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At the Socialism 2025, Chicago Teachers Union president Stacy Davis Gates delivered a speech that mocked the Fourth of July and promoted militant activism—raising real questions about her focus as an education leader. “Fireworks? Ain’t no damn America.” “You build a militancy… if it has to go down, it goes down. You call the strike.” "So the reimagination of this place that we are trying to save—but kinda not, because we ain’t out here saving it."
With $162 billion more from taxpayers, couldn’t you deliver a few bond upgrades, too
A largely unasked question is becoming glaring: Is Illinois doing all it should to use artificial intelligence to make government cost less and work better? So far, the evidence says no.
Everybody needs a side hustle these days, and mine is Ukraine, where I am now.
Summary and audio linked here.
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Audio and summary
Does “impossible to fix” mean we have to keep it? Just because the constitution says we have to educate kids? Just because somebody said it’s a “human right?”. Constitutions are aspirational. Few oppose peace on earth or even goodwill toward ” men” but let’s get real. Chicago isn’t Camelot and Gates isn’t Guinevere. Much of the highbrow legal talk is a knife at the OK Corral.
“Just because the constitution says we have to educate kids? Just because somebody said it’s a “human right?” Somebody??? Those would be called voters. They are the ones that wanted that added to the constitution. No you don’t have to keep it. You just need to convince enough people to change the constitution and remove the education requirement from the constitution. I’m sure removing K-12 education will be quite popular. You should have no problem getting people to agree with you. While we are at it, should we really allow people to own guns just because “somebody” said it’s a… Read more »
Constitution: “The State shall provide for an efficient system of high quality public educational institutions and services. Education in public schools through the secondary level shall be free. There may be such other free education as the General Assembly provides by law.” NOT HAPPENING IN CHICAGO & ELSEWHERE. LIKEWISE, NOT MY PROBLEM. Human right: adopted by the United Nations as part of its “wish” list; e.g. water availability is part of the UN’s long list of fantasies. Probably not self-enforcing within the USA absent legislation or constitutional adoption. NOT LIKELY EVER TO HAPPEN — CHICAGO WON’T EVEN TRY TO COLLECT… Read more »
Give her the middle finger salute.
Nothing like a supposedly educated person sounding like an illiterate fool who hates their country.
America needs to get tough on its dissidents.
America has never yet crossed the Rubicon on that issue. Let’s not go there. Democracy will die!
Argue all you want whether or not teacher unions have a right to collective bargain for implementation of their broad socialist economic agenda. Or whether they have the right to strike if their demands are not met.
Want to see support for progressive politicians evaporate? Back radical teacher unions who keep kids out of school to try to force their radical agenda. I doubt even the black robes could save them if they tried such a stunt.
Spot on. The legal stuff I have been arguing about is secondary compared to your point.
She must have graduated from CPS since her grammar is excellent. Ain’t that right … or is it … Isn’t that, right? Must be an illiterate Chicago thing.
Perhaps she should move to New York City and help Mamdani.
This is sad. The education business in Chicago including CPS and CTU is so distracted with this sort of ridiculous political nonsense, among other things, they fail miserably to teach children how to read, write, add & subtract and understand the country they live in…which (along with their parents) is the actual point of their existence.
What an awful woman. She is paid well, lives in a beautiful home her son attends a private school and she hates America. If there’s anyone that should not be involved in educating our children, it’s her. The membership of the CTU should demand she be removed.
The power has gone to her head. But I think it will come back and bite her in the long run.
Way back in the early 1960’s when the Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev visited the United States he remarked that a war with the United States would not be necessary since the defeat and fall of America will happen from within. 60 years ago and it seems on many fronts that this prediction is gaining strength especially when you have a very influential group like teachers shaping and mounding the minds of school children at an early age to not believe in America with the propaganda Gates is spouting. What disgusting and evil people she along with many of the CTU… Read more »
Have any of these nut jobs EVER worked in private sector in the world of supply & demand, tried run a business, tried to balance a spreadsheet or change a tire? I’m sure 99% of them have spent their “working careers” if they ever had one as students, in gov, in the universities, at non-profit NGO’s or living off daddy.
Are any of my tax $ going to these wacko’s in the form of JBs +$1 bill NGO grants handouts? (here list from site of supporting “organizations”, https://socialismconference.org/endorsing-organizations/)
Interesting CTU/Stacy is a guest speaker and it’s my understanding CTU has been regular speakers at this socialist conference for years but they choose not to list themselves on sites “endorsing organizations” page?…of course no other major union or political group are listed either and I’m sure having CTU/Stacy as speaker is their biggest star.
CTU’s participation in a Marxist conference all the way back in 2012 was one of the first things I wrote about here. https://wirepoints.org/just-how-far-out-in-left-field-do-some-chicago-teachers-play/
who knows, maybe Stacy & crew have side hustles as paid guest speakers at wack-job conferences and college campuses on top of their astronomical salaries ….wouldn’t that be something!!
(isn’t that what Bernnie, AOC, etc do?)
The fact that the parasitic vermin of CTU elect this hateful harpy to represent them tells you everything that you need to know about CTU. Bust this union now. Fire them all.
Nope. This union along with other public unions are protected by the constitution. You won’t be firing anyone.
PPF, that’s for sure your most irresponsible and false comment yet. There are countless ways that either the city or the state could incinerate the CTU. I am guessing you are making an oblique and false reference to Amendment 1, that pretty much lets any group of employees collectively ask for whatever they want. That means nothing in the face of myriad ways the despicable CTU could be stripped of power. Please, PPF and all others who think like him, recognize the evil of CTU and how easily it could be stopped.
Too funny Mark. I point out the truth and you say it’s irresponsible. You don’t get to dissolve the CTU because they have different views than you. Yet the comment below calls for the execution of people with different political views and you don’t say a word. Truly shows you don’t have the ability to recognize evil. I don’t agree with the CTU or their political views but they have a right to say things even if I’m offended or I don’t like their leader. This was your most idiotic comment to date Mark. Please, readers like Mark, recognize that… Read more »
I believe to date, despite +$700 mill deficit, an entire 7 non-school assigned CTU staff out of 30,000 have been laid-off and CTU’s fighting. No wonder Stacy’s the idol of this wacko conference, where else in America is this possible?
What’s your point? You just made the case as to why Stacy is an effective union leader and why she was reelected. Even if someone doesn’t agree with her political views, they are probably quite pleased with her performance.
We don’t want to dissolve them because they have different views. We want to dissolve them because they are self proclaimed radical revolutionaries who believe they can and should enlist our children in their goal of destroying America. And they expect us to pay them for doing it.
But keep trying to sell the “they just have different views” line. I’ll file it along with all of your other fairy tales. You’re starting to rival the Brothers Grimm.
You don’t get to dissolve them because they have different views. Your version of them “destroying America” is just that, your version. While I think capitalism is superior to socialism, I don’t think capitalism wins by banning opposing views. They see capitalism as “evil”. When they are in power should we expect them to ban groups that promote capitalism? You can play semantics and use your pretzel logic all you want but the CTU has a right to represent its members. Regardless what Mark tells you, the city or the State does not have the power to ban them. People… Read more »
PPF, you know that I know that we couldn’t do it based on their speech or some other protected conduct. If we wanted to be rid of them, we would simply unleash a barrage of things such as stripping them of strike rights, reforming the bargaining and arbitration process, putting new people on the boards of both the schools and the pensions, bipartisan opposition to all candidates they support, eliminating their pension subsidies, forcing strict attendance and work hours and launching a mass shaming process. Better yet, as I have long proposed, reconstitute the whole school district by starting a… Read more »
Where on Earth are you going to find all those “good teachers” willing to work in some of Chicago’s more crime ridden areas at Wirepoints fans’ wages? If that’s not enough to consider a great many here clearly think the vast majority of CPS teachers need to be replaced, meaning you’d need to find well over 10,000 new “good teachers” all well vetted in short order. Clearly the number of new hires suggests that’s not a reasonable expectation. Such things take YEARS to be done well with anything even remotely akin to having such high expectations. Beyond all that, shutting… Read more »
It’s a fantasy they are promoting that’s not grounded in the law or political reality. I think this represents their frustration at the situation and causes people to promote ridiculous and non-workable ideas. The current leaders are fine with things the way they are and the opposition isn’t at all realistic. Unfortunately, that means more of the same.
There are not all that many “good teachers” who are breaking down the doorways of CTU asking to be horse whipped into the expectations usually stated here. Now, the number of such applicants for many suburban district jobs is another matter, isn’t it? Geez, I wonder why! Could the jobs there be that much more rewarding all around in terms of housing, a sense of personal and family safety as well as professional-growth happiness and financial stability? None of that really matters to “good teachers,” does, it? Surely they can think beyond such personal terms, or can they?
Not all CTU members are bad teachers, even if their politics are wrong. Karen Lewis was often said to be an outstanding chemistry teacher, for example. Still, your point is fair that the bad ones could not be fully replaced overnight. But some could, and the rest could be done over time.
Sure, but it will take multiple years worth of time as I mentioned. Otherwise you’re simply presuming the new hire who walked through the door minutes ago is automatically better. Not the best kind of “vetting.”
Interesting, per recent IPI article, only 37% voted for Stacy (https://www.illinoispolicy.org/just-37-of-chicago-teachers-union-members-voted-for-stacy-davis-gates/)..but I’m sure they’re all happy with the giant contract $$wins$$.
This classic argument. 58% of the CTU members voted and out of those that voted, 64% voted for Stacy. The people that choose not to vote are willing to allow those that do more of a voting share. They are in essence stating that it doesn’t matter who is elected and should be happy either way.
Using your logic, only 20.8% of the union members voted for someone other than Stacy. WOW!!! What a mandate.
You can count the good teachers on one hand and have fingers left over when you’re done. Most do not show up any more than the minimum number of days that they have to. CTU has destroyed education in the CPS.
Which can first, the chicken or the egg? Are CPS teachers in general bad by their personal “nature” or were they made bad by their working environment?
The good teachers are welcome to stay, and I expect many would even if the union were no longer involved.
The ones who want to play Che Guevara should find more suitable employment for their limited talents.
That’s now what you jumped in and stated. I made a comment to TPGs spam post that he makes every so often about busting the union and firing all teachers. He based it on what Stacy had said. You know you can’t do that and when I made the comment to such you decided to label my comment irresponsible while stating nothing about those on this thread that want to execute socialists. Let’s go through some of you fantasy wish list despite the fact it would have zero political support. “we would simply unleash a barrage of things such as… Read more »
Man, you are really shoveling it now. There is no constitutional right for them to strike in Amendment 1 or anywhere else. Their rights, other than the right to collectively bargain, are statutory and can be changed by statute. And if anybody thinks the IL courts or contracts would be an impediment, as you do, authorize a Chapter 9 bankruptcy for the school district, as I have long called for. That would wipe out all concerns. As for their collective bargaining rights, good luck using them effectively if the state seriously threatens to cut off all funding and uses that… Read more »
They have a statutory right to strike according to Illinois Labor Laws. Why are you refusing to admit to this fact? It’s ridiculous because it is easily researched and we also know it’s allowed because we have witnessed strikes. The right to strike is widely considered part of the collective bargaining process. Now if you or the state want to attempt to change this language you can expect the unions to fight that attempt based on Amendment 1. “Employees shall have the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of… Read more »
The statutory right to strike can be changed by statute. Your claim that Amendment 1, which allows any group to collectively bargain for anything, means they can likewise strike for anything. That’s absurd. If you were right it would mean that cops and firefighters could strike in IL. They can’t. And Chapter 9 most certainly would solve any issue that arose, particularly on contracts, including labor contracts, which can be assumed or rejected. That’s a primary reason why public unions don’t like Chapter 9. If Springfield wanted to fix things its message to CTU would be simple: “You do what… Read more »
Well, DJT is one such a guy who loves that approach as does every other autocrat most likely. Most everybody loves a strong leader—until they don’t! That’s usually the point where that strong leader starts seeing some of his former fans as his new targets for retribution when he finds their commonality personally repulsive. It happens every time at some point.
“Amendment 1 would forever block laws that “interfere with, negate or diminish” public union collective bargaining rights, meaning lawmakers wouldn’t be able to pass labor reforms that could lower the cost of government and cut Illinoisans’ property tax bills. Even if lawmakers try, count on unions to tie up anything they don’t like in the courts. No state in the country bans lawmakers from passing labor law reforms like Amendment 1 would.” Source – Wirepoints special coverage of Amendment 1 I’m curious Mark, would you classify removing teachers ability to strike as “labor reform”? More importantly, do you think the courts… Read more »
The point behind the language you quote is that limitations on what can be subject to collective bargaining were common before Amendment 1. That’s what public unions hated and why they pushed for Amendment 1, which took away any such past or future limitations. That’s all the quoted language was meant to mean, and it sure has heck does not mean that Springfield couldn’t take the actions I suggested.
Good back-n-forth arguing Mark & PPF! I’m still confused about the limitations of Amendment 1. But bigger picture, with regard to CTU & Amendment 1, CTU is now negotiating on what Stacy calls “for the common good” issues that may not even involve CTU members. That’s what her whole Socialist Conference shtick was about as usual. What are the collective bargaining limitations with regard to “for the common good” issues under Amendment 1 would seem a fascinating topic? I believe Amendment 1 only allows them bargaining protections for “for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to… Read more »
But that “economic welfare” provision is very broad, and apparently not tied to the workplace. You can assume CTU will assert that that allows for all their socialist goals. However, again, that does not mean they have a constitutional right to strike over that.
Yes, Springfield could take those fantasy actions of yours but as you noted during all your amendment 1 coverage, the unions will fight that. You still haven’t answered the main part of my question. Do you think that the courts will believe that removing the unions ability to strike would be a diminishment of their collective bargaining rights? While there is no language specifying a constitutional right to strike, there is clear language around collective bargaining. The courts in past cases have tied these two items together as striking is a tool of collective bargaining. Sure there are safety exceptions,… Read more »
I thought I’ve been clear about that but let me try again: I think it’s extremely unlikely that any court would rule that restrictions on right to strike would constitute a violation of the right to collective bargaining. In other words, the legislature remains free to set restrictions on right to strike just as it has always done. You are trying to claim that the right to collectively bargain includes the right to strike. CTU and others might try to take your side and I know our courts rule politically in favor of public unions, but that argument plainly isn’t… Read more »
While I don’t agree that the courts will take that position I appreciate that you clarified.
The courts have associated striking as part of the collective bargaining process. Your confidence in the Illinois courts not taking this position is noted. I’m sure the ambiguity on this matter will favor your position. Although, I’m guessing we never find out.
So we’ll never find out if the courts would agree the Constitution gives unions the right to use kids as pawns in fomenting the Teacher’s Revolution?
The State leaders would just have to declare the Teachers “essential employees” like the police and firemen.
I agree, there’s absolutely no political will to change anything. Most of the remedies Mark lists would involve legislative action to change existing legislation in Springfield. Big takeaway, the scourge of the CTU pseudo-socialist/ “new machine” con is only made possible by 40ys of “old machine” / pay-to-play Madigan rubber stamp in which so much of these public sector friendly legislation was passed. The machine has moved on from collecting dues to “Friend of Madigan” in exchange for their rubber stamp. Now you just send in your dues to “Friends of Welsh”, “Friends of Harmon”, etc. CTU’s sending their dues… Read more »
Agree Mark. Close it. Start again. Give parents the right to choose where their child goes to school and their tax dollars are spent. Re-imagine the majority of CPS into what it really is, daycare/food service/transportation. Or better yet…just leave it closed.
They are free to choose just not get it paid for by Illinois taxpayers.
You are right….They are free to choose and many do make a different choice. The next step is make it fair and allow those parents who have made a different choice, to direct their tax dollars elsewhere.
That’s a long way from the right to negotiate pay and benefits.
How so? Are unions limited in their speech about other issues that don’t revolve around pay and benefits? If they speak outside those issues does that give you the right to ban and fire all of the members? I’m failing to see you point in the context of the discussion.
The teacher union only negotiates for better pay and benefits for its members!
What? The head of the union advocates for radical socialist revolution?
We will lose our democracy if we don’t allow radical leftists to indoctrinate our children! Democracy is at stake!
So what? She is allowed to advocate for anything she likes in our great free country. Just because you don’t like what she says or her political ideas doesn’t mean you get to ban her union or the members of the union. You believing you are saving democracy is irrelevant. You sound just as unhinged as leftist that claimed we will lose democracy if Trump was elected.
Ms Davis Gates is more than welcome to shout her views from the rooftops. She can join AOC and Bernie on their silly No Oligarchs tour if that’s what she wants. The voters may have approved a labor union for teachers, and given them the right to collectively bargain their contracts. Nobody authorized a union of radical leftists to use their position in the classroom to advocate for socialist revolution. You are unhinged if you believe that is what the voters wanted, and our freedom is threatened if they are not allowed to do so. If Stacy Davis Gates and… Read more »
“Nobody authorized a union of radical leftists to use their position in the classroom to advocate for socialist revolution.” I never stated that. I stated they are allowed to express their views and they can’t be banned because of it. You are trying to move the goal posts into a different conversation that never took place. For a refresher, this is my original statement. Nope. This union along with other public unions are protected by the constitution. You won’t be firing anyone. That is and was a completely true statement. It doesn’t matter if they are socialists or LGBTQ activists.… Read more »
Moving the goalposts? You are the one who dove right into the “if we don’t allow this we will lose our democracy!” argument.
Anyone who wants to play-act Che Guevara can find employment elsewhere. The beauty of freedom.
The Price of Freedom is not free. Stacey Gates is a first-class A$$ but has the right in the good ole USA to be one, as does PPF.
Yes. But that entitle them to a guaranteed job teaching children?
Sorry PPF. Hate to bust your very opaque bubble but Public Sector Unions fundamentally violate the US Constitution. For a good read try Philip Howard’s “Not Accountable: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Public Employee Unions.” There is a nationwide movement to end this Public Sector Union tyranny and I am hopeful that the Trump Administration firing of federal workers and their inevitable shrill pushback finally brings the issue to the US Supreme Court. The Democrat/Public Union conspiracy and symbiotic perversion of democracy is coming to an end. You are going down pal.
Phil Howard is not a Supreme Court justice and his argument is not taken seriously by constitutional scholars. There is long standing precedent that people have the right to form a union. Good luck carving out the first amendment to exclude public employees. If Illinois didn’t pass Amendment 1, you could remove collective bargaining. While the union would still exist as allowed by the US Constitution, it would be dramatically less effective. But that’s not the case. Illinois granted these rights to public employees and SCOTUS has signaled absolutely no intention of changing that. You keep saying they are unconstitutional… Read more »
Which Constitution?
Is it time to start to hang the Socialists/Communists yet?
So you want to hang people with a different political view than yourself? Little Jimmy is a good name for you.
It has been this way at CPS/CTU/AFT since at least the late 1960’s. The collapse has been gradual but we’re nearing the instantaneous point. The Tax-eaters have almost completely outnumbered the tax payers. Once the collapse is complete no one will care.
If only there were a safe place to ride out the collapse. There’s likely to be a lot of collateral damage. Pushing Pritzker into the pool … Imagine the tsunami.
I have no life, so I search around. This is the full Stacy speech (at about 1:41) from Socialism 2025 Conference. Well worth listening to.tle. (Labor and Community Organizing Against the MAGA Billionaire Agenda, https://www.youtube.com/live/mpCmhxXAYek) Most of the rest of this youtube I couldn’t listen too. Many of the other Socialism 2025 Conference are really wacko!!! Remember: —These are the folks that are running are city, they’re winning. —These are the Mamdaini folks that just one mayors race in NYC. —DJT is a positive FOIL for them. —And you have to remember Stacy, Brando, Sharkey & crew are all $$$$cleaning-up$$$$… Read more »
Skim through some of those videos and you will see that their “movement” has truly become a magnet for people who are mentally ill. We have a mental illness crisis and today’s far left politics is their place of refuge.
Mark your a 1000% right about Mental Illness in so many people it’s really quite Disturbing just seeing the videos these people put up on Facebook or Tik Tok all the time just losing their SHYT over absolutely nothing that will impact their lives one little bit
And sadly plenty of sane people align with the mentally ill to further their own financial interests.
This is site for entire nutty conference with all the nutty youtubes links. The one with Stacy is actually one of the tame ones! (https://socialismconference.org/) Also wierd no coverage by lib media? ST/WBEZ, etc?
Interesting, I believe CTU/Stacy was only big time union labor/politition speaker? I’m sure your “new machine” Illinois dems want to keep their distance from theses wackos but still use there rhetoric. But are CTU/Brandon did used to do his shtick at these conferences way back (2013?) before he figure it would hurt his $$career$$ climbing the ladder in the Tony/Madigan machine. And, you can bet CTU/Stacy are these folks idol, as she, Brando & crew have astoundingly worked their equity hustle for $$gigantic$$ guaranteed deals (thanks to 40rs of rubber stamp Madigan machine) and taken over the city. Will NYC… Read more »
She and her cohorts are living charmed lives in America, courtesy of the taxpayers.
Governor Rauner was right. He wanted to bankrupt CPS.
Not my Chicago, not by a long shot. Go to hell Ms Stacy!
Who’s going to call her out on this, such a evil woman
Hoo boy. The president of CTU unleashes at the Socialist 2025 convention. Tell us again about the union only working for better pay and benefits for their members. Gonna need a bigger boat for that load.
The CPS will never make positive progress with the old guard socialists in power.