PACT: ProActive Chicago Teachers and School Employees

…that while Marilyn Stewart got you a 4% raise, she gave herself a 100% raise?  How?  By using CTU's delegates to vote for her to be the #2 officer at the Illinois Federation of Teachers thereby doubling her salary and perks--at your expense!

Did you know...

...that the first order of business for Lynch and the PACT Team was lowering your union dues?  The Constitution was changed and dues were lowered permanently by 5% in September 2001.

Did you know...

...that Lynch's Team lowered their salaries to be what they would make according to the contract for an 8-hour day12 month work year?  They also eliminated a perk that added 24% salary in hidden annuity payments--a perk that was immediately restored by the Stewart team upon taking office. 

Did you know...

...that the CTU Officers refuse to reveal their contracts to delegates and members?  Members who are paying their salaries and expenses have no idea what perks they are giving themselves and, when asked by Delegates, say they don't have to share that information!  All previous CTU Presidents in recent memory have shared that information when asked.  Not this group.

Did you know....

...that due to the CTU's inaction on Renaissance 2010 the CTU has lost thousands of teaching and paraprofessional positions to charter schools and for-profit companies?  This dismantling of our school system must stop!

Did You know...

...that the Lynch team negotiated a deal that prohibited Arne Duncan from closing schools unless and until that school's staff had more time, more resources and a say in the changes they felt were needed?  That deal was dismantled by the Stewart group and as a result dozens of schools have been closed on their watch.

Did you know…..

….that 40 percent of CTU members are at the top step and get a longevity benefit?  The unprecedented PACT contract Article 36-10 (page 137)  provides that teachers at Step 13, with 13-17 years of experience get one additional sick day each year of the agreement (for a total of four over the life of the agreement).  Those with eighteen years or more receive two additional sick days each year (for a total of eight additional sick days).   Each day is worth the equivalent of a ½ percent salary increase if cashed out at retirement.

Did you know…

…that the PACT contract provided--for the first time ever--for the transfer of sick days when teachers seek to donate sick days to a colleague who is suffering from a catastrophic illness or injury (see contract Article 37-4, page 138).

Did You Know...

…that class size was a prohibited subject of bargaining from 1995-2003 and our class size contract language was unenforceable for all of that time?  Since our law change in 2003,class size is now both bargainable and enforceable, including special ed class sizes (see contract p. 103). Special ed class sizes must be in accordance with the state's rules and regulations.  For example, no more than 30% of a regular class can be comprised of special ed students. 

Did you know…

… that before the PACT contract CTU paraprofessionals (ESPs) were literally employees at will, employees who could be let go at any time, for any reason?  New provisions in our current contract (Article 9-6.18, page 57) provide vitally important guarantees of seniority (including seniority from date of hire at CPS), and rights regarding layoffs and recalls.

Did you know....

....that in addition to getting class size back into the contract as a negotiable and enforceable right, there were new enforcement mechanisms and new remedies for oversize classes?  New remedies (see Article 28-3, p.104) include additional teacher aides, extra preps, additional compensation, modified school boundaries and controlled enrollment.  The new Union-Board Class Size Supervisory Committee (Article 28-4) was designed to ensure that recommendations on remedies get implemented.

Did you know…

…that when PATs (or tenured teachers for that matter) are displaced for budget reasons, it is not the PAT language of the contract, but the contractual layoff provision that must apply (see contract, page 290)?   Substitutes, then PATs go before tenured teachers.   (Before the unfair FTB category was eliminated in this contract, a 10-year FTB went before a 1-year PAT.  That was how unfair it was)   System-wide seniority is—and must be-- the only determining factor.