[Peace-discuss] [OccupyCU] Solidarity Event for the 26, 000 Striking Chicago Teachers!!!
Stuart Levy
stuartnlevy at gmail.com
Tue Sep 11 17:20:02 UTC 2012
Puzzled by this, Wayne.
If workers in China lack effective labor protections, does that mean
that American workers should follow their example and give up what
remains of theirs? I'd rather see the reverse - that Chinese workers
should organize and exercise their power, to gain a more equitable
return for their valuable labor. As some of our own ancestors did in
the US. So we have weekends, and worker's compensation for work-related
injuries. And unlike Scrooge's employees, most of us get Christmas
off, and some few of us still get paid for it.
It's not as though there's no money available (for Chicago teachers or
for American workers in general). Chicago is not an impoverished city -
they just allocate money according to power.
If Chicago teachers have actually succeeded in getting CTU leadership
that represents them, as opposed to getting along cozily with management
as their previous leadership did, good for them. Given the
overwhelmingly positive strike vote, it sounds as though they are on the
right foot.
It can be destructive to unions to focus narrowly on their own members'
benefits - that's an invitation to division, and discredits the idea of
unionization. Once heard Chomsky point out a crucial difference between
US and Canadian labor history: IIRC, after WWII, the US United Auto
Workers agreed to include medical benefits as part of their members'
contract, while the Canadian branch of the same UAW refused to do
likewise - they recognized that every Canadian, in their union or out of
it, should have medical care. Now Canadians have better health care than
Americans, far more equitably, and at far lower overall cost.
One interesting thing I heard that CTU has been doing, that I'd like to
know more about: when making concessions, they have at least sometimes
demanded to see that the money saved will be used for some social
purpose - better support for school programs, community centers, etc. -
not just for tax breaks for commercial development or etc.
Something else I'd like to know about the CTU situation: I'd heard (from
a teacher we spoke with during the anti-NATO protests in May) that
they've been forbidden from bargaining over class size. How did that
happen? This could be an issue that would divide teachers from
students: it's in students' interests to learn in smaller classes. For
teachers, smaller classes should be more effective and easier to teach,
but they might also mean less pay.
On 9/11/12 1:16 AM, "E. Wayne Johnson ???" wrote:
> Not the billy club, but some discipline, sir.
> Please consult your dictionary.
>
> I don't like Chicago. It's too damn cold and way too much like Chicago.
>
> Besides, I am not a school teacher, I'm more on the order of a Pig
> Killer, cf. the guy in
> "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome". Our kind usually don't take no
> school-teach jobs.
>
> I didn't say the CTU was lazy, I said they wanted less work, more
> money, and no objective evaluation. You will find those things are
> true. You can also decide if laziness or some other characteristic is
> inferred.
>
> The notion that school strikes are for the
> benefit of the students is fatuous.
>
>
> On 09/11/12 13:21, Daniel Werst wrote:
>> On a lighter note--Paul, Lincoln Hall is the building right on the
>> West side of the Quad, north of Gregory Hall that looks bright and
>> new after extensive renovations.
>> E Wayne--I find it somewhat contradictory that you admit you admit
>> you would be unwilling to do the hard work of teaching in an
>> undersupported school system like Chicago's and yet try to paint the
>> CTU members as lazy.
>> I find it despicable that you slander the democratic action by
>> workers to stop work in order to force improvements for the school
>> and for themselves. Your authoritarian and depressing view of human
>> potential and CPS students is indicated by your longing for the billy
>> club.
>> Please stay the heck away and stew in you own ignorant malice.
>> Everyone else--come out to discusss and support the strike!
>> Sincerely,
>> Daniel Werst
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Sep 10, 2012 at 8:18 PM, E. Wayne Johnson <ewj at pigsqq.org
>> <mailto:ewj at pigsqq.org>> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks for rolling out the unwelcome mat.
>> Reminds me of Nurin Karlin - "The Fat Cat Sat on the Mat".
>> "You think I'm stupid, said the Cat. I will not get off the mat,
>> and that is that."
>> It is really quite unlikely that I will attend, even if y'all
>> desire alternative POV's,
>> even as just a foil. You can probably find some local similarly
>> deranged Archie Bunkers for that
>> purpose who might fit better than me.
>>
>> I am not sure that I bullied anyone, though. Expressed analysis
>> and disagreement hardly
>> constitute bullying, Louie. Please note that I doubted there
>> would be any leadership change.
>> On the other hand, the percentage of support that leadership gets
>> is no measure of the
>> wisdom of the direction taken. I do suggest that the CTU is
>> being "misled". That doesnt
>> mean they are "unwilling". Jawohl mein Fuhrer.
>>
>> Thanks for the links. I read the .pdf files. I was a bit
>> alarmed by the number of photographs used to try to
>> evoke some sort of emotional visceral response, and disappointed
>> by the lack of data
>> particularly the lack of any information providing a correlation
>> between the things "requested" and objective response criteria.
>>
>> The main concerns seem to be that the CTU wants more money, less
>> work, and no objective criteria for evaluation.
>> They want free rides for the children (good idea) and a free ride
>> for themselves (wtf?).
>>
>> I don't find them laying
>> the axe to the root
>> they're just bashing the leaves
>> looking for windfalls
>> and low hanging fruit.
>>
>> They should change the name of their pamphlet to "Throw Money!". Of
>> course that is too overt. Truly the net is set in vain in the
>> sight of any bird,
>> and dodos are, alas, extinct.
>>
>> *
>> I think that one fundamental problem is that Corporal Punishment
>> was withdrawn
>> from the schools. Reading and writing and 'rithmetic, taught to
>> the tune of a hick'ry stick.
>> Green Walnut sticks work about as well as green hickory if you
>> can't find hickory.
>> Willow was what I really hate, don't you? Some of them need the
>> rod more than others.
>> Some don't need it at all. Some just need to see the stick, or
>> just to know it is there.
>> (Now you can "legitimately" call me a "bully".)
>>
>> Calling the cops for discipline problems in the school is a
>> symptom of the problem, not the problem.
>>
>> Your problem may be "unfixable".
>>
>> The CTU may be misjudging the public reaction, which really may
>> be undesirable.
>> One function of school is babysitting. Teacher strikes are a
>> pain in the ass,
>> particularly prolonged ones.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 9/11/2012 7:07 AM, Luis Damián Reyes Rodríguez wrote:
>>> To all:
>>>
>>> Everyone who feels deeply disturbed by E. Wayne Johnson's
>>> ranting should try to make it to the meeting this Wednesday at
>>> 7pm in Lincoln Hall 1028. CTU member Kimberly Bowsky will be
>>> Skyping in.
>>>
>>> Kim teaches at the William H Seward Elementary School on
>>> Chicago's South Side. Within the CTU, Kim is an activist of the
>>> Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators.
>>>
>>> Now, to E.W.J.:
>>> _
>>> Don't even try to bring your disruptive presence this
>>> Wednesday:*you will not be welcome in this event*. _
>>> Perhaps in a parallel universe where Ron Paul rules your
>>> bullying attitudes are the norm. Not here.
>>>
>>> And maybe in that parallel universe, where you seem to hang out
>>> too often, the news have not arrived yet that the +26,000 CTU
>>> members overwhelmingly favored strike action: around 90% of
>>> members voted, with 98% of voters in favor---after a law was
>>> passed that raised the minimum requirement to 75%! And have you
>>> even bothered to find out what the communities affected by the
>>> budget cuts and school closures have to say? They also support
>>> the strike in big numbers. Why, then, should the CTU change
>>> leadership?
>>> Because CTU teachers are a bunch of fat cats?
>>> Really?
>>>
>>> The only thing that makes sense in your ranting is that "this
>>> could get ugly" in Chicago.
>>> I hope, for the better, that people like you stay away there too.
>>>
>>> On Mon, Sep 10, 2012 at 4:51 PM, E. Wayne Johnson
>>> <ewj at pigsqq.org <mailto:ewj at pigsqq.org>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Not even Air Conditioning? Zomfg!!! Hoodathunkit?
>>> I know, I know. An environment "Conducive to Learning".
>>> Sort of a Mantra it is.
>>> See also: "It's for the Kids". Are we convinced yet?
>>>
>>> While I am highly sympathetic with the situation and plight
>>> of the Graduate Teaching Assistants, and
>>> once upon a time, came out and spoke in their favour, I have
>>> less than Zero Minus sympathy
>>> for the fat cats that comprise the CTU.
>>>
>>> I understand that the goal is a) to head off some sort of
>>> precedent effect and b) precipitate a serious crisis.
>>>
>>> While I would certainly not want to work or live in Chicago
>>> or its public school system even
>>> 9 nanoseconds per year let alone the whole school year, I
>>> should not feel convinced that the CTU are the good guys
>>> in this struggle, even though their direct opponents are
>>> likely neither nice nor good.
>>>
>>> Perhaps one of the smartest moves the CTU could make is to
>>> quickly remove its leadership and apologise.
>>>
>>> Like that is going to happen.
>>>
>>> I am sure that I am highly confused and understand the
>>> matter very poorly, but I
>>> don't think that Old Mother pHubbard is hoarding a vast
>>> trove of bones in her cupboard
>>> for these CTU dogs (cats).
>>>
>>> This could get Ugly, and the outcome is uncertain.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 9/11/2012 4:06 AM, Daniel Werst wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>> I am a member of the campus branch of the International
>>>> Socialist Organization, and we are holding a meeting this
>>>> week on Wednesday at 7 PM to build solidarity action for
>>>> the 26,000 Chicago teachers who are currently on strike
>>>> against efforts by the city to make them easier to fire
>>>> based on standardized test results while the district
>>>> chooses not to provide many students with art or music
>>>> classes, AP classes, decent class sizes, or even air
>>>> conditioning!
>>>> We have lined up a CTU teacher to speak by Skype, and we
>>>> have also spoken to the Graduate Employees Union here at U
>>>> of I, who will provide the second speaker. The GEO is
>>>> fighting back against attacks on the pay and working
>>>> conditions of Teaching Assistants who are commonly forced
>>>> to live on $14,000 a year while handling big classes and
>>>> making the university work.
>>>> Our second goal is to car pool to Chicago this Saturday to
>>>> join thousands of teachers, students, parents, and labor
>>>> activists in a rally. Hopefully they will be celebrating a
>>>> victory in the strike or else continuing the struggle and
>>>> only getting stronger! This meeting should bring together
>>>> as many supporters of labor and people concerned for good
>>>> public education as possible.
>>>> CTU Solidarity Rally:
>>>> Wednesday September 12th at 7PM
>>>> 1028 Lincoln Hall on Campus
>>>> In Solidarity,
>>>> Daniel Werst
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> OccupyCU mailing list
>>> OccupyCU at lists.chambana.net <mailto:OccupyCU at lists.chambana.net>
>>> http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/occupycu
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Damián.
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
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