Report on the meeting of the House of Delegates held on December 7, 2022
The meeting began at 4:54 p.m..
In the pre-meeting Q and A, retire delegate Lou Pyster urged that since Chuy Garcia has entered the race for mayor, that the CTU not do any “trash talk” since we have earlier endorsed Brandon Johnson. If Garcia gets into a run-off and wins, we need to make sure we don’t get him angry with us before he gets elected.
Pyster also asked if there has been any action in Springfield that could affect us. Pres. Davis Gates directed him to speak with Kurt Hilgendorf and that more information about action in the General Assembly will be presented at future meetings.
Delegate Dorothy Moneghan asked why drivers ed teachers are paid less than the Instructional rate. Davis Gates agreed that this is a problem that will need to be addressed in out next contract talks.
Another delegate asked if there will be any repercussions if teachers use a sick day on Friday, December 23. She was told that benefit days like this are contractual obligations that cannot be negated and not to be intimidated by over zealous principals.
Another delegate asked about the successful passage of the Workers’ Rights Amendment to the Illinois constitution. The CTU’s legal counsel, Robert Bloch, said that it insures that Illinois will not become a right to work state and that workers for non-governmental entities can still negotiate fair share clauses in their contracts. Delegate De Silva from Curie said that teachers voted unanimously in June to reject a program called “Branching Minds” but the principal is trying to implement it anyway. She was told to use the PPC to push back and the CTU will have someone at the school on Friday to assist them.
I. Officers’/Committee Reports
A. Christel Williams- Hayes – Recording Secretary. Christel iust returned to work after contracting Covid, the flu, and RSV! She said that there is always a need for donations to the CTU’s Student Special Assistance Fund that helps supply eyeglasses, hearing aids, and clothes to students in need.
Christel also said the Union is collecting toys and winter coats. Anyone who wishes to donate these items may drop them off at the Union office until December 15.
B. Kurt Hilgendorf gave the financial report. He said that membership since the start of the year is trending up and we are now getting regular dues payments through the CPS to overcome the operating deficit for the first few months of the fiscal year. He said we get about $3 million a month from dues; $100,000 of that is from charter school members. As of September 30 we have received over $509,000 more in income while our spending is $468,896 less than budgeted, so we are in good shape.
` C. Maria Moreno – Financial Secretary – Our membership is 27,688 of which 1,688 are retirees.
The Union is holding a New Member December Event for those who joined the Union in the last five years. It will be held from 11:00 – 3:00 p.m. on December 18.
Nominations for the position of retiree Functional Vice President to serve on the Executive Board end on December 8. After nominees have been certified, ballots to retired teachers will be mailed starting January 27, 2023 and will be due back in the CTU office by February 14.
D. Jennifer Conant – Charter Division – Jennifer reported that 35 charter schools in 13 different charter networks have their contracts expire this summer. Anything the Charter Division gets will be used for the basis of negotiations of our contract that expires in 2024. Besides improved pay and benefits, the Charter Division wants an increased hiring of teachers of color and equipment and procedures to provide for safer schools.
E. Jackson Potter - Vice President –Jackson reported that the CPS has passed a bond issue to raise money for greener schools. This can be used to make improvements and repairs in older buildings.
The CTU has over 400 people who want to join in the We Care Coaching and Mentoring program the CTU has started. It is designed to help the morale of teachers with just a few years in the system and aims to increase the retention rate for those individuals.
Jackson said that February 6-10 will be the “Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action”.
Unfortunately, Jackson reported that vaccinations rates are down.
Jackson said that the CPS agreed to increase Parental Leave from 2 weeks to 12 weeks. This was accomplished through a joint CTU-CPS committee that looked at the insurance plans that are offered by the Board. He also expects them to agree to a number of other improvements including free insulin pumps, free flu shots and no costs for first and second breast biopsies.
F. Casey Sweeney – Organizing. Casey said that delegates should invite CTU staff to attend union meetings in their schools.
Casey also asked for retirees to try to get to Federal Plaza tomorrow, December 9, to participate in a rally for Star Bucks workers (sorry about getting this out at the last minute). It was suggested that members forego purchasing Star Bucks gift cards this season.
Lastly, the Grassroots Collaborative, of which the CTU is a member, is developing a “People’s Platform” with six major areas of concern and they will be asking for municipal candidates to support their proposals.
G. Stacy Davis Gates – President’s report. Stacy said that we need to take credit for the work we do and celebrate those among us do outstanding work. To that end she recognized Lauren Bianchi (Washington H.S.), Tennille Evans (CTU staff), Lori Torrees (Monroe School and 36th ward aldermanic candidate), and Zeidre Foster (CTU grievance department).
Stacy also spoke about Brandon Johnson for Mayor and how helpful it would be to have someone in City Hall who will be willing to work with us and not against us.
H. Curtis Bynum – Grievance Department. Curtis reported that a P.E. teacher who quit a job when offered a new one but was then denied the new position was awarded over $3,100 for his lost salary. In another case a teacher who was improperly laid off while someone with less seniority was retained was made whole with a check for over $35,000. Teachers at a school that had to take on extra lunch supervision but not properly paid were awarded between $100 and $1,000. Teachers at Latino Youth H.S. were given about $700 to compensate for unilateral changes in their health coverage.
Curtis concluded his remarks by saying that schools still have safety committees and delegates should make use of them. They can not only deal with COVID related issues but with other things like temperature control.
I. Hilario Donminguez. Hilario said that our endorsed candidates won 34 out of 34 contests. He stressed that we need to continue this into next year with a “red wave”. He asked that the membership volunteer to help our endorsed candidates and that all donate to the CTU PAC fund.
II. Items for Action
A. The House voted to endorse aldermanic candidates Matthew “Khari” Humpries (4th Ward), Desmon Yancey (5th Ward), Rev. Will Hall (6th Ward), Oscar Sanchez (10th Ward), Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez (25th Ward), and Angela Clay (46th Ward).
I voted in support of these endorsements. However, there were a few proposals to endorse alternate individuals. The first was to endorse Froylan Jimenez (11th). Stacy pointed out that he went in to schools when the CTU asked teachers to stay out last February and that he is constantly writing to “Letters to the Editor” in the Sun Times that are critical of the CTU, its leadership and its policies. I voted “No” on his possible endorsement as did the overwhelming majority of the House. There was a tiny scattering of delegates who voted in his favor.
Retiree Delegate Pat Boughton wanted to have the CTU endorse Sharon Pincham, but was ruled out of order. Her proposal was referred to committee. It was explained that Ms Pincham was not considered for endorsement as she had not reached out to the CTU seeking an endorsement.
Another delegate wanted to endorse someone in the 6th Ward who had been the editor of the Hyde Park Herald and now lived in Woodlawn. Stacy said that the endorsement committee had decided to go with someone else. Delegate Natasha Carlson motioned to defer endorsement of Rev. Hall for the 6th Ward until another candidate can be considered. Her motion failed and I abstained from voting on this item as I am unfamiliar with the individuals involved.
B. Next was a “Resolution to Demand the City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District Stop Allowing Douglass Park to Be Used for Large, For-Profit Festivals”.
Douglass Park has become the new site for “Riot Fest” and holding it there means the public park is off limits to the public for over two months; some of the time for the Festival but mostly for pre-festival preparation and then clean up and restoration. There added two more festivals there. Delegate Kevin Brown felt the resolution dealt with an issue that is outside of the Union’s purview. However, Kim Goldbaum works at a school by the park and said that the festival took place and students saw half drunk, scantily clad festival goers; not good role models. Another delegate said she lived by the park for 60 years and now she cannot use it for much of the summer. I voted “yes” on this and it passed with only 5-10 “nays” from the assembly.
C. The last item was titled “Resolution to Defend Bi-Lingual education”. One delegate pointed out a federal law passed in 1968 has largely been ignored by the CPS for decades. Students are supposed to have proper materials and teachers fluent in the students’ home languages. Among other things, the resolution demands that CPS pay the tuition costs of those teachers who return to school to learn the languages of their students. I voted “yes” and it passed unanimously.
III. New Business/Question and Answers
Retiree Delegate Lou Pyster asked again about the status of renaming some Chicago schools. He suggested a few names, including Jacob Lawrence, Mary Lou Hamer and Congressman John Lewis.
Pyster also made a four-part motion that included a) the CTU NOT give any monetary donations to non-endorsed candidates, b) that any donation of $40,000 or more must first be approved by the House, c) that donations of $10,000 or more be posted on the CTU website with ten days and d), that candidates receiving any donations from the CTU must agree not to then donate those funds to other candidates. Pres. Davis Gates referred the proposal to a committee.
The delegate from Bright School (I think her name is Tai Tai) read a statement very critical of the Union leadership for ignoring the issue of reparations to foundational Black Americans and for not visiting schools in person.
At that point a motion to adjourn passed. It was 7:21 p.m..