President Sharkey and CTU counsel spoke to Mayor Lightfoot today. The conversation was cordial. The mayor did reiterate the disappointment she expressed Friday, referring to the "hyper-democratic" nature of the CTU. But as we all know, that is what unions should be: democratic.
The mayor and the CPS CEO refer to "CTU leadership" often, but CTU leadership is the 28,000 rank-and-file teachers, PSRPs, clinicians, librarians, nurses, counselors and other educators. These are the people who run our union. We look to them for direction. That won't change.
Like our officers, staff, members, students and families they serve, and our city at large, the mayor does want to reach an agreement. And she is willing to allow the process the time that is required to come to an agreement.
What our members are asking for is right in line with what school districts are doing across the country. Our union has also successfully been able to reach agreements with our unionized charter schools. We want the same for our educators and students in Chicago Public Schools.
Parents, city, mayor, Board of Ed...everyone is clear: Our members are prepared to keep working and negotiating. If there is a choice to end negotiations, cause a crisis, or cut off 80 percent of students in the city who have chosen remote learning, that choice won't be ours.
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