[Peace] Fwd: Champ Teachers requesting community support

[Germaine Light]

Champaign Teachers are requesting community support in 2 ways:
1) join them in an informational picket this Mon Sep 23 from 4:30-5:30 pm prior to the school board meeting at the Melon Building, New & John Streets, Champaign

2) parents of Champaign Unit 4 students needed to speak at school board meeting

Website:
http://019250.il.aft.org/contact-us

Like the CFT on
> Champaign Parents for Teachers Facebook page:
https://m.facebook.com/ChampaignP4T?id=155957027945110&_rdr

Champaign teachers work hard & deserve a fair contract!  Let us rally in their support!
In solidarity,
Germaine Light

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Cathy Mannen <cathy.mannen at gmail.com>
> Date: September 20, 2013 7:57:48 PM CDT
> To: Germaine Light <lightport at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: CFT
> 
> Hi Germaine,
> 
> I've been meaning to email you all week - it's been a bit fast and furious. Not to mention the sleep deprivation right now.
> 
> Anyway, you probably know that we had a huge turnout for our strike authorization vote this week and then filed a notice with the labor board yesterday to start the public posting process. We bargain again with a mediator on Wednesday. Hopefully we can come to an agreement - but the board has really been digging in. Based on how we intend to start the session, we'll know early on if they are serious about reaching a resolution or not. If they don't understand an issue, they just say "no." They don't seem to be listening to understand and to resolve issues. They seem to be taking the "management rights" stance on many issues. It's been very frustrating. And I really don't think the board is taking our threat of a strike very seriously right now. CFT has been handling negotiations differently this time than we have historically. The members have been much more engaged - which is a direct result of the internal organizing we've been doing.
> 
> We have planned an informational picket for Monday from 4:30 - 5:30 prior to the board meeting. We are asking for parents and community supporters to join us for this one. We are also looking for parents who are willing to make a statement to the board during public comment demonstrating their support for teachers and encouraging the board to work with the teachers to reach a compromise and avoid a strike. If you want to share that with your contacts, that would be great. We know that the board is already feeling uncomfortable with our member actions so far. They keep giving us messages that they are. Our focus this week is to get some of the parent/community pressure on them via joining us in the picket and speaking at the meeting. 
> 
> If you or anyone else has other questions, please let me know. And spread the word both about the CFT facebook page and the Champaign Parents for Teachers Facebook page. CFT is also on Twitter. 
> 
> Thanks so much for your support. 
> 
> Cathy Mannen

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