as you put it, have been looked down on for years by other blue collar workers when the economy was doing good. A big part of taking those jobs (along with enjoying doing them) was the security offered (unions are part of that security along with the contracts they negotiate). Now that the economy is the way it is, private sector employees look to those securities and feel that they should be taken away because they don’t have them.
And to answer your last question of Don't teachers do their jobs for the children?
No, they do their jobs because this society uses a money based system. But they did choose their careers because they (for the most part) enjoy teaching and it can be a noble and productive job. Rahm uses that for the children crap to get some revenue devices installed and to pull at the heart strings of the sheeple that than look at the teachers with disgust and say "how dare they... tsk ..tsk..". When the sheeple should wake up, stop believing everything the liberal media spins their way, and look to their elected officials with all the nonsense they pull and say "HOW DARE THEY!!".
(btw, NOT a teacher).
When you get your next real estate tax bill and see how much goes for education you might not be so charitable toward the teacher's union. The tax payer does sympathize with the hard job of a teacher, but can only afford so much. Teachers have had a good deal for many years and when things go south they always blame the parents, never themselves. This should be a two way street.
6/09/2012 08:31:00 AM
Your either a Rahm staffer troll or a corporate schill.
I heard rahm was actulaay trying to change the law so teachers could Not strike! That's why he didn't want the strike vote now. You are also forgetting besides a longer day, teachers will loose two holidays days and work an extra 10 days. Principal don't have to live in the city. Teachers do. Principals make too much. Free breakfast, lunch ect for those po lil children.
A yes for OT and Comp time for NATO
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-chicago-police-fop-nato-0609-20120610,0,1242758.story
Count on the machine controlled media to demonize and vilify the teachers.
Sorry CPD and CPS.
See... your political apparatus gave your money to Sears, Motorola, the CME Group, etc... as corporate tax breaks under the illusion of saving jobs. Funny when you think about it especially if you buy into all the political B.S..
I mean this being a "World Class City" and all -- that we can't find anything that a corporation values to entice them to stay here besides a tax break, a grant, or some other taxpayer funded corporate welfare.
What's so "World Class" about us, Chicago?
Where's all our "World Class" Stuff at?
These so-called "World Class" amenities whatever they are seem to be worthless in the eyes of the corporations. So what does it mean to be called "World Class" then? Comes off as an MBA marketing line of B.S. to me.
Nevertheless now the political apparatus gets to play victim as they pit the tapped out taxpayers against the greedy CPD and CPS union workers as the politicians snicker.
Now the political apparatus gets to present themselves as hero's that are running to the rescue to save you as they rape you.
Your money went to the corporations and don't you forget it.
The corporations are running the show. The corporations funded all these political campaigns and these politicians will do what the corporations tell them to do PERIOD!
In the private sector they raided our social security and now they are coming for the private pensions so welcome to the club. America isn't fed up enough yet but it's getting there.
Anonymous said...
Ok...so my little brother and his wife (from NY) came to visit for memorial weekend. They are both public school teachers in NY (she is in Queens and he is in lower manhattan. They laughed at CPS teachers b/c they make MORE than mthe NY public school teachers do and have shorter school days and shorter school years. Not saying that I wish anyone lose something they already have...but seriously...the teachers aren't going to get much sympathy from any administration.
6/09/2012 01:27:00 PM
What is your point? When the time comes for CPD to negiotate, should we start comparing CPD to cities that have a lower salary? Should CPD take a lower salary, less benefits for more money? Teachers are fighting for the contract they negiotated and for their future. I wonder what you will say when Rahm lays out the cuts in salary, benefits and other reductions for CPD? At least the teachewrs have the balls to fight. No wonder why CPD is not respected. Divide and conquer. I do not care about New York you asshat.
And how much did the city really loose during NATO? What about missed parking revenue which the city has to pay that company? Metra posted a major loss also from NATO? Let's keep going down the line and make a list I'm sure it's Very interesting. And again, the tax payers will be holding the bag.
CPS wastes a good portion of its allocation in various ways, and it's a known fact that $/student spent is no indicator of improved performance (you can't teach stupid).
I think Rahm is a piece of shit but I don't think going on strike and demanding more more more more more at the cost of the working is a solution either. Don't teachers do their jobs for the children?
-Edison Park Resident
-----------------------------------
And a whopping FU to you! You clearly state that CPS wastes money in various ways! They squandered government pension contributions for years! We ask for more to get a fair wage, you need to aim high to get what you need! Ever bought a car?! 6 years ago you would not Have wanted a CPD,CFD,or CPS job. Beneath you right, now why do we seem like jerk offs to you? Your the one with sour grapes, don't piss on my tree dick wad! Your an EP resident? Your also probably mad because you bought your home at peak price in 06. Or 07, right? That's what your mad at, vent somewhere else! Chicago wastes money on corruption, and workers are at fault. Great point, you a cps graduate or a sub urban yuppy that moved to ep to make yourself sound cool when you talk to your friends about how you live in chicago?
put lewis in a boxing ring with the ballerina and my money is on lewis
Thank God that 2 faced boss w/CPS Harnedy is gone. He would have made our lives miserable at school. His ex daughter in law received summer school every year so she could contribute as much $$$$ as possible to his kid & grandchild. Using his 2 faced position to make sure his Family was taken care of.
He gone
Karen Lewis will prove that she has more guts and courage then Little Mikey Shields.
And a whopping FU to you! You clearly state that CPS wastes money in various ways! They squandered government pension contributions for years! We ask for more to get a fair wage, you need to aim high to get what you need! Ever bought a car?! 6 years ago you would not Have wanted a CPD,CFD,or CPS job. Beneath you right, now why do we seem like jerk offs to you? Your the one with sour grapes, don't piss on my tree dick wad! Your an EP resident? Your also probably mad because you bought your home at peak price in 06. Or 07, right? That's what your mad at, vent somewhere else! Chicago wastes money on corruption, and workers are at fault. Great point, you a cps graduate or a sub urban yuppy that moved to ep to make yourself sound cool when you talk to your friends about how you live in chicago?
6/09/2012 11:11:00 PM
No, I grew up here, and I still live here, although not for long. I've had it with being nickeled and dimed to death, so I will gladly leave and take my productivity and resulting taxes with me.
I suppose I don't understand the Union mentality. It's all about "getting what's mine." All those union workers in Detroit were worried about getting what was theirs too. In the 1950's, Detroit was the center of art and design and culture in America. No one bought foreign cars. Take a look at it now; they can't even afford to keep the lights on.
I never advocated that teachers should get stiffed, my point was that the scale should be re-evaluated. My mother-in-law's healthcare didn't jump from $50 to $960. She became UNEMPLOYED, and therefore the part the taxpayer usually kicked in, went away. Should the taxpayer be funding over 90% of healthcare benefits?
People flocked to union jobs back in the day for the security. The security in knowing you would get paid decently and have a nice retirement. NOT, make a superb wage AND have cadillac healthcare, AND a pension you contribute a small sum to.
Do I think teachers deserve a raise? Hell yes - the ones that can pair their performance to their reward. As a private-sector employee, inflation can go up 10% but if I'm not meeting my performance goals..I don't get shit. Union workers get a raise agreed upon in a contract so long as the sun sets another day, regardless of their work ethic, performance, or diligence. What's the incentive to achieve if you are guaranteed a reward?
Again, I'd like to know what a total benefits package includes for a teacher (assuming the government doesn't break its own laws and not fund pensions). what does ONE teacher cost the government in salary, PTO, healthcare, retirement, and other benefits?
I'm not comparing teachers to police (you seemed to have missed that). CPS performance has been on the decline forever, attributable to what? It's not like you guys that are undermanned..there are PLENTY of useless workers in CPS doing nothing.
By your contention, there is nothing to drive efficiency. When you're talking about a job that doesn't create wealth, this is a huge problem (I've owned businesses, have you?).
-Edison Park Resident
I have this image I can't shake.
Every time I see Brizzard on TV speaking in that soft tone island accent, spewing the same old rhetoric about his teaching backround and his commitment to the children I picture the Rahmfather overhead pulling the strings as a master puppetier.
Just a very high priced out of town shill.
What is your point? When the time comes for CPD to negiotate, should we start comparing CPD to cities that have a lower salary? Should CPD take a lower salary, less benefits for more money? Teachers are fighting for the contract they negiotated and for their future. I wonder what you will say when Rahm lays out the cuts in salary, benefits and other reductions for CPD? At least the teachewrs have the balls to fight. No wonder why CPD is not respected. Divide and conquer. I do not care about New York you asshat.
6/09/2012 10:01:00 PM
The point the writer was trying to make, I think, is that when in arbitration, the salaries and benefits of your counterparts in comparable cites does matter. And, I think he is correct. If a NY teacher works longer hours and more days a year and makes less money, then where is the grounds for CPS teachers to strike? Comparable wages is a valid arguement.You don't like this statement so you name call. Very adult of you
Expect a dramatic increase in test scores.
I agree. I like her, too. When TD 9.5 mother-fucked her, she mother-fucked him right back. The woman has some stones. TD 9.5 was surprised when she came right back at him. Surprise TD 9.5!
6/09/2012 01:03:00 PM
Too bad she didn't slap the little gutter mouthed punk in his dainty little face.
A Union Leader w/a pair, even though she didnt come equipped w/ one. Refreshing....
To
-Edison Park Resident and new york and friends.
The CPD performance is on the decline if you look at crime stats outside of Compstat for reasons ccompletely out of their control.
Let me tell you about the private sector- if I make widgets, the widget is the same way on Monday morning as "I" left it on Friday night period. No outside influence on "My" performance. Merit based pay incentive appreciated here, hell yes! Drive performance!
Let me tell you how this works in our world- johnny is begining to understand how to write and support a thesis statment, this takes a week. He goes home, picks up brother/sister after school. No supervision or homework done. No practice with this skill turned in. Call home mom fakes concern and does nothing. He. He is an average student that realizes he can get away with the bare minimum. Hetakes an inch and stretches it to a foot. Grades begin to drop. I offer to stay after school with him at "his" convience, he doesn't show for whatever reason time and time again. Call home mom fakes interest, does nothing (no dad at Home). This happens every 5 weeks. Johnny then comes 2 days prior to report card grade entry begging for make up work/extra credit. From here one of two choices:
1. Tell him ok, appease his lazyness and begin reenforcing bad habbits.
2. Fail him in hopes he learns his lesson and get moms attention. I now have moms attention and the principals- I am forced to give him make up work and pass him because principal failure rate will look bad downtown, johnny's F will (if the union doesn't fight now to block this) will be tied to my evaluation which hinders my career because I care enough to try and make a change in his life and not be a shit bag teacher. Multiply this scenario 10 times for each class of 30-35(class size too high as union is fighting to try and lower it, and if teachers do not have a shortage of man-power, it is grossly mis managed by CPS. Right now every school recieves 1 teacher/position for every 30 students) 5 classes per teacher. Johnny graduates to show good numbers for CPS, maybe goes to school and becomes motivated in college, or drops out. Ill give him a 25 percent chance of graduating college assuming mom doesn't spend his loan money on her financial problems forcing him out of college. He goes to you and wants a job. He fools you and is unproductive. You fire him, forcing him on unemployment (tax money) he milks the system and is in debt.
He then goes and robs a store, police grab him and he is not put in jail due to over crowding. He is back on the streets and is the cops problem now.
YOU sir, turn around and blame the police and the teachers for being greedy union workers. I ask you now EP resident, how do our jobs not contribute to wealth!!! Our jobs require us to lower standards of society because of a business model that can not nor ever work in the public sector when dealing with humans and not widgets. Do you research too, before you fire back. With charter school data- I don't want to here that manipulation of numbers either-city still funds charters with public coin.
In regards to NYC argument- they get less tell them to fight for more and don't just grab their ankles. Brizard came from there and he fucked up rochester which is a small district. As a business owner, would you hire him to run the second largest district in the nation? No one starts a business with intent to fail, apparently rahm didn't get that message.
CTU: Nearly 90% vote to authorize strike
Updated 30 minutes ago
The Chicago Teachers Union says nearly 90 percent of it members have voted to authorize a strike, far more than the required 75 percent.
----------------------------------
Do you realize how difficult it is to get a group of 90% to agree on anything? Teachers must be really P-O'ed
Good luck CTU in your fight against the fascist machine that serves the corporations. Hang tough! It's for the kids.
Why work and pay taxes at all?
If we cannot earn a living wage and related benefits that provide for us now and in our future retirement years what's the purpose of work?
Even at the wages that seem above average today regardless of how much you scrimp and save you will not be able to fund your own healthcare once you leave the workplace.
Pre 1999 the feeling among many workers was that if you could just save one million dollars that you would be set for life living off the interest and not touching the principal.
Back then you could put money into US treasuries and get 5~6% interest and place a small portion of your savings into more risky investments and expect and 8% return on your investments. That's $80K a year on a million dollar investment!
Today US treasuries are 1.6% thanks to government debasing our money with their "quantitative easing" krap. Can anyone live off of $16K/year? get real.
This economy is so eff-d up.
Look at Germany today.
Germany's two year bond yields are being sold with 0.0% interest. People are buying these bonds saying "okay we don't care if we make ANY money at all over the next two years. If you can just hold our money for us and give it back to us two years later we're okay with that"
In the USA currently 10 year treasuries offer 01.6% interest rate of return and guess what? The inflation rate is running above 3%!!
You put your money into 10 year treasuries for safety and your losing money. You're not being compensated for the inflation rate and your buying power is being diminished.
So what's left?
Ya gonna put your money into a rigged stock market? A market where politicians pick and choose the winners awarding tax breaks, grants, and special bail outs?
Capitalism has turned into one giant Ponzi scam.
You pour over company stock literature, investment reports, do all your homework and then determine that: this bank, this airline, this automaker, this electronic gizmo maker is gonna fail and choose their competitor that is doing things the right way instead thinking you have a guaranteed winner. Those other outfits are surely head to bankruptcy right?
Ha..then the government politicians come in with the bailouts. Instead of your investment benefiting from the failure of it's competitor the government bailed them out making all the rules meaningless.
This system is corrupt from the top down. A general strike is needed as money is the only thing that these people understand. Why work at the WalMart jobs if the wages don't provide for our future? Social Security isn't going to be there. Pension healthcare is not going to be there. Give it up.
YOU sir, turn around and blame the police and the teachers for being greedy union workers. I ask you now EP resident, how do our jobs not contribute to wealth!!! Our jobs require us to lower standards of society because of a business model that can not nor ever work in the public sector when dealing with humans and not widgets. Do you research too, before you fire back. With charter school data- I don't want to here that manipulation of numbers either-city still funds charters with public coin.
***
Thank you for your insight. I never denied that this is a problem. The question becomes how do you rate the performance of teachers without tying them to the failure of said societal dregs? I don't have that answer. If it can't be test scores, what can it be?
It seems to me the larger problem is the 300lb elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about - personal responsibility (taught at home) escapes a certain segment of the population, and the "solution" is to support it indirectly through social handouts and, like you said, through a system bent on rewarding their poor behavior.
Pretend, however, that the performance scale was real and unbiased - or that it was like it is now. How do you determine the amount of a raise? Union workers are getting 5% when inflation is 3+% and the private sector is lucky to get even 3%. How do you even determine base salary and compensation? Since you seem to have a deeper understanding of the school system than I do, pray tell - what DOES a teacher make in base salary and bennies, including retirement?
It's not a wealth creating job because no tangible value is added. In theory, if everyone a teacher educated went on to greatness, they'd be indirect creators of wealth through the taxes garnered from their ex-students' productivity. However CPS is an abysmal failure. From a purely economic point of view, teachers and other public servants are a wealth drain because wealth is created only in the private sector. Government is not in the business to turn profits - but to govern (how it should be, anyway). I work at a mfg company where we add value to widgets that people buy for a margin above what it costs us in raw materials. My paycheck is taxed and city workers get paid from a portion of that.
City workers also get taxed on their paychecks, which makes no sense (you are routing money back to the entity that paid you, minus administration costs, which is inefficient), but at the end of the day the value you add is intangible. The police may have kept some guy from killing me last night (although CCW would place that duty on me, where it belongs), but there's no way to quantify that value and establish a scale of pay.
What is the justification for what union workers receive, if there's no way to quantify this value?
Also...what happened, specifically with City jobs, before unionization? Were working conditions that poor, and if so - what led people to these jobs initially?
-Edison Park resident
First-thank you scc for posting here even though the thread is getting older.
To Edison Park:
When it comes to the money teachers union is asking for, it is a small part of the big picture. The media which is in the city's pocket keeps using the 30percent to make us look greedy. The city offered 2percent. That is a slap because as you state inflation is about 3. This is just a counter offer equally absurd and this will probably be resolved through the arbitration.
The average teacher makes about 55 total w benifits, but only acctually clears about 40ish after taxes. Police pay more into the pension fund than teachers because of the way they can collect after 20years. We have to wait to collect. The real issue is that illinois has been using pension money as their personal piggy bank.
Asking for this much in a raise is a way to expose the curruption.
In 2010, karen lewis was more than willing to make conssesions. When she asked to see the city books and budget to be reviewed by union lawyers and would then negotiate. The city refused to show them. She then filed to a feedom of info act to get them which should not be necessary, she is still waiting.
The truth is the city does not know how much money it handles because of all the corruption. They refuse to show even though they are required to.
The real issue here is that working conditions will change for the worse without this union. Because the issue is lack of personal responsibility, the city wants to tie score to evaluation system and our pay to merit based. Ask any teacher you know how much they spend out of pocket per year on their classrooms. You maybe supprised.
The major issue the union has is the city lies to its employees and the public and it is all coming to a head. (Crime is down too don't you know). This strike vote is matter of principle over money.
This city as well as this nation is becoming very orwellian in nature. Look at all the press that is false or biased. Keep people pumped with rhetoric and iphones and facebook and government can do what it wants. There is no transparency and this strike is about trying to make the city wake up to its governemt and stand up.
The issue of money seems to be the red button that stirs tension. If there discussions such as this, it is working and at least getting city wide attention.
We would absolutely work with budget issues as a union, but the city and state need to acknowledge their fault in this pension crisis!
Isn't it funny that all this "private funding" was given for the olympic bid we lost. Then after we lost it the city then cried poor! I'm willing to bet pension money funded that. We were supposed to take on millions of dollars to revamp grant park. Btw, rahm found 250million to give to malcom X for renovations. Funny how we find money when he wants to!
Post a Comment
<< Home