<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;font-size:14pt"><DIV>Comrades, see below the original letter from Steven Ashby asking for Champaign Urbana community to host a Chicago Teachers Forum......please read his letter way, way below....Also read the growing list of cosponsors attached & below....</DIV>
<DIV>Would your organization be willing to cosponsor, which simply means:</DIV>
<UL>
<LI>your organization's name would be listed with the other cosponsors on the event announcements</LI>
<LI>your leaders would attend </LI>
<LI>encourage your members to attend</LI></UL>
<DIV>Even if your goals are not DIRECTLY involved with labor issues, you may find the Chicago Teachers Union mobilizing methods to be helpful to your activists!</DIV>
<DIV>Gene Vanderport & Germaine Light<BR></DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe Script','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 18pt"><FONT color=#ff0000>Cosponsor List <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe Script','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 18pt"><FONT color=#ff0000>Chicago Teachers Union Forum<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe Script','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT color=#ff0000>Central Illinois Jobs With Justice:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Mother Jones Chapter<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe Script','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT color=#ff0000>UIUC Campus Labor Coalition<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe Script','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT color=#ff0000>Graduate Employees Union (GEO)/IFT/AFT<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe Script','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT color=#ff0000>Champaign Federation of Teachers/IFT/AFT<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe Script','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT color=#ff0000>Campus Faculty Association<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe Script','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT color=#ff0000>Danville Education Association/IEA/NEA<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe Script','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT color=#ff0000>Region 9 IEA/NEA<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe Script','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT color=#ff0000>Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace & Justice<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>----- Forwarded Message ----<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> "Ashby, Steven" <skashby@illinois.edu><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> "McGuire, James B" <jbmcguir@illinois.edu>; Stephanie Seawell <stephseawell@gmail.com>; "Lewis, Margaret A" <mlewis1@illinois.edu><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Cc:</SPAN></B> james barrett <jrbarret@uiuc.edu>; Jim McGuire <jimmcgu@comcast.net>; "Fields, A Belden" <a-fields@illinois.edu>; "Oberdeck, Kathryn J" <kjo@illinois.edu>; "Miller, Dorinda K" <dkmiller@illinois.edu>; Campus Labor Coalition <campuslabor@lists.uigeo.org>; Gene Vanderport <lightport@sbcglobal.net>; Dorinda Miller <dkmiller@uiuc.edu><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tue, July 31, 2012 9:38:09
AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Query about sponsoring a C-U solidarity forum with Chicago Teachers Union speakers<BR></FONT><BR>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Hi, folks, </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>This is Steven Ashby from LER<A rel=nofollow></A>.<SPAN> </SPAN>I’m sure you’ve been following the developments with the Chicago Teachers Union.<SPAN> </SPAN>I’m writing to inquire whether campus labor folks, and Jobs with Justice, might be interested in holding a forum with CTU<A rel=nofollow></A> speakers in late August. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>In brief:<SPAN> </SPAN>The Caucus of Rank and File Educators formed four years ago to mobilize teachers and parents against the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board of Education’s steady plans to shut down dozens of schools, fire all employees, and turn the buildings over to privately run but publicly funded, with no accountable, charter schools. <SPAN> </SPAN>As with all privatization efforts, this was primarily a drive to get rid of the union and negotiated work rules. <SPAN> </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>In June 2010 the CORE slate challenged the incumbent slate, who were pretty much classic business unionists, and won office.<SPAN> </SPAN>Starting in mid 2011 they began planning and implementing a contract campaign to turn their top-down union into a bottom-up, member driven, social movement unionism union.<SPAN> </SPAN>(LEP<A rel=nofollow></A> held classes and worked as consultants during this process). </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Last year under the direction of Democratic Chicago mayor Rahm<A rel=nofollow></A> Emanuel and Democratic Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, an anti-union bill, SB 7, was passed that mandated 75% of all CTU<A rel=nofollow></A> members must vote to authorize a strike; thus, those not voting were counted as “no” votes.<SPAN> </SPAN>Supporters bragged that they had effectively eliminated the CTU’s<A rel=nofollow></A> right to strike as no large union could achieve this. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>In May 2012 the contract campaign’s success became evident when 6,000 teachers rallied and marched in downtown Chicago, surprising all politicians and media pundits. In June 2012 92% of the members turned out in a three-day vote, with 98% of those voting authorizing the leadership to call a strike. <SPAN> </SPAN>Subsequently Crain’s Business (no friend of unions) declared the CTU<A rel=nofollow></A> to be the most powerful union in the Chicago area. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Throughout this process, the union has worked tirelessly with community allies, supported other groups’ protests, worked closely with half a dozen parents’ groups, and won strong support in the city.<SPAN> </SPAN>The Mayor, who is known for bullying to get his way, is clearly on the defensive. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Meanwhile, six weeks ago 110 activists came together to form the Chicago Teachers Solidarity Campaign to do outreach and build solidarity for the teachers and their union. <SPAN> </SPAN>We have been meeting weekly; I am on the steering committee, and in that capacity am writing you. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>While some gains have been made in negotiations, the Board (and Mayor, who appoints the Board) continue to refuse to negotiate over classroom issues that are central to the union’s mission: lower class sizes, more social workers and nurses, a library and air conditioning in every school, and more art, music, computer, and P.E. classes. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>No one can predict labor negotiations.<SPAN> </SPAN>But should there be a strike, there is the possibility that it will not be short. The last strike in 1987 lasted 19 days.<SPAN> </SPAN>Should that occur, it will be vital to mobilize supporters from all nearby cities to come to Chicago the first Saturday of the strike. (And of course, all are welcome to attend daily picket lines.) </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Were there a strike, it could come as soon as September 4, or in early to mid-September. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>The CTU<A rel=nofollow></A> has asked me to take on this assignment. I have talked to Labor Notes about pulling together forums featuring CTU<A rel=nofollow></A> speakers in Madison, Milwaukee, and Detroit.<SPAN> </SPAN>I have talked with Chicago JwJ<A rel=nofollow></A> organizer Susan Hurley about JwJ<A rel=nofollow></A> doing the same in other cities. <SPAN> </SPAN>The CTU’s<A rel=nofollow></A> transformation is an inspiring story.<SPAN> </SPAN>Rank-and-file teachers would be the speakers were it a weekend forum; a weekday forum might necessitate union staff (all of whom were teachers until two years ago when CORE took office) as teachers go back to work on August 20.<SPAN> </SPAN>They might be accompanied by members of the Chicago Teachers Solidarity Campaign.
</FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>August is of course a terrible month to do forum, but that’s what we’ve got. We’re looking at August 20 to 31. <SPAN> </SPAN>Please let me know your thoughts on the viability of doing a forum in Champaign-Urbana. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>….in solidarity, Steven </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Calibri>P.S. If you have contacts in other cities, like Peoria, Springfield, and Decatur, who you think could pull together a successful forum, please ask them to get in touch with me. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 2pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">Prof. Steven K. Ashby</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P><FONT face=Calibri><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 2pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">Full Clinical Professor and Coordinator, Global Labor Studies undergraduate online program</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 2pt" class=MsoNormal></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT face=Calibri><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">School of Labor and Employment</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"> Relations, </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">University</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"> of Illinois</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"> at Urbana-Champaign</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 2pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">Labor Education Program, </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">Rice</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT face=Calibri><FONT size=2><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"> Building, 815 W. Van Buren #110, Chicago IL 60607<BR>(312) 996-8733 </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"> <FONT color=#0000ff><A tabIndex=0 href="mailto:skashby@illinois.edu" rel=nofollow target=_blank ymailto="mailto:skashby@illinois.edu">skashby@illinois.edu</A><A rel=nofollow></A> </FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"><A tabIndex=0 href="http://www.illinoislabored.org/" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://www.illinoislabored.org/</A></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black;
FONT-SIZE: 8pt">
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 2pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">Global Labor Studies: <A tabIndex=0 href="http://go.illinois.edu/laboronline" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://go.illinois.edu/laboronline</A></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 2pt" class=MsoNormal></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"><FONT size=1><EM>Staley: The Fight for a New American Labor Movement</EM>, by Steven Ashby & C.J.<A rel=nofollow></A> Hawking <FONT face=Tahoma><A tabIndex=0 href="http://www.staleybook.org/" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://www.staleybook.org/</A></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
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