CTU – Page 2 – The Official Website of the PJSTA

Rahm Emanuel Shut Down by Teacher Activist

This was passed along to me, so I figured I would share here. Rahm Emanuel, the former Obama chief of staff, and current Mayor of Chicago, has done everything in his power to destroy public education in Chicago. On Monday night, at a public hearing on the city’s 2016 budget, Emanuel made a rare public appearance. While he worked the crowd, shaking hands, he was promptly shut down by Isaac Krantz-Perlman, a special education classroom assistant in Chicago. Check out the gif below…

Micah Uetricht of In These Times has a full write up of the story here.

To read more about the hunger strike in Chicago, organized to save Dyett High School, check out Michelle Gunderson’s piece on Living in Dialogue.

Send Well Wishes to Karen Lewis

By now you may have heard about the unfortunate illness that Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis is battling.

Today the CTU released details on how you can send Karen your well wishes.

Via the CTU Blog…

Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) President Karen Lewis is recovering well from last week’s surgery and appreciates the outpouring of love and support from across the world. If you wish to send a card, letter, flowers or other get well greetings, please send them to the Chicago Teachers Union office.

Chicago Teachers Union
Cards for Karen c/o Audrey May
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, #400
Chicago, IL 60654

Beth Dimino, Karen Lewis, and Brian St. Pierre this summer in Chicago.

Labor Notes Book Party

Thank you to all of the PJSTA members who attended tonight’s Labor Notes Book Party about the book How to Jump-Start Your Union: Lessons from the Chicago Teachers. Joining a healthy representation of PJSTA members were teachers from districts such as Mount Sinai, Patchogue-Medford, Port Jefferson, Levittown, and Shoreham-Wading River.

We were joined tonight by Mark Brenner and Samantha Winslow of Labor Notes. Brenner and Winslow were also two of the authors of the book. Brenner spoke about his unique experiences as a teacher and now writer for Labor Notes. He provided valuable insights into what has been effective in Chicago and other areas of the country where teachers are fighting back against harmful education reforms.

We were also joined by Brian Jones who has experience in trying to build a more member drive union from his work helping to build the MORE Caucus in the UFT. Jones is currently the Green Party’s candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Jones and running mate Howie Hawkins, who is running for governor, have been formally endorsed by the PJSTA.

Yes, the Vergara Verdict Can Happen in NY Too

Shortly after a verdict in the Vergara v. California case was handed down, stripping the state’s teachers of their tenure protections, I received a flurry of text messages from colleagues asking me whether or not this could happen in New York State as well. My answer to them was YES. Yes, New York’s teachers can lose their tenure rights as well. In fact not only can it happen here, but it is likely to happen, barring a massive and militant mobilization of teachers across the Empire State.

The reason that it can happen here is because groups that are financially backed by billionaires typically get whatever they want in the United States when there is little or no resistance. While the movement in our state against the Common Core and high stakes testing has been impressive, it didn’t really gain any traction until parents got behind it. If New York teachers are going to beat back the coming attacks on tenure rights that not only protect our jobs, but allow us to advocate for our students, we are going to have to be willing to become activists. I don’t mean upping your VOTE-COPE contributions by a dollar or two per pay check or sending out a fax or a letter a handful of times per year to a representative. I mean a militant mobilization of our state’s teachers. A movement in which teachers unite, get informed, take to the streets and fight tooth and nail for the job protections that we have and for the schools that our students and communities deserve. We can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines while our profession is ransacked by billionaire fat cats who seek to make a dollar on the backs of our students and make the profession of teaching synonymous with that of a Wal-Mart associate.

The PJSTA membership was more active than ever this past year. We thank you for that. But it’s not enough. Every member will need to increase their involvement next year. We will need to raise our voice to a collective roar. The last stand of teaching as we know it may very well be coming. As Chicago Teacher Union attorney Matt Farmer said in their battle against ed deformers, “We will see you in the streets. You will hear our voice in your sleep!” That should be the credo for New York’s teachers moving forward. Don’t sit back and wait for NYSUT, the AFT, or the NEA to save you. The time has come to take back your profession.

A great place to start your journey as an activist is with a little summer reading. You can pick up a copy of Labor Notes’ How to Jump-Start Your Union: Lessons from the Chicago Teachers. It details the transformation of the Chicago Teachers Union and how their rank-and-file was mobilized and given a voice in the fight against corporate reformers in Chicago. Next fall the PJSTA will be hosting a book party based on this book. Details will follow in the coming months.

Diane Ravitch has the winners (hedge fund managers) and losers (students and teachers) of the Vergara case here.

Arthur Goldstein does not want a seat at the reformer table.

Reality-Based Educator says it’s only a matter of time before corporate backed reformers go after tenure laws in New York.

How to Jump Start Your Union- NYC Book Party

The Mrs. and I will be attending this along with Beth Dimino. Any other PJSTA members interested?

Via Labor Notes…

Join us for a discussion of Labor Notes’ new book, How to Jump-Start Your Union: Lessons from the Chicago Teachers, with a presentation from Chicago Teachers Union organizer Matthew Luskin.

How to Jump-Start Your Union tells how activists transformed their union by engaging their co-workers and neighbors and unleashing the smarts of rank-and-file members. Readers will learn how to work with their communities, organize a caucus, run for office, rebuild a stewards network, train new leaders, run a contract campaign, and strike.

Books will be for sale at the event for $15.

For questions, or to RSVP, call (718) 284-4144 or email Samantha@labornotes.org

Comments on the book:

“Labor Notes has done it again! Every unionist should read this book that chronicles how the new leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union organized their members, built strong support with the community, and waged a strike against formidable adversaries. But this book is more—it’s a manual on how all unions can revamp to win justice, with lessons that every union can apply to their own situation.”
—STEVEN ASHBY, professor of labor relations, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

“How to Jump-Start Your Union should be a beacon to all rank-and-file members on how to bring democracy to their locals. It’s a toolkit that shows how good old-fashioned hard work and faith in the membership can empower every frontline worker. The bird’s-eye view of the CORE caucus carefully proves that issues are more important than elections and can serve to unite us. It is never all right to just complain.”
—KAREN LEWIS, president, Chicago Teachers Union

– See more at: http://labornotes.org/events/2014/how-jump-start-your-union-labor-notes-nyc-book-party#sthash.wYcoyRKo.dpuf

Power in the Rank and File

Last year, when this blog was in it’s infancy, we covered the plight of the Chicago Teachers Union as they went on strike. As we look back on the past year in education we have seen tremendous momentum in the push back against the privatization of public education. Much of that can be directly attributed to the CTU who were the first real organized group to push back. In the 14 months since their strike they have continued to be a leading force in the fight for public education.

Check out their recently released video, “Power in the Rank and File”…

The CTU Strike: One Year Later

One year ago yesterday the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike over many of the same issues that teachers across the United States are facing.

Here is CTU President Karen Lewis talking about why they fought…

Notes on the “Students, Not Scores!” Rally

Just a reminder, not that you should need it, that tomorrow is the “Students, Not Scores!” rally that grew out of Dr. Rella’s letters following the release of the NYS Common Core test scores. The rally begins at 12:00 and is at Comsewogue High School. There is an enormous crowd expected, so carpool, arrive early, and park wherever you can. Speaking will be Dr. Rella, PJSTA President Beth Dimino, NYSUT President Dick Ianuzzi, and several others. New York State Assemblymen Steven Englebright and Al Graf will be there in support. Kudos to politicians willing to put their neck on the line to stand up for what’s right. Be sure to thank them and to vote for them if you live in their district. Not all politicians have the guts to do what they are doing (I am looking at you John J. Flanagan and Ken LaValle!)

Spend some time to make some signs tonight for tomorrow’s rally. Be creative. Have fun. I know of at least one group of PJSTA members having a sign making party tonight. If you want in let us know in the comments or email Beth Dimino.

Be sure to wear your PJSTA garb tomorrow (or BAT apparel if you are cool enough to own any!)

There is not much more to be said. Tomorrow has been a long time coming. The general public is finally catching on to what teachers have known for several years now. To quote Karen Lewis, who seemed to speak for all of us during the CTU strike last year, “We’re tired of being bullied, belittled, and betrayed. We have done everything asked of us, yet we continue to be vilified and treated with disrespect.” Tomorrow’s your chance to fight back. I know I wouldn’t miss it for the world!

Some new links of note:

Students Not Scores! now has a website! Click here to view it and sign the petition.

Port Jefferson School District Superintendent, Dr. Ken Bossert weighs in on test scores here. Feel free to set the commenters straight.

The UFT’s MORE Caucus has been a tremendous help in getting the word out about this rally. Please visit their site. They stand for everything that is right in education and we would all benefit if they were at the helm of the country’s largest teachers union.

A Must Read Article, Opting Out, BOE Candidates, Karen Lewis

A MUST READ article on the Democratic Party, how they have embraced neoliberal education reforms, and the impact of the Chicago Teachers Union on this.

If any of our members are parents who wish to have their own children OPT-OUT of standardized testing this year, this link may help you.

If any of our members are interested in running for their home school district’s BOE, please see us… we can help you.

Finally, the CTU’s Karen Lewis speaking in Manhattan this weekend…

NYCORE Conference 2013 – Karen Lewis Keynote from Grassroots Education Movement on Vimeo.

Wednesday Link Around

A few links to keep you busy the week before the holidays (because I know you weren’t busy already)…

Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post reports that NY State test scores are expected to plummet this year. Reality-based educator notes, “As Rick Hess noted in this blog post, proponents of Common Core have deliberately raised the standards to such absurd levels (Tolstoy for a third grader?) in order to “shine a harsh light on the quality of suburban schools, shocking those families and voters into action” and “newly convinced that their schools stink, parents and voters will embrace reform.” The drop in test scores has Education Deformer Jeb Bush downright giddy.
Diane Ravitch with “The Hero Teachers of Newtown“

Inexplicably, Teach for America hack David Rosenberg called it reprehensible. Jersey Jazzman has the story, including the brilliant opening line of “David Rosenberg of Teach For America is quite possibly the worst person in the world.”
Our old friend from Chicago, CTU President Karen Lewis chimed in with this…

Diane, et. al.
I have read these posts (alas I do not do Twitter), and I am struck by the lack of authenticity by the Rosenberg comment. Diane has been at the forefront of the desire to lift up the beleaguered profession of teaching in each and every post. She has drawn the connections between people who wouldn’t think of sending their children to public schools and their policies that are destroying the common good. Anyone who doesn’t know that in the marrow of their bones, doesn’t read her blog.

On the other, the educrats who do not agree with her, read her posts, too so as to keep abreast of her thoughts and are ready to pounce if they see an opening. There might have been a time where “politicizing” tragic events, especially mass shootings was thought to be in poor taste. That has changed with the 24/7 news cycle that continues to focus far too much time and energy on the perpetrator of the massacre than that of our precious victims. Rosenberg’s “false outrage” needs to be checked. That same false outrage should show itself when policies his colleagues support kill and disenfranchise children from schools across this nation. We in Chicago have been the victims of their experiments on our children since the current secretary of Education “ran” CPS.

The accolades heaped on a group of education missionaries, (hopefully with beautiful intent on the part of the TFA teachers) cannot go unchallenged. Diane does that. Day in and day out, she champions rank and file educators and the hard work they do. She has a special place in heart for those who see the value of the classroom and not as stepping stone to a more lucrative career or the opportunism of self-promoters like Michelle Rhee who, with her lies about her own classroom experience has catapulted herself into the welcoming arms of those who hate unions, tenure and anything else that provides due process and gives teachers real voice.

To David Rosenberg, Shanda! Shame on you for such a paranoid rant. If you had nothing of which to be guilty, those words would have rolled off your back.

To Diane – Keep speaking the truth!

Karen Lewis

And finally, you can always count on the Chicago Teachers Union to tell it like it is. Ms. Lewis’ union produced the video below. Although it was geared towards the fat cats in Chicago, it can easily be applied to just about any area in the nation.