Chicago Public Schools has indicated it won't budge on the longer day, but with momentum and newfound leverage on the union's side, the district may have no choice but to listen to the teachers' demands.
On Wednesday night, the union's House of Delegates and the CPS board agreed on one thing -- both unanimously voted down the arbitrator's report that recommended teacher raises of 15 to 20 percent in the first year and 35.74 percent at the end of a four-year contract.Each rejected the report for its own reasons. CPS, which plans to drain its cash reserves to deal with a deficit estimated at $665 million, says it doesn't have the money to pay for that big of a salary hike.
Union delegates were concerned that the arbitrator's report did not address recall policies for tenured teachers who are laid off, class sizes and other workplace issues.
After the vote, union President Karen Lewis said the arbitrator's report, which strongly backed the union position that teachers be paid more for working a longer day, should change the dynamics of negotiations going forward.
"It's time for us to reset this relationship," Lewis said.
Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey said teachers would be willing to accept less of a pay hike if other concessions are made by the district. "We will moderate the salary demand based on whether or not we have a package of acceptable proposals next year," Sharkey said.
The union is negotiating with a school board handpicked by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who on Wednesday issued a statement that indicated he isn't willing to back down on the longer day.
"Our students need a full school day that gives them an opportunity to compete and succeed. Everything else takes a back seat to this priority," Emanuel said.
Schools chiefJean-Claude Brizardalso emphasized the importance of the longer day.
"The full school day is a needed condition for success, it's not the only condition," Brizard said. "I can't see scaling that back."
In rebuking the fact-finder's report, the two sides set themselves up for an intense period of negotiations if a teachers strike is to be averted. By law, teachers can't walk out until 30 days after the arbitrator's report is rejected -- that's Aug. 18, five days after classes start at one-third of CPS schools.
After nine months of contract negotiations the key issues separating the two sides remain unresolved: annual raises, benefits and the rights of veteran teachers who are laid off.
Teachers entered contract talks last fall asking for a 30 percent raise over two years. CPS countered with 2 percent annually.
The fact-finder's report indicated that neither side has shifted significantly from their initial positions. The union's latest offer, submitted about two weeks ago, is 25 percent over two years, while CPS is offering 8 percent over four years.
The arbitrator, Glencoe attorney Edwin Benn, largely sided with the teachers on salary, questioning why the district would extend the school day when it didn't have the money to pay teachers for the increased time. He also rejected the district's proposal to introduce merit pay and eliminating raises based on experience and pursuing a graduate degree.
Sharkey, a member of the fact-finding panel led by Benn, said in a written response to the report that the union agrees with Benn's salary recommendations. But teachers are concerned about how such steep raises would affect classroom size. CPS officials said the 15 to 20 percent raises would cost the district $330 million next school year and likely force layoffs for about 4,000 teachers.
"It's not just about the salaries, it was never just about the salaries," said Lucky Moliviatis, a history teacher at Farragut Career Academy and a union delegate.
Moliviatis said union leadership told teachers during Wednesday's meeting that classroom sizes could be doubled if teachers get double-digit raises. He also wants a contract that addresses job security.
Linda Goff, a special education teacher at Chappell Elementary School, worries about what lies ahead for teachers if a deal cannot be reached.
"I've been so happy we've had labor peace for so long," said Goff, who said she has put away money in case of a strike. "I'm really worried about a strike. It will upset everything for the school year for both kids and teachers."
Speaking to the school board during a public comment session that preceded Wednesday's vote, Ald. Howard Brookins, 21st, pleaded for a compromise.
"It would be an undue hardship if the two parties cannot come together for the betterment of the children," Brookins said. "At the end of the day, we have a community that is already stretched to the brink, and they don't know what they'll do if school doesn't start on time."
jhood@tribune.com
nahmed@tribune.com
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