Chicago teachers cancel strike and accept contract

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At a press conference following the House of Delegates meeting, the union reported a spirited discussion, with vious contracts. Under the new contract terms, existing CHICAGO—On Nov. 1 the nearly 25,000-member many teachers distrustful of school board promises members will keep a 7 percent pension benefit paid by Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) announced the results and intentions. The union disclosed that teachers were the district, but all new employees hired after Jan. 1, of a ratification vote on a new contract with Chicago’s still lined up to speak at the meeting when the vote was 2017, will be denied this benefit and instead receive a Board of Education and Democratic Party mayor Rahm Emanuel. With all but 60 schools reporting, 72 percent The total budget outlay for the city over the four-year All CTU members hired before Jan. 1, 2017, will pay of voting members accepted the new contract, while 28 term is reported at $8.9 billion, about 100 million more 2% into the pension fund, with the school board paying percent voted to reject the deal and send its leadership than the proposal offered and rejected by a wide major­ 7%. All union members hired after Jan. 1, 2017, will pay City of the union negotiating team in January of this year. the entire 9% into the pension fund themselves, and the A majority vote of teachers was needed for approval. “The majority of the concerns are always about ‘How The Oct. 19 Chicago Tribune reported: “One CTU The Chicago Board of Education plans a vote on the con­ do we trust the (school) board?’” said union President tract on Dec. 7, the same day it will vote on major city Karen Lewis. “We have been told one thing in the past member approved of a provision that would maintain budget provisions that rely on new contract terms. Pri­ and it didn’t come through, so a lot of people have so the district’s practice of picking up the bulk of pension or to the membership ratification vote the union held much distrust for the board that they wanted to say ‘no’” contributions for all current teachers, but said the rest meetings throughout the city to discuss the pros and After approval by the “big bargaining team” composed of the proposal is ‘crap.’ Another member worried that of 40 teachers, the deal was struck minutes before mid­ maintaining the pension pickup for existing members, On Oct. 18, the CTU House of Delegates, in a non-bind­ night prior to the planned Oct.11 strike date, and teach­ but dropping it for new hires in exchange for offsetting ing advisory vote, tentatively approved the contract ers reported to work the next day as a result. The CTU agreement. In the advisory vote 68 percent of delegates had been negotiating with the mayor and the school In the first two years of the contract the teachers will voted in favor, while 32 percent were opposed—dissent board for nearly two years. The old contract expired in get no raises, but will receive a 2 percent increase in larger than usual for the usually strongly united CTU.

SOCIALIST ACTION NOVEMBER 2016 3 back to the negotiating table. cons of the new contract terms. called to begin. June of 2015. forged at 5 a.m. on Nov. 7. Although details of the settlement have not been released, it appears that the workers will receive about a 10.5% raise in wages over the next five years, but they must pay more for medical ben­ efits. Ratification by the rank and file is scheduled for Nov. 18.

• A Different Health Issue—Work­ day Minnesota reports, “The Univer­ sity of Minnesota is unjustly disciplin­ ing employees who take time off when they are sick, the union representing U food service and maintenance work­ ers says. Joined by other U employees and allies, they held a demonstration Tuesday outside the administration building on the Minneapolis campus.

“‘This is a public health issue that employees who are sick are being forced to work in cafeterias and other areas where they come into contact The deal places further limits on the school board’s obligation to pay the bulk of union member’s pension payments, a benefit won under pre­ taxable 7 percent pay increase and a net loss in pay.

school board will pay nothing. pay raises, would drive a wedge in the union.”

(continued on page 11, in “British Columbia survey shows religion is on decline”)

with students and other staff,’ said Mary Turner, president of the Minne­ sota Nurses Association.” • Looking for Quitters—According to the Albany Times-Union, “As a strike looms at the Momentive chemical plant, the company has mailed its 700 unionized workers a five-page guide on how to quit the union...IUE-CWA Local 81359 President Dom Patrig­ nani said, ‘The company is absolutely desperate in their efforts ... certifica­ tions and knowledge needed to safely operate a chemical facility of this mag­ nitude comes with years of training and experience, which the manage­ ment team lacks. This proves they need our workers more than ever.’” n If you have a labor story appropriate for this column please contact billon­ [email protected]