President’s message: Fighting Our new contract includes historic Per the CTU Constitution, an to win—at the bargaining protections for special ed teachers independent auditor has issued table, in the streets and at and students, but we must stay this annual report on Union the ballot box PAGE 3 organized to enforce them PAGE 5 fi nancial statements PAGE 10 –13 CHICAGOUNIONTEACHER January–February 2020 ⁄ Volume 83 ⁄ Number 4

Also in this issue...

Many Black students today will never have a Black teacher, but an ongoing CTU civil rights lawsuit aims to change that PAGE 2 Building

One teacher’s unique specialty: confronting white political nationalism in our classrooms and creating the resources to do so PAGE 7 power

Our strike breathed new life into our fi ghts for an elected school board and restoration of full CTU bargaining rights.

To win, we must build a campaign that unites our buildings, our parents and our community and legislative allies in the fi ght for justice and equity.

PAGES 8 and 9 UNION TEACHER CARROLL W. / 1901 AVENUE / CHICAGO, IL 60612

Two poetic refl ections on Black History Month, one by a high school student and one by a high school teacher. Amandla! PAGE 15 Ain’t no stopping us now Delegates, school leaders training zeroes in on organizing at the heart of CTU wins

BY CTU COMMUNICATIONS Bessie Watts, a school clerk, found the training particularly hat strike, you all? helpful because she is new to her Thank you, because school. “T somehow, they found “I got an understanding of how some money for our schools. But early childhood works, some of those 11 days you went on strike? the provisions that are made for It’s not going to be enough.” it, and I can take that back and This is what 20th Ward alder- share with my teachers,” she said. man and Dyett hunger striker “Even though we’re in a great CPS on trial: Protecting Jeanette Taylor told those as- school, I know we can be better sembled for the Chicago Teach- and this training gives us the ers Union Delegates and School ability to communicate with each Black educators Leaders Training in January. other and be stronger as a union.” That message was echoed Jill Sontag, a third grade dual throughout the day as nearly 300 language teacher at Volta Ele- CTU delegates and members met mentary, wanted to learn best Displaced Black teachers call on CPS to to discuss how to ensure educators practices for her school’s new and their students reap the bene- Professional Problems Commit- settle federal civil rights lawsuits, re-establish fits promised in the new contract. tee (PPC), the topic of one of the “Look, when CPS violates the day’s workshops. pipeline and retention for educators of color contract, there’s no bolt of light- “I really want to learn how ning that shoots down from the to make our PPC fully function- sky to enforce it,” CTU Director al and effective,” she said. “And of Member Organizing & Rep- long-term, how to engage and BY CTU COMMUNICATIONS in 2011, Black teachers com- of City Hall, with Mayor Lori resentation Matthew Luskin develop really active members.” prised 28 percent of the teach- Lightfoot in charge of every- said to members. “Understand- Union field representative he Chicago Teachers ing force, but only 43 percent thing in Chicago—from hous- ing what’s in the contract is only Lisa Pattara-McGrane offered Union has filed an ap- of the laid off educators. In ing policy, to transportation, half the battle; filing a grievance members some concrete tips for Tpeal following a ruling 2012, Black teachers made up to economic development. The is only half the battle.” organizing the campaigns that by a federal judge dismissing just 27 percent of the tenured loss of Black teachers and para- “What we need are effective are at the heart of many contract a 2012 class action lawsuit teaching force, but only 52 per- professionals is the result of the strategies in our schools to or- victories: against cent of the teachers terminated same racist plans that razed ganize and fight back,” Luskin 1. Read your contract cover to that alleged discriminatory lay- from the turnarounds. public housing, closed more added. That’s how we win.” cover because all the articles offs. U.S. District Judge Jorge Over the last 20 years, than 100 schools and imposed The training offered 10 differ- work together. Alonso found the district’s pro- turnarounds, school closings turnaround on many others. ent workshops addressing specific cedures to be “reasonable and and layoffs have pushed 5,000 As the Union appeals the areas of contract enforcement, and 2. Attend Local School Council practical,” but acknowledged Black educators from the sys- judge’s decision, we dare the helping members organize inside meetings and bring your par- that the layoffs negatively af- tem and evidence presented by mayor and CPS CEO Jan- of their school buildings. Topics ents, who are some of your best fected Black educators. CTU in both lawsuits has doc- ice Jackson to allow Donald included enforcing class size and and loudest allies. Alonso disagreed with a umented the discriminatory Trump’s federal court system to special education wins; bilingual 3. Reach out to parents through CPS argument that things effect of those policies. decide if Black educators—who and sanctuary protections; how to the LSC, Bilingual Advisory turned out “fine” for the 335 “This lawsuit is about de- look just like them—should be be an effective delegate; how to or- Committee and Parent Advisory Black educators who found cades of City Hall stacking the able to work in Chicago’s pub- ganize strong school; and how to Committee. full-time jobs at new schools, deck against Black communi- lic schools. It is shameful for ensure that the additional staffing 4. Join your school’s PPC. as well as others who became ties, and a natural consequence a school system run by Black and resources get to our schools, substitute teachers or retired. of policies that have disenfran- women, who know the impact among other topics. 5. Wear CTU red on Fridays to Many CPS students of color chised Black people,” CTU Vice of racism on a personal level, to Susan Tossi, a third and show your strength and unity today will never have a single President Stacy Davis Gates carry out this antiquated plan fourth grade language arts teach- and join CTU committees. Black teacher during their time said. “Instead of hiring and re- to continue to destabilize Black er with ballooning class sizes at CTU Vice President Stacy Da- in public school, despite exten- taining experienced educators Chicago at the same time they her school, was especially inter- vis Gates summed up the goal of sive research showing that both from places like Chatham, Aus- claim to want more Black edu- ested in understanding the new the day’s training. Black and white students bene- tin, South Shore and Garfield cators in CPS. class size provisions and how she “If you’re a school leader and fit from having Black teachers. Park to teach and nurture Black In addition to seeking mon- can use them to get relief for her you don’t have three or four ride- In a district that is more than and Brown students, CPS chose etary awards for the displaced colleagues and their students. or-die people in your building, one-third African-American, to fire them, close and turn- educators, the Union is push- “I came to the conference to try we’re not organizing enough,” the presence of Black teachers around their school communi- ing the district to reestablish a to understand the enforcement of she said. “You need a team… This is needed to increase education- ties, and then hire a less experi- hiring pipeline through Chica- the class size, and I’ve learned a lot is too much work for any one per- al outcomes for Black students, enced and cheaper labor force. go State University and retain of good things,” she said. “Number son to do