Unions Move In at Chicago Charter Schools, and Resistance Is Swift

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/08/us/08cncharter.html?_r=2&emc=tnt&tntemail0=y

By REBECCA VEVEA
Published: April 7, 2011


Bonnie Trafelet for Chicago News Cooperative

A standing-room-only crowd attended the board meeting of the Chicago Math and Science Academy on March 17 for a discussion of teacher unionizing.


In a trend that worries charter school operators, teachers at 12 of Chicago’s charters have formed unions over the past two years, and the Chicago Teachers Union is seeking to organize all 85 of the schools.

Union leaders say the growing charter movement is changing the landscape of public education and, with its disdain for unions, could leave teachers without a strong voice on issues like working conditions, teacher evaluations and curriculum.

Administrators and operators are battling back, arguing that unionization could undermine the basic premise of the charter school model: that they are more effective because they are free from the regulations and bureaucracies that govern traditional public schools.

Unionization of charter schools is a major step for the Chicago Teachers Union. Though charter teachers in other cities have formed unions, Chicago is one of the first where the public school system’s major union has directed the effort, according to the American Federation of Teachers.

The unions at the 12 charter schools are affiliated with the Chicago Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff, which is a joint program of the C.T.U., the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers. At eight of the schools, teachers have contracts, at two they are in negotiation and at two they are fighting to be recognized by their school administrations.

FULL story at link.

[RC]

1. Reading between the lines...

"Administrators and operators are battling back, arguing that unionization could undermine the basic premise of the charter school model: that they are more effective because they are free from the regulations and bureaucracies that govern traditional public schools."

Charter schools do not want to educate our kids, the want to train them with just enough education for the service workforce that has been planed for them.

[Brickbat]

2. The original charter schools were promoted by, and in theory meant to be run by, teachers unions.

I'd like to see the movement come full circle.

[madrchsod]

3. my wife and i went to chicago`s rally yesterday....

!the teachers unions in illinois are not going to back down for no one. i was really surprised at the solidarity among the different unions saturday. i think wisconsin woke up even the more conservative trade unions that their unions could be next.even the afscme union here isn`t letting our guard down. illinois has many private/public healthcare facilities under the union banner that do not have the membership such as the prisons or other state services.it`s been council 31`s only growing membership because almost 90% of the state workers are unionized...even the managers. in fact quinn is trying to reclassify some workers into supervisors.

what i came away with saturday is that wisconsin is the line drawn in the sand and it`s going to be who`s side you are on.

[knitter4democracy]

4. I teach in a union charter school. It works really well.

I've also seen how charters can be scary places run by idiots who don't have the faintest idea what they're doing. Teachers in charters should be unionized--they need at least some protection.

[pscot]

5. Their business model depends

on their ability to exploit low wage workers and fire people at will. Union style benefits and rules that protect workers would screw that up.

[safeinOhio]

6. Paying teachers 15 grand a year

is begging for unions.