Teachers to Ministers: “Work with us, not against us”
CHICAGO – Today, the Chicago Teachers Union released the following statement in response to a small cadre of ministers who demonstrated today in front of the Merchandise Mart, where the Union is headquartered:
“The ministers who lifted their voices today in protest of Chicago teachers are misinformed about the facts of the Chicago Teachers Union’s legal action against the Board of Education. The complaint issued by the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board is very clear about the illegal way CPS conducted waiver votes in some of the 13 elementary schools that have opted for a longer school day this year.
“Ministers know better than anyone that there is a difference between right and wrong—and what CPS did to induce principals to have teachers in their school sign away their labor rights was wrong. It does not matter what the intent was, what matters is the unjust application of the waiver process in our schools.
“The Chicago Teachers Union does not oppose a longer school day. Teachers and parents have called for a better school day--one that includes a rich, broad curriculum with art, music, world languages, physical education, civics and science. We want smaller class room sizes, resources, adequate buildings with libraries, air conditioning, heating and cafeterias for our students. We have also asked that teachers and other school employees who work longer hours be appropriately compensated for their time. We believe this school year should be used as a planning year in anticipation of all elementary campuses switching to an extended schedule next year.
“Instead of standing with an administration that engages in illegal, immoral and bullying conduct, we would hope these ministers and their followers would stand on the side of fairness, honesty and justice. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. The longer school day as we know it now is nothing more than a popular, political slogan it is not a comprehensive education plan.
“We ask members of the faith community to work with our teachers and parents and not against us as we continue our work to protect the interest of the students we serve in our neighborhood schools.”
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The Chicago Teachers Union represents 30,000 teachers and educational support personnel working in the Chicago Public Schools and, by extension, the students and families they serve. CTU, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, is the third largest teachers local in the country and the largest local union in Illinois. For more information visit CTU’s website at www.ctunet.com.
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