71% members’ ballot to continue remote teaching
By a US correspondent
Teachers in the US city of Chicago, Illinois, members of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), have voted to defy their management of the Chicago Public Schools system who were hoping to reopen schools. The teachers have voted to continue working from home from today because of their concerns on health and safety.
Although under Illinois state law, any strike needs 75% approval of all those eligible to vote for legal ‘authorisation’ this vote was a lot closer than that and is potentially the CTU’s first illegal strike. The CTU, on the other hand, do not consider their action a ‘strike’ because their members will continue to teach remotely.
The Chicago Sun Times reported that City officials have said they consider the refusal to appear in person would be considered a strike. Given the resistance of teachers, they have only delayed the date of the required return to work until Wednesday “to ensure we have the time needed to resolve our discussions without risking disruption to student learning.”
In their website message to members before the ballot a few days ago, the CTU told its members, “Predictably, just like 2019, CPS has dragged its feet at the negotiating table, preferring to dictate terms rather than engage the professional expertise and personal commitment of the educators who actually make our public school communities work. That’s why we’re asking for all members to vote yes on taking action with the entire union in every District school!”
E-ballots were sent out by email last Thursday to nearly 25,000 CTU members working at CPS and 71 percent of members voted to continue teaching remotely, in an 86 percent turnout of voters.
The Chicago Teachers’ Union website explained why it was taking the stance it was:
“We’re voting to work remotely until CPS negotiates an enforceable agreement on safety. We’re ready to keep working and bargaining, but if they lock us out or punish members for staying safe, then the mayor would effectively force us to strike. We hope the mayor doesn’t choose that path, but the more yes votes we gather, the more leverage we have at the bargaining table. Vote yes to take a stand for the most vulnerable among us, and to win safety, equity, and our five key bargaining demands:
1. Enforceable School Safety Protocols
Mutually agreed checklist of school safety features including:
measurable ventilation standards, cleanliness protocols, masking, social distancing and health screener standards
2. School and district level Safety Committees.
CTU appoints majority of committee to include principal and engineer. Committee has the power to make sure rules get followed.
School-level teams conduct inspections at all schools, etc.
3. Staffing. Schools adopt flexible schedules to minimize in-person work, allow remote work accommodations.
Grant all accommodations for personal and family medical conditions
As many of others, such as childcare, as possible
4. Robust testing and vaccination procedures
Routinely test all staff (weekly is best)
Test students in hotspots
Prioritized vaccination of school workers, link this to return to in-person
5. Health Metrics
Base these on in-school testing, as well as public health numbers, which in turn trigger suspension of in-person operations
Establish a public health standard which must be met prior to re-opening
Come to an agreement prior to re-opening regarding plans for testing, leaves/accommodations, etc.
Agree to public health metrics and school testing outcomes that would require re-closing buildings, including outbreaks at specific schools.
January 25, 2021
