Education

Chicago: Teacher’s union fighting for 30% raise by next year

February 17th, 2012 by | Permalink

Teachers ask for extraordinary raise after Chicago proposes longer school days. Photo via CPS.

The Chicago’s Teacher Union is proposing a significant raise for Chicago Public School teachers over the next two years. During recent contract negotiations, the CTU submitted a plan asking for a 24% raise this fall and another 5% raise in the fall of 2013. The pay raise request is likely in response to Chicago’s implementation of an increased school day, which nine Chicago schools started this past September. The extended school day proposal adjusted for teacher’s salaries, giving them an automatic 2% raise without having to renegotiate their contracts.

The case for extended schools days came from Chicago Public Schools who state that Chicago students spend 15% less time in school than the average American public school. The pilot program, supported by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, includes additional time for academics as well as increased time for recess and exercise. Chicago’s school days have been among the shortest of all major urban districts in the U.S.

The Chicago Teacher’s Union has been less than supportive of the pilot program however. They proposed a 75 minute extension to the school day in response, but no extension for teacher’s work days.

The program instituted by the school system, gives cash bonuses to any school who agrees to implement the plan.

The average annual pay raise in the private sector is just under 3%.

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  • http://twitter.com/ClassroomSooth AdamHeenan

    “The average annual pay raise in the private sector is just under 3%.”
    That may or may not be true, but we need to factor in the avg net pay for teachers.  I am a 7th yr teacher in CPS with a masters degree (I paid for myself).  When I got my masters, my paycheck went up $50 to a biweekly $1,700.00.  I get 24 paychecks of this, and I budget accordingly.  I live in the city, and I am legally required to live in the city limits (like police and firefighters).  I was budgeting for a 4% raise this year, but those were unilaterally axed by the CEO/Mayor.
    I pay into my pension 7%, and the city has skimped their other 7%.  We don’t pay into social security.  With all the talk about “sick days,” did you knwo that we don’t get maternity leave or long-term disability until we have USED our sick days?  That’s why we bank them.
    I am not complaining, in fact, I am doing OK for a single male.  But don’t write an article that poses that I am the enemy, here for asking for equal pay for equal work. 
    I know that CPS wastes money on lengthening the school day to improve test sores (not ACTUAL learning) as opposed to investing in its quality workforce.  If we don’t fight for a high-quality curriculum for that time period, than we can expect that students will be spending that extra 90 min plopped down in front of a computer doing test prep.  no child deserves that. 
    Remember parents: good working conditions translate to good learning conditions.  Fight alongside teachers for a better CPS. Your children deserve it :-)

  • Yan Fayman

    “With all the talk about “sick days,” did you knwo that we don’t get maternity leave or long-term disability until we have USED our sick days?  That’s why we bank them”
    - So you get the long term disability and maternity leave after you use your sick days. It does not make sense to save something that you know will be depleted. I think the real reason is pension spiking. Speaking of pensions, don’t complain about yours. The taxpayers that fund most of your pension pay slightly less into SS and get a significantly lower rate of return..

    -Who should pay for a 30% increase? The people of Chicago are almost tapped out as is.  How will it get paid for? Is it fair to give under-performing teachers a 30% raise?

    “The average annual pay raise in the private sector is just under 3%.” 

    -This shows how out of touch public unions are. Over the last 5 years, median income when adjusted for inflation has decreased. Most people in the private sector are getting small raises. If they lose their job, they often have to take a job with lower pay. 

  • http://twitter.com/ClassroomSooth AdamHeenan

    Not when we’re fighting alongside parents for better schools against an autocratic CPS and a dictatorial mayor.  If anything, we won many an ally this past week.

 
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