Presser from @CTULocal1 being live streamed here. Team says @ChiPubSchools Board of Ed Prez Miguel del Valle made an appearance at bargaining today: facebook.com/pg/ctulocal1/v…
@CTULocal1 @ChiPubSchools @SharkeyCTU1 City could be hoping for "a dive and catch," but don't expect us to go to midnight on Oct. 16, Sharkey says. I can't put out a notice for our delegates to meet at 2a, turn around and teach at 6a. "We're going to need some time to read it... Now is the time for stuff to move."
@CTULocal1 @ChiPubSchools @SharkeyCTU1 Latest from @chicagosmayor: "Based on the fact that it is now day 145 without a comprehensive written counteroffer, it appears that CTU is refusing to negotiate in good faith, and instead is determined to strike at all costs." 
@CTULocal1 @ChiPubSchools @SharkeyCTU1 @chicagosmayor Lightfoot says she wants the union to put their proposals in writing. In her decades as an attorney, "I've never not seen in a deal where people are trying to actually get to a resolution where you don't put things in writing," she says on @WVON1690. iheart.com/live/wvon1690a…
@CTULocal1 @ChiPubSchools @SharkeyCTU1 @chicagosmayor @WVON1690 Worth noting @CTULocal1 has an ad-buy on WVON that just aired asking LL to #PutItInWriting
@CTULocal1 @ChiPubSchools @SharkeyCTU1 @chicagosmayor @WVON1690 The union has a presser scheduled for 5:30.
Here are the proposals CPS said it made today. Includes withdrawal of principal directed prep time, addition of aides in large classes, no net increase to charters:
Latest from @chicagosmayor and @janicejackson saying they will still work to get a deal done. @CTULocal1 folks have described Friday’s offer from CBOE as their “last and best.”
Looks like CTU VP @stacydavisgates is live tweeting today’s bargaining session.
CTU’s @ronniewrites has a strike playlist ready: Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Pussy Riot, Dropkick Murphys, Gambino, No Doubt, Donny Hathaway, Stevie... open.spotify.com/playlist/40srd…
Things looking up a bit?
At a Columbus Day rally at the Chicago Temple Building with @CTULocal1 and @SEIU73. Chants for the March include “We need staff! They just laugh!”
Electeds here: Byron Sigcho Lopez, Robert Peters, Alma Anaya, Theresa Mah, Silvana Tabares, Daniel La Spata, Matt Martin, Larry Suffredin, Brandon Johnson, Andre Vasquez, Lindsay LaPointe, Celina Villanueva, Aaron Ortiz, Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, Melissa Conyears Ervin...
One SEIU member, a special Ed classroom assistant says to Lightfoot, “Get on the right foot and sign a contract now.” Seen one sign describing the mayor as LIE-foot.
We deserve livable wages to afford the city, one SEIU member says, not to live check to check. Do that by offering a contract that represents the work we actually do. “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt,” he has the crowd repeat.
.@RossanaFor33 says she’s got the union’s back and started “I believe that we will win” chant
Up now @melissa4chicago, “as a woman born in Englewood, raised on the West Side, to CTU and SEIU I say thank you. As a mother of a three year old that I choose to raise on the West Side... I say thank you.” Says she’s here as a CTU grad and “it’s personal” for her to be here.
“We will fight... because our children deserve better.”
Pointing out the room is full of educators, “we’re about to teach the new mayor a lesson,” Randi Weingarten @AFTunion says. “Look what the Illinois legislature did in 1995, they took away bargaining.”
Labor doesn’t run on charisma, @SharkeyCTU1 says, saying newspapers have noticed he’s not as charismatic as previous Prez Karen Lewis. Labor runs on solidarity, “a word that’s easy to say” but requires effort. “It is no accident CTU and SEIU are together in this fight.”
Sharkey: Only today we had a meaningful conversation about class size and staffing. Why dangle money then call us greedy? They don’t pay us enough to shut up.
We do not have the things in writing that we need... pay for senior teachers, smaller classes for neediest children, promises in writing for staffing... prep time for elem teachers, promise against privatization. “As of right now, we do not have a contract,” things are narrowing.
Now we’ve got “Nice for What” playing. Rally almost over, I think.
“The Board is talking to us now about class size and staffing,” @SharkeyCTU1 says at PM presser. “Some of the things we’re talking about today should have been the 1st things” Lightfoot offered a few months ago, he says. Happy with progress but it’s still not in writing.
Sleep tight, tomorrow is another bargaining day.
Latest from @ChicagoParks – "Due to the severe workforce shortage a work stoppage would create – most regularly scheduled classes, programs and events will be cancelled until further notice. The District remains hopeful that an agreement with the union will be reached..."
@ChicagoParks 18 Park District facilities will be open for drop-in activities, weekdays from 2pm to 6pm in case of a strike – a list of those sites that will open are here: chicagoparkdistrict.com/strike-plan
@ChicagoParks At 5, @SEIU73 has a press conference planned for updates on Park District workers who plan to strike with @CTULocal1 if no deal is reached. Park workers include landscape laborers, special recreation workers, attendants, instructors, recreational leaders, and supervisors.
SEIU reps for park district workers called the latest offer from the city "insulting," but plan to keep bargaining tonight. Details here: chicagobusiness.com/government/chi… via @crainschicago
CTU tonight:
"We have not gotten far enough with class size, unfortunately."
"Disappointed they have not responded to case load size for school counselors." Lightfoot ran on providing more social workers from our students, "she still refuses to give it to us in writing."
"We have not gotten far enough with class size, unfortunately."
"Disappointed they have not responded to case load size for school counselors." Lightfoot ran on providing more social workers from our students, "she still refuses to give it to us in writing."
#StrikeReady: That's the word from CTU tonight chicagobusiness.com/education/stri… via @crainschicago
@CrainsChicago An extra note – @stacydavisgates says the CTU's borrowing from what @UTLAnow pulled off in January strike: a nurse in every school every day, 500:1 student:counselor ratios @ secondary schools, psychologists + social workers at community schools, and enforceable class size caps.
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow LA teachers went on strike for seven days. Here's what happened in Boston (2% annual raises and nurse staffing): wbur.org/edify/2019/05/…
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow Mayor Lori Lightfoot holding press conference with Dr. Janice Jackson and BOE President Miguel del Valle. She says their side has "bent over backwards" on many of the union's asks, including nurses and sanctuary protections.
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow "CPS finances are still recovering from the brink of insolvency," Lightfoot says. "CTU hasn't gotten the message... It demands another $2.5 billion per year to CPS' annual budget... That would double the cost of the CTU contract."
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow If there is a strike tomorrow, here is CPS' contingency plan: cps.edu/contingencypla…
Here is the park district contingency plan: chicagoparkdistrict.com/information-re…
Chicago Public Library locations will be open: chipublib.bibliocommons.com/locations/list/
Here is the park district contingency plan: chicagoparkdistrict.com/information-re…
Chicago Public Library locations will be open: chipublib.bibliocommons.com/locations/list/
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow "What do you think is really going on?" @billjcameron asks.
LL says she doesn't try to read minds. "We are focused on making sure our parents and children are going to be supported... what I'm personally most concerned about is that our children have a safe place + they are fed."
LL says she doesn't try to read minds. "We are focused on making sure our parents and children are going to be supported... what I'm personally most concerned about is that our children have a safe place + they are fed."
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow @billjcameron LL says the CTU has been "signaling for a long time" they wanted to strike + it's "not a surprise that this day has come."
@SSKedreporter asks if it was a mistake not to discuss class sizes earlier. "We've been discussing class sizes for some time" and wanted specifics from CTU.
@SSKedreporter asks if it was a mistake not to discuss class sizes earlier. "We've been discussing class sizes for some time" and wanted specifics from CTU.
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow @billjcameron @SSKedreporter "They're not interested in having me at the table, when they are and when my team tells me it will be productive," LL says she'll go.
She emphasizes again that there will be no school tomorrow. "They're not telling us anything to the contrary."
She emphasizes again that there will be no school tomorrow. "They're not telling us anything to the contrary."
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow @billjcameron @SSKedreporter CPS CEO Janice Jackson says the CPS side of the bargaining table has many educators + principals, including Chief Ed Officer McDade, COO Rivera, + the Chief Officer of Network Support. "We have children in this district, we were educated in this district" + want a resolution.
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow @billjcameron @SSKedreporter Hearing the Chicago Park District has reached a deal – SEIU Local 73 holding a presser at noon about the outcome of last night's bargaining...
Live stream is here: facebook.com/SEIULocal73/
Live stream is here: facebook.com/SEIULocal73/
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow @billjcameron @SSKedreporter The contract is 4.5 years and builds to help solve the Park District's pension problems, @chicagosmayor says – "an example of labor and management working together to solve pension-related problems." Means that parks will be open and available during @CTULocal1 work stoppage.
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow @billjcameron @SSKedreporter @chicagosmayor @CTULocal1 Mayor thanks @SEIU73 Pres Dian Palmer "for making this moment possible."
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow @billjcameron @SSKedreporter @chicagosmayor @CTULocal1 @SEIU73 Ald. @aldermanscott24, a former SEIU Parks employee and chair of the Education Cmte, thanks SEIU for coming to the table to make sure children have a safe place to be during the strike.
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow @billjcameron @SSKedreporter @chicagosmayor @CTULocal1 @SEIU73 Park Dist. officials say it's a 4.5 year deal and includes a 14.25% raise over that term for full time equivalents, raises all recreation leaders to $15/hr. Hourly instructors up 21%, attendants up 28%. SEIU will contribute to more to healthcare contributions.
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow @billjcameron @SSKedreporter @chicagosmayor @CTULocal1 @SEIU73 "I've been at the Park District 16 years, I'm a park kid. As you look across table from colleagues at some point it becomes collegiality," Supt Mike Kelly says. "We haven't had a work stoppage in 85 years and I'm not about to stop now."
Dist now has deals w/ all 25 of its units.
Dist now has deals w/ all 25 of its units.
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow @billjcameron @SSKedreporter @chicagosmayor @CTULocal1 @SEIU73 Lightfoot says she's put an "unprecedented" deal on the table. "The challenge, I guess is there are a lot of other issues the CTU believes are important in the contract," she says when asked what the holdup is over, including affordable housing.
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow @billjcameron @SSKedreporter @chicagosmayor @CTULocal1 @SEIU73 LL: CTU kept telling us two main issues were staffing - we worked really hard to put together a framework to address staffing – the other was class sizes. There's a concern about how class sizes affected schools in poor neighborhoods. We worked hard on those two issues.
@CrainsChicago @stacydavisgates @UTLAnow @billjcameron @SSKedreporter @chicagosmayor @CTULocal1 @SEIU73 How excessive are teacher demands? "If we agreed to everything they wanted it's $2.5 billion," LL says. "We don't have the resources to accommodate every single thing that they want."
ICYMI - @CTULocal1 and @SEIU73 are walking out tomorrow.
Here’s @CTULocal1’s strike FAQ: ctulocal1.org/movement/contr…
Strike Day 1:
@CTULocal1 makes $100k ad buy: a series of 60-second radio spots, “Pace Setter,” "Track," and "Promesas" that "will air in English and Spanish on stations around the city starting on Friday."
You can hear them here: wdrv.it/508bee83a?link…
@CTULocal1 makes $100k ad buy: a series of 60-second radio spots, “Pace Setter,” "Track," and "Promesas" that "will air in English and Spanish on stations around the city starting on Friday."
You can hear them here: wdrv.it/508bee83a?link…
I've heard their ads before today on @WVON1690, so this isn't terribly new. Finding out if this is a bigger outlay than normal...
CTU's ads mention @Suntimes poll. Source close to mayor's political operation says they were in the field a couple weeks ago and her approvals are around 70%, and both the mayor and teachers have high favorables + it's "not a scenario where the public sees 2 oppositional forces."
Methodologies were different. ST was IVR (basically robo) via text + landline – (not sure whether it was English + Spanish). Mayor's political team does live callers (gold standard) in English and Spanish to landline and cell. ANYWAY, I LOVE POLLS: thedailyline.net/chicago/07/28/…
I encourage everyone to explore the cross tabs of the ST poll at the bottom of the page - we rarely get a glimpse of this stuff! chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2019…
Up now, ATU’s Randi Weingarten, who leads call and response. “Mayor Lightfoot, we listened to you in your campaign... please listen to us... our demands are about our kids... Chicago’s future...whether we be CTU or Local 73.”
Here’s the view from Target on State and Madison.
And for you JRTC and rollerblading fans:
From the City Hall press room:
SEIU says it is not expecting classes to be back in session Friday, @MoodysInvSvc sounds off, and more on the first day of the strike: chicagobusiness.com/education/chic… via @crainschicago
Email from @ChiPubSchools makes it official - no class tomorrow. Again, here’s the contingency site: cps.edu/contingencypla…
@ChiPubSchools Bargaining update happening now @CTULocal1: facebook.com/pg/ctulocal1/v… "There was some progress, it's just not enough."
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 CTU Atty Robert Bloch "Did get a written proposal on class size... bad news is the substance of the proposal doesn't go anywhere near far enough" to address crowding. The board refused to propose a reduction on cap sizes. "Instead they proposed a committee" w/ limited mandate.
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 Jennifer Johnson, Chief of Staff: "Today we spent 10 hours at the bargaining table, we put in hard work," we did get a verbal response to our proposal on teacher evaluation.
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 Johnson says changes to the current eval system will reduce workload for principals and educators, and the current eval system disparately impacts teachers in low-income, majority Black schools.
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 "There was movement, but not nearly enough," Johnson says. "It shouldn't take 20,000 people in the street to get a serious proposal."
Says they're open to "phasing in" but wants district to give more. "The city has the money and the mayor has to... see students as a priority."
Says they're open to "phasing in" but wants district to give more. "The city has the money and the mayor has to... see students as a priority."
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 Aaaaand now @chicagosmayor and @janicejackson are on @wttw #ChicagoTonight. Lightfoot said bargaining started 90 minutes late today and was "truncated" throughout the day.
"We just want that same sense of urgency from the other side," Jackson says.
facebook.com/wttw11/videos/…
"We just want that same sense of urgency from the other side," Jackson says.
facebook.com/wttw11/videos/…
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson @wttw They've probably said "sense of urgency" a dozen times.
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson @wttw "Come to us, CTU, with a comprehensive written plan that we can react to and then stay at the table with us until we get a deal done," Lightfoot says. "Compensation, insurance, benefits, the things that make up the heart + core of an agreement," have not been discussed in weeks.
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson @wttw .@AmandaVinicky asks the $1 billion question. Where's that money going? CTU is "misrepresenting that. Close to $700M went to the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund, a fund that I am also a part of," Dr. Jackson says, the rest went to operations/general fund.
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson @wttw @AmandaVinicky "This notion that we are flush with cash... is misleading," Jackson says. "We're still borrowing money to be a solvent district." @GregHinz wrote about this: chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-poli…
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson @wttw @AmandaVinicky @GregHinz "Today at the table we saw the city's team finally put something in writing on class size," @SharkeyCTU1 tells @paschutz. "Why so late? If we had it a month ago, we might not be here."
He says that proposal isn't adequate.
He says that proposal isn't adequate.
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson @wttw @AmandaVinicky @GregHinz @SharkeyCTU1 @paschutz Pres. Sharkey doesn't put a number on what he says CTU's proposal would cost, but says he thinks Lightfoot's total cost is a calculation over 5 years (mayor's team says that $2.5B extra cost is annual).
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson @wttw @AmandaVinicky @GregHinz @SharkeyCTU1 @paschutz There are 1,300 oversized classrooms in the city of Chicago in earlier grades, Gates and Sharkey say.
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson @wttw @AmandaVinicky @GregHinz @SharkeyCTU1 @paschutz SDG mentions that she has three kids in CPS. I probably haven't tweeted this story enough, so here is my profile of her from August: chicagobusiness.com/education/meet…
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson @wttw @AmandaVinicky @GregHinz @SharkeyCTU1 @paschutz Happy Friday. Another day of picketing at schools and competing pressers. Multitasking today between trying to get a read on the mayor's upcoming budget address Wednesday and #CTUSEIUstrike. Here's one thing we know about the budget, via @GregHinz: chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-poli…
@ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson @wttw @AmandaVinicky @GregHinz @SharkeyCTU1 @paschutz City is sticking with a flat rate – not a percentage charge – applied on single passenger and pooled trips. More on...
Congestion taxes broadly: chicagobusiness.com/government/so-…
Uber's initial response: chicagobusiness.com/government/can…
A plea from carpooling company Via: chicagobusiness.com/government/rid…
Congestion taxes broadly: chicagobusiness.com/government/so-…
Uber's initial response: chicagobusiness.com/government/can…
A plea from carpooling company Via: chicagobusiness.com/government/rid…
Lightfoot slips up trying to say we’re here with Chicago Transit Authority, instead says Chicago Teachers, then “if only” and laughs, calling it a Freudian slip.
Extending the school year – teachers are impacted but students are dramatically impacted. The mayor is still a "no" on extending the school year.
CTU to give another bargaining update soon at their FB – should be streaming shortly. facebook.com/pg/ctulocal1/v…
Meanwhile, @SEIU73 says they and Board of Ed team "have not had an official bargaining session since Wednesday."
On Thursday, mayor's counsel said they'd "bent over to try to bring up the pay for the workers at SEIU... it’s a really historic offer." chicagobusiness.com/education/chic…
On Thursday, mayor's counsel said they'd "bent over to try to bring up the pay for the workers at SEIU... it’s a really historic offer." chicagobusiness.com/education/chic…
@SEIU73 Hearing "pathway" and "movement" from @CTULocal1 folks in this presser so far.
@SEIU73 @CTULocal1 Union got staffing proposal in writing, some allocation of social workers + nurses, case management of special education, and bilingual teachers who do coordination bilingual programs. Also a "contraption" where district provides 1 FT position to 20% of schools w/ highest needs.
@SEIU73 @CTULocal1 That "contraption" might lead to a "Hunger Games"-like scenario where schools have to choose wraparound staff they need, bargaining team member says.
@SEIU73 @CTULocal1 Bargaining to continue all day Saturday and Sunday. Karen Lewis is being honored Sat. morning at an IFT conference – "We're going to go there and honor her," @SharkeyCTU1 says. They says they'll come right back and bargain. ift-aft.org/news/2019/10/1…
@chicagosmayor @janicejackson ICYMI - no school tomorrow.
Watching the streamed bargaining update now from @CTULocal1 (has some audio problems), but sounds like movement on school counselors, charter schools, homeless services.
Watching the streamed bargaining update now from @CTULocal1 (has some audio problems), but sounds like movement on school counselors, charter schools, homeless services.
@chicagosmayor @janicejackson @CTULocal1 Lucille Thompson, a school clerk, says she's excited because they got language to add positions that will offer students in STLS (students in temporary living situation) program a dedicated person to help them transition. Thanks @ChiHomeless for help with language.
@chicagosmayor @janicejackson @CTULocal1 @ChiHomeless Arathie Jayaram, a preschool teacher, says the union won "equity and justice for our youngest learners... helped to level playing field" – 10:1 ratio of teachers to students. "This has been state law for over a decade now, now it has to be followed."
@chicagosmayor @janicejackson @CTULocal1 @ChiHomeless Still waiting on paraprofessional pay and are still going back and forth over class sizes - CTU wants enforceable class sizes.
Midday update from @chicagosmayor and @janicejackson. “It’s time to get back to school, so why haven’t we?” It’s because CTU has expanded its demands at costs the city “frankly can’t afford.”
“It is an offer that will put one nurse and one social worker in every school within five years,” and give teachers raises. “Beyond what we put on the table, there is simply no more money.” Using Lincoln Yards money unrealistic, Lightfoot says. It “doesn’t work that way.”
“We can only agree to what we can afford,” there aren’t resources to fund everything in a single contract. Lightfoot says they have a “shared vision,” and the two sides should get this done.
LL says there’s not an unlimited pool of money to fulfill CTU’s wish list.
“We need them to turn things around faster,” Lightfoot says. The union is both moving too slow and moving the goal posts, she says. “There shouldn’t be new issues coming to the table” on the third day of the strike.
Lightfoot says @SEIU73 has made it clear there’s no deal with them unless there’s a deal with @CTULocal1.
@SEIU73 @CTULocal1 The things I could fit in here today – mayor says city/district's offer can't pull from #LincolnYards (so does @sterlingbay); @SenWarren joining teachers tomorrow; and CTU invited Rev. Jackson to the table: chicagobusiness.com/education/no-m… via @crainschicago
Bargaining update with @CTULocal1 happening now - first lost sound, now lost the feed on the live stream.
@CTULocal1 "No meaningful enforcement for staffing promises she made," @SharkeyCTU1 says of the mayor and class size limits would not apply to any high schools. "Hopes dashed in that regard," he says.
Teachers are getting a "mixed message" from @chicagosmayor, @stacydavisgates says. Teachers were "exuberant" Sunday to "beyond disappointed" today.
The message from the mayor's letter today was the city's out of money and get back to work, Davis Gates says.
Class size is complicated, Davis Gates says, the two sides don't agree on enforceability.
The latest from this evening, including that very short meeting with SEIU:
City/CPS statement “We were encouraged today by the improved pace of bargaining and substantive discussions on key issues, so it is now deeply concerning to hear that CTU is pulling members of its bargaining team away from the negotiating table tomorrow at this crucial juncture.”
Big crowd here to see @ewarren in Austin. “I’m here to stand with the low wage workers in the Chicago schools, with every one of the people who stand for our children every day.”
Teachers need a federal partner @SenWarren says, she’d quadruple funding for Title 1 schools.
Warren says she stands with unions because they are “how we have a voice, how we have power, how we make sure the needs of every one of our children are heard loud and clear.”
Warren out!
“This isn’t personal or petty, I have a degree of respect for Mayor Lightfoot,” CTU Pres. Jesse Sharkey says.
Asked Jeff Howard @SEIU73 what to expect at the mayor’s budget address tomorrow. He said to bring popcorn, should be “exciting.”
A selection of signs from today:
Useful, as always, rundown from @chalkbeatCHI @Yanazure
Parents asked and we answered: A brief history of strike lengths chalkbeat.org/posts/chicago/…
Parents asked and we answered: A brief history of strike lengths chalkbeat.org/posts/chicago/…
@chalkbeatCHI @Yanazure Worth reading coverage of the teachers strike under Mayor Harold Washington in 1987:
nytimes.com/1987/10/04/us/…
nytimes.com/1987/10/04/us/…
@chalkbeatCHI @Yanazure My latest from today, I'm sure it will be updated: chicagobusiness.com/education/have… via @CrainsChicago
Latest from @CTULocal1 organizers on tomorrow’s action — wear purple, red, and black and descend on the Loop.
More from that email below. Bargaining update should start around 7ish from Malcolm X and streaming on their FB:
"We've said there are resources the city can provide, choices the city can make to meet our demands," CTU's Chief of Staff Jennifer Johnson says.
Some movement on class size, Johnson says. "It's still a very, smaller dollar amount they're saying, would only address a small fraction of the problem... We need to see a substantial down payment + plan to further address class size + other issues over the life of the contract."
There's money for Lincoln Yards, downtown development, but not our schools... we hope the mayor's promises during her candidacy would come to fruition and she still can bring this to a close by putting investment priority on schools, Johnson says.
"TIF surplus is one of the ways the mayor can find additional revenue for our schools... we absolutely should hear that prioritization of our schools," Johnson says of expectations within the mayor's budget.
"We were able to see real emotion from the other side of the table, real interest in how we fix some of the challenges we've been experiencing for some time now. It was a very emotional room... there were tears among our coaches," @stacydavisgates says.
@stacydavisgates "I do not want to hear fair share... we have given enough, it's time to give something back," @stacydavisgates says of @chicagosmayor's budget address.
Good morning from City Hall, where @SEIU73 @CTULocal1 are already marching more than an hour before @chicagosmayor gives her budget address.
Chants include “When I say fair, you say contract” and “5-6-7-8 come on Lori, negotiate.”
Chants include “When I say fair, you say contract” and “5-6-7-8 come on Lori, negotiate.”
Loop prepared for lockdown
March has begun down Randolph towards City Hall.
The band is very good.
I’ve maybe looped the City/County building with the march three times. Every time I see something new.
Aldermen holding “Chicago is not broke, the city’s priorities are,” sign outside the LaSalle St. entrance to City Hall: @RossanaFor33 @CDRosa @AldMattMartin @AldermanLaSpata @ByronSigcho @Andrefor40th @rodriguezfor22 @mariahadden49 @Mariafor49
We’re about 10 minutes away from the mayor’s budget address. “I think we’ll all be pleased to hear that we’re moving in the right direction,” @Ald_Reboyras tells reporters. I’ll be hopping over to a different thread for #ChiBudget2020 🔜
@RossanaFor33 @CDRosa @AldMattMartin @AldermanLaSpata @ByronSigcho @Andrefor40th @rodriguezfor22 @Mariafor49 INBOX: @ChiPubSchools announces no school tomorrow.
@RossanaFor33 @CDRosa @AldMattMartin @AldermanLaSpata @ByronSigcho @Andrefor40th @rodriguezfor22 @Mariafor49 @ChiPubSchools Both Mayor Lightfoot and members of the CPS bargaining team had press conferences today. Aside from sticking to her guns on not lengthening the year, she said she won't budge on the contract length either. "5 years. 5 years. That's what the fact-finder found, it'll be 5 years."
@RossanaFor33 @CDRosa @AldMattMartin @AldermanLaSpata @ByronSigcho @Andrefor40th @rodriguezfor22 @Mariafor49 @ChiPubSchools Still working through class size, staffing, veteran teacher and paraprofessional pay. "The details are moving, there's been a good back and forth... the open issues we're still trying to land... today was a good day," @CTULocal1's Jennifer Johnson says.
@RossanaFor33 @CDRosa @AldMattMartin @AldermanLaSpata @ByronSigcho @Andrefor40th @rodriguezfor22 @Mariafor49 @ChiPubSchools @CTULocal1 Heard the word "progress" quite a few times from CTU tonight – ICYMI, no school tomorrow. There's no stream on CPS' upcoming presser, so follow @NaderDIssa @SSKedreporter @Yanazure if you aren't already.
Been out of pocket on maid of honor duties all weekend - latest in my inbox at 7 from @CTULocal1 and a bit later from @chicagosmayor:
@CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor Mayor tonight: "This is, by any estimation, an incredible offer... and CTU has not accepted it... CTU simply cannot take yes for an answer."
@CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor We as adults have our greatest responsibility (to children) – deeply sad to tell them there won't be class tomorrow, Lightfoot says.
@CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor A deal nearly finalized with SEIU, Jackson and Lightfoot say. The union still has to go through ratification process with members.
@CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor "This is the strongest offer the CTU has ever received from the city," including staff requirements in writing. $70 million to enforce staffing targets that they outlined, prioritizing highest risk schools in communities we believe need additional resources, @janicejackson says.
@CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson We've put $25M on the table to hire teachers and TAs in highest priority schools... in writing. "That has never been done before and we think that needs to be acknowledged... every investment focused on equity," Jackson says.
@CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson Strongest compensation package we've ever put forward. 16% raise across the board. By end of this contract, avg teacher will make $100k+, Jackson continues.
CTU said they need another $100M to open schools, not $38M you've been hearing them talk about publicly.
CTU said they need another $100M to open schools, not $38M you've been hearing them talk about publicly.
@CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson "We're happy we were able to close out SEIU today," Jackson says. The team is still negotiating tonight.
"The ball is decidedly in CTU's court," Lightfoot says.
"The ball is decidedly in CTU's court," Lightfoot says.
@CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson "We will be able to provide you those specifics once we know this contract has been ratified," with SEIU, mayor says.
@CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson CTU having a presser in about 5 minutes – it will be streaming here: facebook.com/pg/ctulocal1/v…
@CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson "Class size offer on the table right now effectively provides class size protections for only 1/3 of the entire city," @stacydavisgates says. "Please ask CPS or the mayor if they can tell you their deal provides class size protections for all students in every school."
@CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson @stacydavisgates SDG: When I hear there's a deal on the table and we can't say yes... I say, do we say yes to inequity? ... Our members did not take an authorization vote, they have not walked a picket line to go back to their schools with half measures.
@CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson @stacydavisgates We won a contract clause about adults at CPS having access to clean bathrooms, @SharkeyCTU1 says.
@CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson @stacydavisgates @SharkeyCTU1 Union asked whether the mayor had put more money on the table since she said there was none left. "Yes," Sharkey says, to laughter. "You think that if you were bargaining a contract and you wanted a deal, you wouldn't say there's nothing more to be had..."
@CTULocal1 @chicagosmayor @janicejackson @stacydavisgates @SharkeyCTU1 Sharkey suggests Lightfoot doesn't have the will to get a deal done and is being "petty."
Hello from outside City Hall, where some @CTULocal1 folks marching.
ICYMI: deal at hand with @SEIU73 but not CTU
Trying to find out whether members might join anti-Trump protests a few blocks away. Folks on the picket line say there’s not a plan to.
Oh, also today is the start of both city and county budget hearings.
Oh, also today is the start of both city and county budget hearings.
Constance Nolan is a school nurse who is at a different school every day - she splits her day on Friday. Here’s her sign from the 2012 strike, with updated prices.
Big group of students just joined the line, chanting “student power.” Spotted @ByronSigcho in the crowd.
Students reshuffling to form a single file line around City Hall to sit for 40 min - one min for each student in CPS’ most crowded classrooms. Seeing students from Kenwood, Lakeview, Morgan Park, Lindblom, Ogden, and @GKMC18.
Some chalk work examples:
Here are some details of the tentative agreement with SEIU, per the mayor’s office:
"I can tell you the bargaining committee voted unanimously to recommend the contract to their colleagues," SEIU's Dian Palmer said at a ~2:30 press conference. 7,500 members will stand with CTU at the picket line "until the end."
SEIU ratification voting is today and tomorrow.
SEIU ratification voting is today and tomorrow.
Ratification only requires 50%+1 of union members to approve.
Got my hopes up a little that there was a deal when CPS tweeted that they _hadn't_ tweeted schools were canceled. Nevermind. No class tomorrow. Day 9.
Sounding off on @CTULocal1 targeting Lincoln Yards? @AldermanHopkins, who says he's disappointed "CTU believes it is necessary to engage in intentional deception and false narratives as a means to advocate for such worthy and justifiable expenditures of public tax dollars."
@CTULocal1 @AldermanHopkins I wrote a bit about the role of LY in the strike: chicagobusiness.com/education/no-m…
Been off the CPS beat a bit while at #ObamaSummit, but just got this text from the @CTULocal1 feed — no tentative agreement (TA) and mayor and CPS were “misleading.”
@CTULocal1 More in a CTU release: "another example of the mayor’s pattern of ultimatums, misinformation, and spin to undercut our effort to bargain a fair contract, instead of investing the additional resources necessary to set CPS on a trajectory of equity, justice, and quality education."
CTU’s House of Delegates to meet at 6. Unclear when voting might start - there’s a holdup over school days getting added to the end of the year.
Now at SEIU Local 73, who are celebrating “historic win” of their latest tentative agreement and voting results. A couple CTU folks here as well, who got big cheers when they came in.
SEIU folks have been without a contract since July of 2018. The five year agreement would be retroactive, and last through 2023, same as parks. Big raises for custodians, SECAs and security officers in store.
"None of this would have been possible without our brothers and sisters in the movement," @SEIU73's Dian Palmer says, introducing Christel Williams-Hayes from @CTULocal1. She says "both unions were stronger" for having contracts expire at same time.
@SEIU73 @CTULocal1 "We are looking at major wins" Williams-Hayes says, on PSRP pay, class sizes funding for sports, pay for veteran teachers and more. "We couldn't have done it without standing together with you."
"No one should go back until we all go back in those buildings together."
"No one should go back until we all go back in those buildings together."
@SEIU73 @CTULocal1 "Winning these contracts is not the end of our fight... we have to continue to know that solidarity is important... we will stand with you as we move forward," Williams-Hayes says.
@SEIU73 @CTULocal1 SEIU Local 73 says they received 97% ratification of this tentative agreement.
SEIU Local 73 approves agreement with city, but aren’t going back in until CTU has a deal chicagobusiness.com/education/seiu… via @crainschicago
@CrainsChicago I'm camped out not far from CTU HQ – media not allowed in. One teacher heading in said she wasn't ready to OK a contract, that class size caps didn't go far enough. Another ran away when I said "reporter." Could be "the longest meeting of all time," another said.
@CrainsChicago “The district is in the process of gathering a full understanding of potential outcomes and next steps regarding whether or not the district will make up school days missed beyond eight,” CPS told @kimgeiger yesterday. chicagotribune.com/news/ct-cps-st…
@CrainsChicago @kimgeiger Feel like getting into the nitty gritty? @BrandisFriedman has an internal @CTULocal1 doc from yesterday on where the union stood v. the district's proposals:
@CrainsChicago @kimgeiger @BrandisFriedman @CTULocal1 Even more nitty gritty deets via @chalkbeatCHI
HOD has been meeting for two hours now. Could still be a while.
Teacher Teresa Martinez exited a few minutes ago, said she doesn’t think there will be school tomorrow.
Delegates told us we are not going back to work unless we make up instructional days, @SharkeyCTU1 says.
The mayor has said instructional time is important... we need to see our kids and have makeup instructional time... the kids and parents want it, @AFTunion’s Randi Weingarten says. I’m asking the mayor in good faith: let’s close this chapter together.
The contract “is historic,” @iftaft’s Dan Montgomery says. Boards of Ed previously wanted to “punish” strikers, but times have changed, he says. “Virtually every single day” has been made up in other IL school districts.
“Right now we feel this is punitive on the mayor’s part,” @SharkeyCTU1 says.
Sharkey: Important things were accomplished in the last ten days... Now we feel like we’re being punished for the audacity to fight the mayor... She didn’t have to wait until September to negotiate class size with us.
Strikes end with a return to work agreement, Sharkey says, insisting makeup days have “always been a thing” and she should not be surprised they are demanding it. “I’ll take her call.”
Why wasn’t the vote unanimous? “Teachers are some of your most well read individuals... ask questions, interrogate information... we do not expect consensus in our house... it is raucous in this house.” The division was not unexpected, @stacydavisgates says.
The union plans to show up at 10a at City Hall to demand the mayor restore instructional time.
"Jesse Sharkey came into my office, laid out six issues... he gave me his word" there were no other issues. "At some point the negotiations have to end."
"We thought we understood every issue that was on the table."
"We thought we understood every issue that was on the table."
"I'm not compensating them for days they were out on strike," Lightfoot says at her PM presser.
"Children will not need to make up days," to meet state standards, Lightfoot says. "This gives me no pleasure whatsoever."
The fact that children are not in school tomorrow is "on them."
She reiterates that Sharkey gave her his word that the 6 issues he laid out were it.
The fact that children are not in school tomorrow is "on them."
She reiterates that Sharkey gave her his word that the 6 issues he laid out were it.
Lightfoot holding presser this AM - I’d CTU wants to compromise, willing to listen. We cannot allow CTU leadership to make repeated new demands and move goal posts unilaterally and repeatedly.
We cannot drag this out any longer, @janicejackson says. Many families have already begun to make plans - if we add all ten days, year would go into the summer.
I have no sense they’re willing to compromise, the mayor says (meaning back off of 10 days *all* being made up).
“He’s waiting for my call? They gave us a unilateral take it or leave it demand,” @chicagosmayor says.
Suggests she cannot rely on @SharkeyCTU1’s word.
“He’s waiting for my call? They gave us a unilateral take it or leave it demand,” @chicagosmayor says.
Suggests she cannot rely on @SharkeyCTU1’s word.
Janice Jackson - we’re on day 11 - no way to make that up without taking away winter break or extending far into the summer, “really disrupt” family plans.
Lightfoot - We’ve talked to ISBE, no need to make up extra days at this point.
Lightfoot - We’ve talked to ISBE, no need to make up extra days at this point.
Lightfoot - What we have is a take it or leave it demand... not going to negotiate in public. If there’s a conversation to be had, we’re open to it. There’s nothing to talk about yet.
Awaiting Sharkey on the 5th floor...
Sharkey’s just arrived and entered the mayor’s office. Waiting for him to enter her inner offices.
Begs the question, what was he doing for the other 45 or so minutes he was in the building?
Jesse Sharkey and Mayor Lori Lightfoot have now been in the mayor’s office for about an hour.
BREAKING - Classes will resume tomorrow, @chicagosmayor says. The two agreed to restore five days.
We’re really interested in unifying our district... need to get back to the work of improving outcomes @janicejackson says. Nothing else besides make up days discussed with @CTULocal1’s @SharkeyCTU1, the mayor says.
CTU’s Stacy Davis Gates: Its unfortunate this turned into a grudge match. This is a sad day for Chicago that a leader at the highest level of government chooses to punish schools with loss of instructional days...
CTU’s Davis Gates: Instead of taking out vengeance on our teachers, she should be high giving them, she should be hugging them... thanking them for courage and leadership.
“Deeply disappointed” in the mayor’s move today.
“Deeply disappointed” in the mayor’s move today.
CTU’s Davis Gates says she’s proud of her members and “deeply disappointed” in the mayor and this is an “ominous” sign for the future.
CTU says the mayor’s taken six days away from them.
Please unroll, @threadreaderapp.
