Six sources of Chicago Teachers Union power – Wirepoints

By: Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner

The Chicago Teachers Union has walked out on Chicago’s kids once again. It’s the fifth time in the last ten years. 

As the CTU/CPS stalemate enters a new week, it’s important to understand where the teachers union’s power to disrupt the lives of 300,000 children and their parents comes from: state bargaining laws, a long history of appeasement by CPS, generous compensation and political clout.

The unions have made a mess of Chicago, but it’s the politicians who are more to blame. They are the ones that either surrender to the union’s demands or grant them even more powers.

It should be easy for every Chicagoan – and each Illinoisan who ends up paying in some way for Chicago’s problems – to tie the many crises created by the CTU to his or her local legislator. Every lawmaker who voted last year to increase the CTU’s bargaining power and/or to put Amendment 1 on the November ballot effectively endorses the union’s actions.

For those Illinoisans looking to hold their elected officials accountable, here are six ways lawmakers are complicit in the CTU’s accumulation of immense power:

1. The CTU is empowered by some of the most union-friendly collective bargaining laws in the country. Illinois lawmakers not only make it compulsory for governments to bargain with the public sector unions over a host of issues, not just pay, but they also make teacher strikes legal – one of just 13 states to do so (See Appendix 1). That’s in sharp contrast to states like North Carolina, which ban collective bargaining with teacher unions altogether.

The CTU gained even more bargaining powers just last year when Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed HB2275 into law, expanding the number of employment issues that can be negotiated by the union.

2. The CTU is emboldened by its long history of striking. The union has a long history of successful strikes and walkouts: 1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2012, 2016*, 2019, 2021*, 2022* (See Appendix 2). *walkouts

3. Chicago leaders have consistently appeased the union. Mayor Rahm Emanuel gave in twice to the union’s demands. First in 2012 after a week-long strike and then again in 2016 after a one-day walkout. Mayor Lightfoot has appeased the union several times, too. Just two years ago her starting contract offer, the “most generous” in CPS history, was met with an 11-day strike. And in January 2021, when Chicago teachers refused to show up for work in defiance of a directive to return to classrooms, Lightfoot moved the school start date back again and again instead of confronting the union.

4. The union has strong support from its well-compensated members. A vast majority of Chicago teachers consistently agree with the union’s actions. In 2016, 95 percent of voting union members were in favor of a strike. In 2019, 94 percent of teachers voted to strike. And last week, 73 percent of CTU members voted to return to remote learning.

At stake for members is some of the nation’s most-generous compensation. Chicago Public Schools pays teacher salaries that are among the highest when compared to the country’s 148 largest school districts, according to the National Council for Teacher Quality. For new teachers with a BA, CPS pays $60,000 in salary, the highest in the comparison group. For most other levels of education and experience, Chicago consistently ranks in the top five (See Appendix 3).

The average career CPS educator retires at the age of 62 with a starting pension of $74,000 and can expect to collect more than $2.3 million over the course of her retirement.

5. The union exercises its clout through millions in political spending and lobbying. Beyond the picket line, the union collects millions in member dues that are then spent on lobbying, legal issues and political campaigns. Prior to its two-week strike in 2019, for example, the union spent in the prior 15 months $1.5 million on lobbying and other political activity. It also spent $1.2 million on PACs for allied candidates and groups.

6. Politicians have encouraged the union by putting Amendment 1 on the November ballot, signaling they favor even more power for public sector unions. That amendment, if approved by Illinois voters, will enshrine collective bargaining rights in the constitution, denying any chance at future labor reforms and subsequent property tax relief.

****************

This walkout is just the latest example of the union trampling parents rights. And it’s happening all over Illinois, whether it’s CRT, mask mandates or forced remote learning.

Teacher unions have excessive power and it’s the politicians who give it to them. But that power can be challenged if parents demand it, like they recently did in Virginia.

Fed up Illinois parents should do the same.

Read more about the Chicago Public Schools:

 

Appendix 1.

Appendix 2.

Appendix 3.

48 Comments
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David F
2 years ago

The question is did the Mayor cave again?
This will be answered when we know if the teachers that didn’t show up to work get paid.
An illegal strike without consequences just invites another.

Richard Broberg
2 years ago

Best comment I saw was on zero hedge…

It’s fun to watch the communist mayor vs the communist teacher’s union.

debtsor
2 years ago

The communist fights and purges not only his enemies but his or her allies too. The only way to completely control is purge anyone who challenges power. Biden has gotten a little ambitious with his purge, trying to financially ruin and destroy 50,000,000 americans who refuse to take the jab…

Last edited 2 years ago by debtsor
Greg Daniels
2 years ago

Stop paying them.

mike kerrigan
2 years ago

Fire them all….

jajujon
2 years ago
Reply to  mike kerrigan

Good idea, but try finding a few thousand replacements in short order. Better solution: thousands and thousands of parents marching on CTU HQ and City Hall demanding change.

Susan
2 years ago
Reply to  jajujon

Parents (Paid fair value) may serve as monitors in classrooms of 20.
Student may use their taxpayer-provided laptops, as they do now (even now during “in-classlearning”), to access remote learning of higher quality.

Many expensive, redundant software programs chosen by teachers without oversight of their financial conflicts can be eliminated, and best pedagogical
practices can be determined by proven educators from other more successful regions.

ron
2 years ago
Reply to  mike kerrigan

De fund the school, give the money to the students, OH that is the voucher system- lets try that for a change.

NB-Chicago
2 years ago
Reply to  ron

Arizona has a vocher system aswell if a school is shutdown (under gov ducey)…dems are getten worried nationally. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-scandal-of-chicagos-teachers-union-doug-ducey-arizona-schools-students-covid-11641422073?st=ophqofi8cxfkprd&reflink=article_email_share

Bill Brooks
2 years ago

Who could have ever foreseen a problem with unions contributing funds to politicians who will then negotiate with them?

jajujon
2 years ago
Reply to  Bill Brooks

FDR – nearly 90 years ago:

” . . . strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to prevent or obstruct the operations of Government until their demands are satisfied. Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government by those who have sworn to support it, is unthinkable and intolerable.”

May the small group of parents who filed suit claiming the CTU has breached its contract win that case and force teachers back into the classrooms.

James
2 years ago
Reply to  jajujon

There is no such oath except for those who are elected public office holders rather than simply employees of as far as I know.

jajujon
2 years ago
Reply to  James

By law, Federal employees have never been allowed to strike. States, counties and municipalities ignored FDR’s advice, and you see the impact that terrible decision has wrought.

David F
2 years ago
Reply to  Bill Brooks

Not negotiate, conspire.

The Paraclete
2 years ago

CPS is nothing more elaborate than Day Jail, tax payer funded daycare for teens and young adults. The teachers didn’t sign up to be prison workers. They’re educators!

James
2 years ago
Reply to  The Paraclete

I’ve said essentially the same thing as your first sentence over and over again here. Generally, a person can be “educated” only with a willing acceptance of what’s required. Short of that, the whole system becomes a prison for all who inhabit its walls. If what we get instead is essentially a prison, then hire staff and offer pay that clearly reflects that mission. If you want “education,” then appropriate academic preparation, attitudes and skill sets among all participants are part of the requirements or its a lost cause as the academic test scores of CPS have shown us for… Read more »

Heyjude
2 years ago
Reply to  The Paraclete

Certainly true that little education is going on in CPS. I’m sure you are right that teachers didn’t sign up to be prison workers. But the question is- how did it get to this? Who has been controlling and running such a failed system for years? And who supported those “leaders”? Who claimed that they had the answers about how to fix education? And resisted any ideas from outside their group? For teachers who don’t approve of the status quo, a little self reflection on your own complicity is in order. You should also be reflecting on the fact that… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Heyjude
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Heyjude

I’d say its largely the local parenting attitudes that “run the school system.” Most parents seem lacking if their children’s attitudes are a good indicator. “You can lead a horse to water, but….”

Heyjude
2 years ago
Reply to  James

Those parents are most likely themselves products of this failed system. And the current students will not become model parents either. So what is the solution? It really is time to try to figure out a different way forward. And that will surely involve changing current policies and leaders.

James
2 years ago
Reply to  Heyjude

I agree. The whole current education “delivery model” must be rethought, putting the right kinds of resources where the payoff is likely to improve its traction. Let the delinquents play bassetball to their hearts’ content, and let that be defined as schooling. Others who are shown to have academic talent and have ambitions needing it would have the more classical kinds of education. The world produces very few Einstein-equivalents, yet we moan and groan when that inevitable truth rears its head as so many lesser-ability children try to do classical schooling with such apathy and consequent lack of success.

Brian Reilly
2 years ago

Chicago Teachers power (such as it is) derives entirely and without any exception from the parents/guardians of the children enrolled in Chicago Public Schools. If the parents in Chicago looked out properly for their children, the number of enrollees in CPS would go to near zero. The teachers power would go away with the students. As it is, the teachers have the whip hand, and the rest of that city is just a whipped b#tch.

debtsor
2 years ago
Reply to  Brian Reilly

Yes, in that sense, the union needs teachers teaching children to have members. But the students are merely ancillary to their power. It’s power comes from a 100 year history of supporting financially and electorally Democrat candidates. They had enough clout in Springfield to get the votes for the recently passed ‘strike anytime for any reason’ legislation. There is no way they could have done that without financially and backing strong candidates in Springfield. That money buys them power and clout. On the flip side, the law enforcement got totally F’d in the black caucus pillars. The police union has… Read more »

Rob M
2 years ago
Reply to  debtsor

Let’s not conflate police and CTU because they are two different things. Both contribute to candidates, but teachers can strike and police cannot. Teachers should NOT be allowed to strike. Their students and the parents need them in school, just like we need coppers on the street. Public employee unions have done as much to ru8n this state as Madigan and his cronies have. Lightfoot should tear up the contract as they’ve violated it. The schools district needs to be audited and an objective assessment of where the dollars log needs to be conducted. Schools that are less than 60… Read more »

Rick
2 years ago

The same mentality exists in the school custodian ranks, entitlement, extortion, etc. but nobody has figured out yet how to clean bathrooms remotely over Zoom. The whole CPS system is a big Charlie Foxtrot. Including the headquarters administrators. Years ago I worked a contract for CPS to develop some software. Literally everyone in the office read the paper, smoked and relaxed at their desks all day, went to a two hour lunch, then read the evening paper, then home. The woman I had to train for the software couldn’t use a keyboard, because her fingernails were two inches long.

NoHope4Illinois
2 years ago

Wirepoints: Is the salary table in Appendix 3 based on a normal work year? My accounting calendar shows 252 work days for 2022 (10 Holidays already deducted), or 2,016 work hours for standard 8hr work days before taking earned vacation days. Are teachers expected to work a minimum of a standard full year like professionals in the private sector?

James
2 years ago

Here we go again! Why aren’t famous multi-million dollar income actors paid according to those pay-by-hour rules, too? Because they aren’t!! You can’t compare apples to filet mignon steaks, assuming their qualities are precisely the same!

NoHope4Illinois
2 years ago
Reply to  James

I know how to run a business and payroll. Obviously you do not.

James
2 years ago

Apparently that makes an expert on literally anything relating to labor relations. I don’t think so even for a second. Don’t step outside your own little world with such braggadocio. You’ll find its a different world than the one you know. “Running a business” isn’t exactly the same skill set every time and everywhere. You can do it well in some places and not in others. You can also do it well in one place at one time but not at other times. Don’t be so strident! I can play a clarinet, and you cannot, but that’s not necessarily relevant… Read more »

NoHope4Illinois
2 years ago
Reply to  James

I’m unimpressed with the bloviating.

James
2 years ago

I couldn’t have said it better.

Aaron
2 years ago
Reply to  James

James, what you fail to realize is that operating a successful business requires one to be subject to consequence. You and your union are not subject to the consequences of delivering a bad product or service. My teachers in the early 90’s said repeatedly that the poles would be iceless by 2020. They said you won’t be able to carry a calculator around everywhere you go. Hell, even jr high biology is bunk now apparently. Today, it’s muh crt and muh equity. More bunk.

257E6B13-62D2-4C87-A877-0F4E53F49C63.jpeg
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Aaron

I’m not trying to defend CPS system itself so much as its teachers. They can’t perform the miracles you and most here seem to think as mindlessly easy. Garbage in, garbage out in general. If there is a better way to get those students “educated” I’m probably in favor of it, and the voucher system might seem an obvious answer. But, again in general garbage in, garbage out as regards test scores being substantially improved for the average student. For a time that might work well, but test scores will revert to the mean soon enough as the Hawthorne Effect… Read more »

jajujon
2 years ago
Reply to  James

He was just asking a question. Back off; it’s a fair question. According to Indeed.com, the average teacher salary in Chicago is $44,150 and $27.70/hour, which translates into about 1,600 hours annually. If those numbers are reasonable (and I know they don’t match up with Wirepoints’ table above), their full year is about 9.5 months. Maybe the other 2.5 months is spent on planning, continuing education, etc.

James
2 years ago
Reply to  jajujon

Okay, if you saw it that way, good for you. To me it was a very strident sort of comment from a person who is not immediately involved in the whole salary determination process. What’s “fair” to one person is often way to high to another. I can’t believe the bills I get as a consumer, for instance. A workman comes to our house, spends maybe 15-20 minutes doing his job, and I get a bill for maybe $200 more or less for his labor alone. That’s common! I have no control over it just as the taxpayers have no… Read more »

jajujon
2 years ago
Reply to  James

Historically, I generally thought teachers were underpaid. After all, they are educating our future generation! That’s a huge responsibility not fairly matched by their compensation. And, I don’t have the patience required to be a teacher. But I have since been “educated.” FDR opposed unionizing public sector employees and he was right. The taxpayer is screwed because the politician is paid by the union while also “representing” the taxpayer in negotiations. And in this case, students and parents also lose. Given the miserable work product generated by Chicago teachers – substandard reading, math and English skills, graduating students poorly armed… Read more »

nixit
2 years ago

The typical CPS teacher is on the 208-Day Academic Calendar which includes 190 work days (including 10 professional development days if applicable), 10 paid vacation days and 8 paid holidays. There are also 228 and 248 day calendars as well as a 52-week calendar but I’m not sure who falls under those.

NoHope4Illinois
2 years ago
Reply to  nixit

Shows how bloated the CPS pay is-They could stand a sizable pay cut. CTU should be embarrassed, but instead they are pig headed it seems.

jajujon
2 years ago

CHICAGO STUDENT HOSTAGE CRISIS – DAY 4 It’s heartening to see that some parents, albeit a very small group, have decided to fight by suing the CTU for breaching its contract. I pray that case is quickly advanced through the system, or yet more days will be wasted because of greed, misplaced fear and misinformation. Has anyone asked how this time will be made up, or are the students further victimized by lost education? Wait, I think I can guess. Electoral apathy must end! Parents must hold their legislators accountable for this mess. Sure, the mayor deserves blame for her… Read more »

Larkenson
2 years ago

Our schools teach White students that they are immoral and contemptible if they don’t support the White Genocide that’s being carried out by massive third-world immigration and FORCED assimilation i.e diversity in EVERY White country and ONLY White countries.

Their teachers never tell them, “White self-hatred is SICK!!!“

Those teachers claim to be anti-racist. What they are is anti-White.

Anti-racist is a code word for anti-White.

Rick
2 years ago
Reply to  Larkenson

CPS only has 9% white enrollment. The union therefore is stealing the futures of kids in a system that is 91% non-white. White kids dont use CPS for the most part. If they want to teach that whites are racist, they should use their own union and CPS as a practical example of that!

nixit
2 years ago
Reply to  Rick

In a city where a third of the population is white but less than 10% are enrolled in public school. I would wager no other city in Illinois has such as drastic difference in ethnicity representation in their schools vs the population as a whole.

Packard Day
2 years ago

Let me suggest a seventh reason for the current turmoil in Chicago’s school district. Skin In The Game! Much like Washington DC, NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, St. Louis, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and San Francisco; the power elites representing both the city and the Chicago Teacher Union do not have their own children enrolled in any of the effected schools. In other words, they have none of their own skin in the game for any outcome that may follow. Sad is something that happens to someone else’s child when a local education system is failing. Tragedy, however, occurs when one’s own… Read more »

Up Country
2 years ago
Reply to  Packard Day

Well stated and true.

Admin
2 years ago
Reply to  Packard Day

That’s true. We hear it all the time that most pols and many public sector workers send their kids to private schools. Hard to get definitive data, but we know it’s true.

bsfras
2 years ago

I’ve always felt public teacher unions are a perfect illustration of unchecked greed: overly self-centered behavior, lacking empathy, never satisfied, unaccountable, and manipulative. The union’s purpose is to accrue maximum wealth and power for their members, period. It is for others: parents, children, taxpayers, community members to deal with the consequences.

Goodgulf Greyteeth
2 years ago

Well, Ted, at least CTU teachers do a good job insuring that K-12 graduates perform well on Illinois’ “rigorous” academic tests. It’s not as if many thousands of students never graduate, and many thousands more “graduate” without acquiring language or math ability such that they can complete a job application, or fill in a public aid form, unless someone assists them. Gosh, I suppose we’re wrong to think that public schools in Chicago are not much more than vastly expensive nanny-state day care, camouflaged as “education.” Sarcasm aside, I suppose that the one immutable truth in all this is that… Read more »

ThinkPositive
2 years ago

Just follow the money to understand how Chicago works.

Up Country
2 years ago
Reply to  ThinkPositive

Always connect the dots and follow the money.

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