Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago Teachers Union negotiated a very generous pay raise for its members and they went on strike anyhow. Go figure, what are they striking for anyhow, respect? Let’s be very clear, Chicago Public School teachers are amongst the best and brightest this country has to offer. CPS teachers are community leaders, it is their hard work which sends many kids off to secondary education, and the teachers are a central pilar in the revitalization of Chicago communities.
The leadership under Karen Lewis has sacrificed the majority of teachers — which are high performing leaders — for a minority of underperforming teachers. Following Karen Lewis’ speach Sunday night, the local news media questioned ‘what are the issues for this strike?’. Karen Lewis had the opportunity to state the shortcomings of a negotiation, but failed, and failed miserably to explain to an audiance who has heard little about the details which separate management and labor. Lewis told the public they will strike but not because of the economics of the deal; you are fools because that’s the most important aspect of a labor negotiation!
The Chicago Teachers Union successfully negotiated a very generous pay raise from a broke city, which results in higher take home pay today from a system where the pension fund has been abused and is vastly underfunded.
Chicago Public School teachers you deserve the respect of better leadership.