CPS, Teachers Union Pay Raise Stalemate Continues

Talks have broken down between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union on negotiating a cost of living wage increase, meaning teachers will enter the school year without a pay raise for the first time since 1994.

The Chicago School Board voted to rescind a 4 percent pay raise due teachers in June by invoking a "reasonable expectations" clause in the collective bargaining agreement and claiming, since the school system already was faced with a massive budget deficit, they couldn't afford the $100 million for the pay raises.

CTU President Karen Lewis immediately announced the union''s intention to negotiate a pay raise with CPS. The union even said it would accept a lower pay raise. The School Board said it couldn't afford a pay raise “of any amount between 0 and 4 percent.”

The breakdown in talks could further speculation the Teachers Union will go on strike for the first time since 1987. CTU's House of Delegates meets today to discuss re-opening the existing contract or to negotiate a successor to the current contract. Re-opening the current contract could lead to a strike, but it also raises the possibility for Mayor Rahm Emanuel to impose a longer school day and year.

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By Chuck Sudo in News on August 23, 2011 9:05 AM

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ChicagoD

Did you see the four negotiating points put forth by the teachers? First, has to do with rehiring laid-off teachers for new vacancies. That's reasonable. Second, is for CPS to stop doing business with 5 banks that have the most foreclosures. What? This is the kind of demand that is called "not in good faith." Third, is a pledge to cut charter schools to the same extent union schools are cut. Reasonable for the union. Fourth, 2% raises each of the next two years. Uh, that's the 4% raise they "agreed" to forego.

Who runs this idiot union? How about highlighting Brizzard's money and bonuses? How about a single point that has to do with . . . kids? This is going to be a long, ugly strike. The union leadership has some points in their favor, but absolutely no leadership.http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ed...