rahm-STOP THE RAuner aTtAcks DESTROYING our schools Harming our communities serving the rich and powerful ■ Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has ■ As Mayor, Rahm has laid off 7,000 ■ Bruce Rauner owns nine homes been a top advisor to Chicago Mayor teachers and severely cut retirement worth a combined tens of millions of Rahm Emanuel on school closings and income for thousands of seniors who live dollars. Rauner spent more than other harmful education policies. and spend money in our communities. $100,000 to join an exclusive wine club. Juan Rangel, the disgraced former CEO His friend Rauner wants to cut even Asked whether he’s a member of the 1 of charter-school giant UNO, has also more from the limited income of the percent, he responded, “Oh, I’m been a close advisor to Rahm. Rangel elderly. probably .01 percent." stepped down as UNO’s CEO after a ■ Both Rahm and Rauner oppose a ■ After leaving his White House job, series of corporate scandals and minimum wage hike of $15 an hour for Rahm made $18 million working for two federal investigations into UNO’s misuse working families in Chicago despite the years in private equity—essential to his of public funds. need in our communities. An early 2014 success was Rauner’s support. How did ■ Both Rahm and Rauner back budget poll found that nearly two-thirds of Illinois he make so much so quickly? According cuts for public schools and sending voters support a minimum wage of $10 to Ron Suskind, a Pulitzer Prize–winning school money to private an hour. former reporter for the Wall Street organizations beyond the democratic Journal: "Paying someone who will be a control of our communities. future government ofcial a lot of money for doing very little? On Wall Street, we A Rahm-Rauner agenda threatens ALL OF US. call that an investment." We must build our capacity to fight misguided politicians, well-financed corporate school Contribute to reformers, and people who want to turn back the clock on workers’ rights. Visit CTUnet.com/PAC, and make a monthly donation of $5, $10, or $20. the CTU PAC. ChicagoUnionTeacher EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ∕ Stephanie A. Gadlin ASSOCIATE EDITOR ∕ Ronnie Reese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ∕ Gloria Bashir, MSW, Carol Caref, Ph.D., Matthew Clam, MA, M.Ed., Susan Hickey, LSCW, Lillian Kass, John Kugler, Ph.D., Audrey May, Kathy Murray, Regina O’Connor, Helen Ramirez-Odell, RN, BSN, MA, Kirstie Shanley, Kristen Sudnik CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS ∕ Howard Heath, Sarah E. Hertel, Tyler LaRiviere, Charles Edward Miller, Kathy Murray, Jackson Potter, Bob Simpson, Sarah-Ji, Tonya Werner-Martin ADVERTISING MANAGER ∕ April Stigger GRAPHIC DESIGN ∕ Eric Ruder PRODUCTION ∕ Eric Ruder ∕ Progress Printing Corp., Inc. OFFICERS Karen GJ Lewis, NBCT ∕ PRESIDENT Jesse Sharkey ∕ VICE PRESIDENT Kristine Mayle ∕ FINANCIAL SECRETARY Michael Brunson ∕ RECORDING SECRETARY Th eChicago Union Teacher is published eight times a year in September, October/November, December, January, February, March, April, May/June. Th eChicago Union Teacher is the offi cial publication of the Chicago Teachers Union, which is the exclusive bargaining agent for teachers, counselors, librarians, clinicians and paraprofessional and school-related personnel in the Chicago Public Schools. Chicago Teachers Union • Local 1 • American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. Th eChicago Union Teacher is affi liated with the International Labor Communications Association and the AFT Communications Network. Chicago Teachers Union affi liations include the Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL), the Illinois State Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (ISFL-CIO), the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). 222 MERCHANDISE MART PLAZA SUITE NO. 400 CHICAGO, IL 60654-1016 TELEPHONE: 312-329-9100 E-MAIL: [email protected] (GENERAL) [email protected] (ADVERTISING) WWW.CTUNET.COM ChicagoUnionTeacher EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ∕ Stephanie A. Gadlin ASSOCIATE EDITOR ∕ Ronnie Reese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ∕ Gloria Bashir, MSW, Carol Caref, Ph.D., Matthew Clam, MA, M.Ed., Susan Hickey, LSCW, Lillian Kass, John Kugler, Ph.D., Audrey May, Kathy Murray, Regina O’Connor, Helen Ramirez-Odell, RN, BSN, MA, Kirstie Shanley, Kristen Sudnik CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS ∕ Howard Heath, Sarah E. Hertel, Tyler LaRiviere, Charles Edward Miller, Kathy Murray, Jackson Potter, Bob Simpson, Sarah-Ji, Tonya Werner-Martin ADVERTISING MANAGER ∕ April Stigger GRAPHIC DESIGN ∕ Eric Ruder PRODUCTION ∕ Eric Ruder ∕ Progress Printing Corp., Inc. OFFICERS Karen GJ Lewis, NBCT ∕ PRESIDENT Jesse Sharkey ∕ VICE PRESIDENT Kristine Mayle ∕ FINANCIAL SECRETARY Michael Brunson ∕ RECORDING SECRETARY e Chicago Union Teacher is published eight times a year in September, October/November, December, January, February, March, April, May/June. e Chicago Union Teacher is the offi cial publication of the Chicago Teachers Union, which is the exclusive bargaining agent for teachers, counselors, librarians, clinicians and paraprofessional and school-related personnel in the Chicago Public Schools. Chicago Teachers Union • Local 1 • American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. e Chicago Union Teacher is affi liated with the International Labor Communications Association and the AFT Communications Network. Chicago Teachers Union affi liations include the Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL), the Illinois State Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (ISFL-CIO), the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). 222 MERCHANDISE MART PLAZA SUITE NO. 400 CHICAGO, IL 60654-1016 TELEPHONE: 312-329-9100 E-MAIL: [email protected] (GENERAL) [email protected] (ADVERTISING) WWW.CTUNET.COM ChicagoUnionTeacher AROUND THE UNION 5 President’s Message 6 Letters 9 Union Strong Retirees 9 A PSRP Poem: “We Don’t Sleep” PENSION FUND 10 Why Does Your Pension Matter? 12 Quick Takeaways: Understanding Pension Funding CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT 14 Another Victory: Bill Hannah Made Whole 17 Labor Relations 101: What Every Principal Should Know 25 OSHA Rights We Need to Enforce 26 One-Day Strike Focuses on Revenue Solutions for Schools OUR DISTRICT 28 Mayor’s Handpicked Board Issues New 1.6% Pay Cut 28 One Step Closer to Elected School Board 29 Keep on Pushing for a Fair Contract and Progressive Revenue 30 CPS Mismanagement Traumatizes Frontline Trauma Workers APRIL 1 ∕ OPT OUT ∕ NURSING IN CPS ∕ UNDERSTANDING edTPA POLITICS 32 Our Emerging Strength ChicagoUnionTeacherapril 2016 / vol. 79 / number 6 FIGHTING FOR TESTING OUR FUTURE 36 Myths and Facts About PARCC in Illinois 39 Testing Reform Victories Surge TEACHER EVALUATION 43 How the edTPA Continues Privatization RESEARCH 46 Nursing in CPS: On the Verge of a Health Crisis EVENTS ▲ 49 Introducing a New Generation to Teacher Unionism Marching on April 1 50 Contract Summit; Polar Plunge Photo: Danielle Villarreal Cover design: Eric Ruder BOOK REVIEW 51 Pedagogy of the City COMMENTARY 52 SEC: It’s Time to Hold the Banks Accountable IN CLOSING 54 Delegates Not Present; In Memoriam THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Sisters and Brothers, Last month, Chicago Public Schools prepare for the SAT and ACT. backed down from CEO Forrest Clay- Children are exposed ever more to pool’s Feb. 2 announcement to temporarily violence and prolifi c poverty, and yet there discontinue the 7 percent pension pickup. are few counselors to help guide them Th e pension pickup is part of the status through this trauma. Students exposed quo that CPS is required by law to main- to rising homicide rates in our city still tain during bargaining, so unilaterally show up to school, bringing their sorrows, discontinuing the pension pickup would fears, anger and despair with them. surely be illegal. We regret, however, that Principals have been forced to cut it took the threat of an unfair labor practice their staff to bare bones, and therefore, strike to induce CPS to reconsider—for class sizes have ballooned and continue now—its ill-advised action of enforcing to grow. All of these cuts, reductions and this cut on teachers, paraprofessionals and actions by the mayor’s handpicked Board clinicians who have borne the brunt of of Education are punitive and do nothing horrifi c attacks against their profession and to improve the quality of education we the students in their classrooms. off er more than 350,000 school children Unfortunately, for us, CPS has a cred- each day. Th ese budget cuts, furloughs, ibility problem. We do not trust what layoff s and a refusal to honor steps and they say. We only brace ourselves for what lanes are all short-term fi xes. they do. While we joined parents, students and Mr. Claypool rescinded his threat, but allies in rejoicing in the Illinois House of he is clear that he will enforce a 7 percent Representatives’ successful passing of elect- April 1 was for communities. April 1 was pay cut “at a future date.” Th is is unwise ed school board legislation, we know that for equitable funding and good governance. and not productive toward concluding a our fi ght is not over. Much like the fair April 1 was for education justice. labor agreement, so therefore, this unfair contract we deserve, we also deserve democ- April 1 was for every single teacher, labor practice remains a concern. But let’s racy and we deserve it right now. So with paraprofessional and clinician who is ded- take a closer look at some other unfair