It very definitely is against NCLB & RTT. And the teachers are not alone. At the Labor Notes conference, one of the speakers (Black) was president of the public-health nurses union, which has associated with the California nurses. She had a very clever way of bringing Obama into it. "I'm not against Obama," she said, "I just want him to call his attack dog off." (As Black Agenda endlessly points out, Obama is a problem for Black leftists.)
CTU elected a radical leadership a year ago. They are very conscious that they are in fact launching a battle against the whole Austerity program. I fwd a report on thei strike vote a couple days ago under the Subject line, Wisconsin: Act 3. And that is just about the way the Chicago teachers & their local allies see their action. For the first time in its history the local chapter of the Letter Carriers Union is taking a stand on local politics! Carrol -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jim Devine Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 11:10 AM To: Pen-l Subject: [Pen-l] threatened teachers' strike [this strike (if it happens) is in effect against Rahm Emmanuel and thus indirectly against President Obama. Might it also be against Arne Duncan and the Obama's continuation of No Child Left Behind?] from SLATE: >>Chicago Teachers To Authorize Strike The union is hoping to use the threat of a walkout as leverage at the negotiating table. By Abby Ohlheiser | Posted Monday, June 11, 2012, at 10:44 AM ET Chicago teachers are expected to announce Monday that they've authorized a strike, indicating that a tense contract negotiation is on the horizon for the third-largest school district in the country. Union officials counted ballots over the weekend and while an official announcement isn't due until later Monday afternoon, officials tell CBS Chicago that it is already clear that they've "well surpassed" the 75-percent bar required by law to authorize a strike. While the vote means the union has the legal right to strike, it doesn't necessarily mean they will. The Chicago Sun-Times explains that union organizers are hoping to use the threat of one to resolve negotiations before the start of the next school year. A walkout wouldn't be possible until mid-August. If the union strikes, it'd be the first time since 1987. Teachers' current deal with the Chicago Public School system expires June 30. Issues under discussion for the new contract include pay raises, a longer school day, and better working conditions, ABC 7 Chicago reports. << -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
