Chicago teachers fight back

Scan page 2

5) Reduce the workweek to 30 hours with no cut in pay, and cut the retirement age to 55. Provide unemployment and retirement payments at We propose an EMERGENCY CONGRESS OF LABOR to discuss and 6) To combat inflation: A sliding scale of wages and pensions that match­ 1) Bail out the people, not the bankers! Open the account books of the es the rises in comsumer prices. To combat high medical costs: A free, banks to full public inspection. Nationalize the banks to be supervised by 7) Immediate citizenship for all undocumented workers. No job discrimi­ 2) No foreclosures! No forced evictions! Cancel usurious debt payments, nation; equal pay for equal work — regardless of gender, sexual orienta­ and reduce mortgage payments in proportion to their capitalist-caused 8) Nationalize manufacturing, big agribusiness, energy, and transporta­ 3) Full employment at union wages! An emergency public works program tion corporations and place them under the control of elected committees to employ all jobless workers and youth! Employ people to build what we need — low-cost quality housing, efficient mass transportation, cheap and 9) To mobilize support for the demands it adopts, the EMERGENCY renewable sources of power, schools, clinics — and to conserve our water, CONGRESS should organize ACTION COMMITTEES in every workplace and neighborhood threatened by the crisis. These committees can draw up 4) Immediate and full withdrawal of U.S. troops and mercenaries from Iraq & Afghanistan! Close all U.S. bases abroad! No money for the military 10) To put all these measures into effect, we need a LABOR PARTY — — use funds instead for public works! Convert the war industries to mak­ based on a fighting union movement and all people who are oppressed Socialist Action (ISSN 0747-4237) is published monthly by Socialist Action Publishing Association, P.O. Box 10328, Oakland, CA 94610.

Postmaster: Send address changes to: Socialist Action, P.O. Box 10328, Oakland, CA 94610. RATES: For one year (12 issues, 1st-class mail): U.S., Canada, Mexico — $20. All other countries — $30. Money orders and checks should be in U.S. dollars.

Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of Socialist Action. These are expressed in editorials. Socialist Action is edited, designed, and laid out entirely by volunteer labor. It is printed by members of Local 583, Allied Printing Trades Council, San Francisco, Calif.

Clip and mail to: Socialist Action newspaper, P.O. Box 10328, Oakland, CA 94610.

CHICAGO—While around the country teachers unions are accepting concessionary contracts, a strange thing has happened in Chicago. Teachers have decided to fight back against a school board that is seeking to fundamentally undermine their contract and open the door for massive school closings and privatization of the public schools. The Chicago Teach­ ers Union House of Delegates has voted to strike on Sept. 10 if an agreement is not reached with the school board at that time.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, Barak Obama’s former chief of staff and close political ally, has made busting unions the cornerstone of his mayoralty. CTU has been number one on his hit list. The mayor, with strong backing from right-wing school “reform” orga­ nizations, is attempting to eliminate basic union pro­ tections and end seniority-based salary increases. Em­ manuel’s handpicked school board has proposed that the step-and-lane system, in which teachers receive salary increases based on years of service and levels of education, be replaced by “merit” increases, largely based on students’ test scores. Teachers respond that such a system would weaken education as it would push teachers to “teach to the test.”

Emmanuel has also pushed for a longer school day, which will be introduced this school year. The mayor won the ability to impose a longer school day through a state law passed last year. The union successfully ne­ gotiated an agreement that would not lengthen most teachers’ workdays and rehire close to 500 laid-off teachers. However, as some schools opened in late August, many teachers report that schools are already violating the agreement.

The teachers union has proposed modest salary increases proportional to longer hours worked and Editor: Michael Schreiber Canada Editor: Barry Weisleder — $5 for five months — $10 for 12 months ­ Name Address City State Phone E-mail to make up for a cancelled contractually bargained increase in 2011 that was approved by the school board. The union has also proposed more services for students, including more social workers, libraries, nurses, counselors, and other wrap around services that have been severely cut over the past decade in the school district—where most of the students are poor. CTU has also called for smaller class sizes, so teachers can more effectively work with their students, and an end to school closings.

Zip • Ashland, Ore.: [email protected] • Boston: [email protected] (781) 630-0250 • Carrboro, N.C.: (919) 967-2866, [email protected] • Chicago: P.O. Box 578428 Chicago, IL 60657, [email protected] • Connecticut: (860) 478-5300 • Duluth, Minn.: [email protected]. www.thenorthernworker.blogspot.com • Florida: [email protected] • GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.: [email protected] • Kansas City: [email protected] (816) 221-3638 • LOUISVILLE / LEXINGTON, KY.: [email protected], (502) 451-2193 • Madison, Wis.:

[email protected] • Mankato, Minn.:

[email protected] • Minneapolis/St. Paul: (612) 802-1482, [email protected] (Photos) Chicago teachers rally on Labor Day.

These differing proposals go to the essence of the de­ bate on how to transform troubled public schools. The prevailing wisdom among politicians has been the “blame the teacher” philosophy. CTU has countered with a strategy to improve public schools by provid­ ing more services for the largely low-income student population.

In preparation for a possible strike, the CTU has or­ ganized support from community and parent organi­ zations across the city. Since its new reform leadership was elected in 2010, the CTU has worked with com­ munity groups against proposed school closings and other changes. These ties have made it harder for Em­ manuel to use divisions between parents and teachers.

Local opinion polls show more support for the CTU than for Emmanuel. The union has mobilized members for outreach, including neighborhood leafleting and informational pickets outside of schools. The union is organizing a mass rally on Labor Day that has broad support from other unions. The union has also done outreach to other teachers unions across the country.

Chicago is being used as a test case for breaking the teachers union. If Emmanuel is successful in break­ ing the CTU, we can expect school boards across the country to follow his example and to gut union con­ tracts. All teachers have a big stake in the fight. n • New York City: (212) 781-5157 • Philadelphia: [email protected] • Portland, Ore.: (503) 233-1629 [email protected] • Providence: [email protected] (401) 419-1706 • Salem, Ore.: [email protected] • San Francisco Bay Area:

P.O. Box 10328, Oakland, Ca 94610 (510) 268-9429, [email protected] • WASHINGTON, DC: [email protected], (202) 286-5493 National Office

----- pull-quotes -----

Subscribe to Socialist Action New readers: half-price offer until Dec. 1 — I want to join the Socialist Action Newspaper Supporters Club.

A WORKERS’ ACTION PROGRAM TO FIGHT THE CRISIS take steps to implement the following demands — workers’ committees. decline in value. forests, farmland, and open space. ing products for people’s needs and to combat global warming. SOCIALIST ACTION Closing news date: Sept. 3, 2012

I enclose an extra contribution of: — $100 — $200 — Other 2 SOCIALIST ACTION SEPTEMBER 2012

the level of union wages and benefits. universal, public health-care system. tion, skin color, or national origin. of workers.

more concrete demands than the ones outlined above. and exploited. For a workers’ government!

For info about Socialist Action and how to join: Socialist Action National Office, P.O. Box 10328, Oakland, CA 94610, (510) 268- 9429, [email protected]. Socialist Action newspaper editorial offices: [email protected] Website: www.socialistaction.org WHERE TO FIND SOCIALIST ACTION

Socialist Action Canada

526 Roxton Road, Toronto, Ont. M6G 3R4, (416) 535-8779 www.socialistaction-canada. blogspot.com