Chicago Teachers Vow Renewed Activism Over Revoked Raises

from In These Times:




Chicago Teachers Vow Renewed Activism Over Revoked Raises

Monday
Jun 20, 2011
10:48 am

By Kari Lydersen


Chicago teachers will earn a total of about $100 million less than expected in the next academic year, as last week the new Board of Education under new Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel voted to deny 4 percent raises scheduled for each year of their five-year contract.

Some teachers have called the move a violation of the contract, signed in 2007, though it stipulates the board must decide each year whether the district can afford the raises.

As public school teachers are under attack across the country -- painted as overpaid, lazy and ineffective by right-wing pundits and belt-tightening administrators -- Chicago Teachers Union members say the latest move could mean war.

.......(snip).......

Chicago public schools teachers reportedly earn an average $69,000 a year. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Chicago teachers’ pay ranks 37th statewide. In wealthy Chicago suburbs, average public school teacher pay is more than $100,000 a year. In Chicago, the paper said, only one percent of teachers make six figures. It is widely believed that the salaries, along with a general lack of resources and other problems, are why many of the best teachers in Chicago leave for the suburbs or private schools. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/11541/chicago_teachers_vow_renewed_activism_over_revoked_raises/

...but no money we do have to give raises to public school teachers...

Life in "New Americo"

N'yeah...you mugs got my bounus?

"Yeah. That's it. More. That's right! I want more!"

http://www.northofseveycorners.com/cultural_change/the_long_march/more.htm