Vol. 76, No.7 June 2013 Awards & scholarships Student Art, Scholarship, Wardell Pensions Under Attack CTU’s Response to CPS & Springfield Disability Benefits Understanding the new short-term disability policy editor-in-chief Stephanie A. Gadlin COPY Editor Ronnie Reese Contents editorial assistant Trisha Raymond contributing writers Craig Cleve, Stacy Davis Gates, Nathan Goldbaum, Sarah 5 | PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Hainds, Pavlyn Jankov, Dr. John Kugler, Carrie Maxwell, Debby Pope, Jackson Potter, Ronnie Reese, Bonita 6 | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Robinson, and Diana Rosen advertising manager 7 | THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER April Stigger 8 | WHAT’S IN A NAME? graphic design Nathan Goldbaum 9 | WHY WE FIGHT “RIGHT!TO!WORK” production 10 | SHORT!TERM DISABILITY Nathan Goldbaum Progress Printing, Inc. 12 | WHY WE MARCH officers Karen Lewis, President 12 | CTU VOTER REGISTRATION Jesse Sharkey, Vice President DRIVE UNDERWAY Kristine Mayle, Financial Secretary Michael Brunson, Recording Secretary 13 | LEGISLATIVE UPDATE !e Chicago Union Teacher is published eight times a year in September, October, November/December, January, 14 | STUDENT SOLIDARITY FROM WISCONSIN February/March, April, May and June. !e Chicago Union Teacher is the o"cial publication of the Chicago Teachers Union, which is the exclusive bargaining agent for teachers, 15 | CTU IN TORONTO: AT THE school clerks, library assistants, vision/audiometric techni- CUPE CONVENTION cians, teacher assistants, school community representatives, and related services personnel. Chicago Teachers Union • Local 1 • American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. 16 | GLBT COMMITTEE PRESENTS !e Chicago Union Teacher is a"liated with the WARDELL INSPIRATION AWARD International Labor Communications Association and the AFT Communications Network. 16 | CHICAGO FEDERATION OF Chicago Teachers Union a"liations include the Chicago LABOR AWARDS SCHOLARSHIP TO Federation of Labor (CFL), the Illinois State Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (ISFL-CIO), CTU MEMBER’S DAUGHTER the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the Illinois Federation of 17 | CTU AWARDS ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS Teachers (IFT), and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). 18 | 2012!13: A YEAR IN PHOTOS 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza • Suite 400 Chicago, IL 60654-1016 24 | 2013 STUDENT ART AWARDS 312-329-9100 • Switchboard 32 | STILL SEPARATE, STILL UNEQUAL 312-329-6250 • Newspaper O"ce 312-329-6225 • Advertising Manager 33 | THINKING OF A MASTER PLAN Web Site: www.ctunet.com 40 | MAY 17, 2013 ELECTION RESULTS 45 | DELEGATES NOT PRESENT UNION 3 | CHICAGO UNION TEACHER | JUNE 2013 THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Brothers and Sisters: !ank you for all the hard work you did this year to ensure a qual- ity education for all of Chicago’s children. I know this has prob- ably been the toughest year of your career. From those of you who remember the bitter 19-day strike in 1987, to those whose $rst few days on the job were $lled with planning, anticipation and the hard work of a highly visible strike, going back to buildings where many administrators ramped up the hostility towards our profession was di"cult, yet strangely exhilarating. !e unity demonstrated was palpable, and the support from parents, the community and even some media outlets, surprising. Unfortunately, some administrators started violating the contract as soon as the ink was dry in October. But make no mistake—con- tract enforcement begins at each site. For example, some principals are demanding the sta% vote on a schedule for the next year, but if you feel rushed, uninformed or not particu- larly interested, vote for the default schedule. It is imperative that you receive the duty-free lunches and preps to which you are entitled. You must keep track of these. If you decided to work through lunch, that’s a choice and you’ve donated your time. But if your principal insists that you work through your lunch, that’s a contract violation. !is summer, the Chicago Teachers Union will hold contract enforcement workshops throughout the city. !ese are open to all members, and not just delegates, because knowledge is not only power, it will ameliorate the di"culties of many of the top-down mandates you may experience. We also will be engaged in massive voter registration and education organization work. We will o%er professional development courses that provide lane placement credits. However you $nd the time to get involved with your Union, there is a place where you can $nd your niche. I highly recommend that you take advantage of some of the options o%ered to you. We are here for you. A few weeks ago, I had a discussion with a woman who is retiring from the Detroit Public Schools this month. In their district, pensions are calculated on the top three earning years within the last 10. She pointed out that before the last two contracts her top salary had been a little more than $80,000. Now, due to givebacks and other concessions, she earns $65,000. Due to pay freezes linked to merit pay, furlough days, massive layo%s with concomitant increases in class size and a $10,000 giveback to the district, contracts like these are in place all over the country. !is is the wave of a dystopian future, one that you fought on the streets last fall to avoid, and one that we continue to $ght against today. I am extremely proud and humble to serve as your president. Have an eventful and ful$lling summer! In Solidarity, Karen GJ Lewis, NBCT 5 | CHICAGO UNION TEACHER | JUNE 2013 COMMENTARY Letters Thirty Pieces of Silver to the The Mercenary Betrayal of African-American Children editor Through Racist Corporate School “Reform” By Bonita Robinson ike Chicago Public Schools CEO who allowed themselves to be used in the Support from New Orleans CTU service saved my career Barbara Byrd-Bennett, I am a woman execution of oppressive acts against disen- of color. However, unlike Byrd-Bennett, franchised African-Americans. As one whose I am a New Orleans resident very much I am simply writing this letter as a thank L who began her recent association with 39-year career was dedicated to serving the moved by the news of your local school you to the union for its tremendous help. I CPS on the heels of the execution of mass children of Chicago, I am outraged when- closings. must make a confession $rst. I was one of the write us! school closings in two other major cities, I be- ever I detect this deplorable ritual being prac- teachers who looked at the dues that are paid gan a lifelong association with the CPS upon ticed by anyone, but especially by those who, I want to help in any way to stop this deci- out of every paycheck and cringed. I could entering kindergarten in 1956. I $nd her de- like mercenaries, are “just passing through” sion from continuing. If there are any local not believe I was paying over $1,000 a year in nial of the racist nature of Chicago’s school on their career ladders. It is time to end the protests or petitions which need support, I dues. A&er these last few weeks, I will never closings to be disingenuous and dangerous to modern day Tuskegee experiments that have NEED to help. Please let me know what I can doubt the dues again! Without going into too the well-being of African-American students been imposed by mayoral control and CPS do to support this cause. much information, I found myself needing who deserve excellence and equity from the policies. legal representation for a situation that oc- education that CPS delivers. Monet Charise curred two weeks ago. I secured an attorney Bonita Robinson, a recently retired reading New Orleans who would have charged me an arm and a With more than a half-century of a direct specialist, was awarded the Illinois Governor’s leg to represent me, but out of necessity, I had connection with CPS as a student and edu- Master Teacher Award while teaching at Duke to have him. It wasn’t until I spoke to [$eld cator, I $nd this current time of “reform” Ellington Elementary School in Austin. Solidarity from New York representative] Joey McDermott about the to be the most brutal, deceptive and rac- !ank you for your $ght for educational jus- situation that I realized that since the situa- Send your correspondence to !e CUT, ist era of all. Even my experiences attend- tice and teacher respect/professionalism. I tion occurred at my job during work hours, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite ing classes in racist “Willis” wagons and in along with the many teachers in NYC stand the Union could provide me with an attorney. 400, Chicago, IL 60654 or via email: four-hour shi&s in overcrowded schools in in solidarity with you and the teachers of Jennifer Poltrock contacted me almost imme- [email protected]. Letters may the 1960s pale in comparison to experiences Chicago. Stay strong and do let us know how diately and told me everything would be okay. be edited for clarity and space pur- that African-American students today must we can help the cause. She instantly made me feel 100 percent better. poses. We reserve the right to reject confront, such as the diversion of resources When I questioned her about her compensa- submissions. followed by the luring of student popula- Michele Persaud tion, she told me that as a union member, I tions from neighborhood schools to charter New York would not have to pay any additional funds. schools; the denial of instructional time due Making a long story short, she was there to excessive testing practices; the decimation to represent me when I had to go to court.