Staff Of The City's Largest Charter School Network Are Organizing A Union

By aaroncynic in News on Mar 3, 2017 10:25PM

Thousands of supporters pack the streets in the Chicago Loop for the CTU's "day of action" to protest budget cuts. Photo by Aaron Cynic/Chicagoist

Staff at the Noble Network of Charter Schools say they’re in the process of forming a union. If successful, it would be the largest union of charter school staff in the nation, according to a report from WBEZ who first broke the story.

“We are passionate, committed, professional teachers and staff with diverse experiences in the Noble Network of Charter Schools,” organizers of the union wrote in an open letter obtained by the Sun-Times. “We see our students every day and know they are better served by a lasting staff that can advocate for their schools. To this end, we seek a voice at Noble and beyond.”

Several of Chicago’s charter schools have unionized staff, including the ASPIRA network, whose union ChiACTS Local 4343 says voted to authorize a strike last week and plans to set a strike date on Tuesday. The Noble network has more than 800 teachers teachers and staff at 17 schools that serve more than 12,000 students.

In a statement given to the Sun-Times, superintendent Michael Milkie was critical of the idea but not outright opposed to the teachers organizing a union.

“We respect the rights of individuals to organize or not organize, and we will continue to address concerns of teachers, staff, parents, and all members of the Noble community. In my experience as a former CPS teacher, I believe a restrictive union contract could eliminate the curriculum and flexibility we have to best serve our students’ needs.”

The Chicago Teachers Union said it backs the move to organize, saying it stands in “complete solidarity” with those making the effort.

“I am extremely proud of their desire to strengthen their collective voice to advocate for the students they serve,” CTU President Karen Lewis wrote in a statement emailed to Chicagoist. I hope the Noble CEO, principals and Board of Directors grant these educators the respect they have earned and do not interfere with this process, for it is very important that they are free to organize to create the type of learning community and environment that all of Chicago’s children deserve.”