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Public Affairs coverage from our award-winning staff |
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A Chicago First: Charter School Teachers Unionize
Produced by Linda Lutton on Thursday, June 18, 2009
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Chicago has its first unionized charter school.
In an election held yesterday, about 60 percent of teachers at three campuses of the Chicago International Charter School voted to bring in a union. Jean Goldrich teaches English and writing at Northtown Academy on the northwest side.
GOLDRICH: I am thrilled. It’s been a really tough, challenging year, and I can’t wait for negotiations to start.
Teachers say their workload and class sizes increased this year. They say teacher turnover at the schools has also been a problem—one they hope a union contract can fix.
One of the hallmarks of charter schools has been their freedom to operate outside of such contracts. Simon Hess runs the three campuses. He says he’s disappointed by the vote.
HESS: The autonomies that have been granted to charter schools have enabled some of the most innovative schools that we’ve got.
A bill awaiting the governor’s signature would make it easier for charter teachers to unionize. Under that legislation, a school would be unionized if a majority of teachers signed union cards.
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John Dudley, Chicago // Monday, June 22, 2009 @ 9:58 AM
Charter Schools have proven to be winners; primarily that they have the freedom not be union. Most teachers are way over paid and their work load/hours do not exceed 5 to 6 hours. As a matter of fact, the city council should vote on an all year round school year. America's students are falling behind in relation to the global challanges and competition facing them in the near future.
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Charter School Teacher, Chicago // Wednesday, June 24, 2009 @ 11:36 PM
I arrive at school at 7:45 am and usually don't leave till around 5. Although I am allowed to leave at 3:45 pm, I never get out of the building before 4:30, and frequently stay till 6. On weeknights when I get home, I do another 1-2 hours worth of work. Often staying up until midnight or later. I spend my entire Sunday evening getting ready for the work week, usually 4-5 hours.
5 to 6 hours!!?? What kind of teachers do you know? Want to know how much I get paid for that?
$38,000 a year.
And that's not even touching on what I have to do at work, you couldn't imagine how stressful, draining, emotional, and unforgiving my job can be. But, I do it because I love my students and I want only the best for every single one of them.
Overpaid and underworked? You got to be kidding me.
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Striving for Diplomacy, Chicago // Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 12:30 AM
In these uncertain times, educators MUST protect themselves from the duplicity of corrupt administrations.
Mr. Hess is a bright, young man...but how could he possibly have been effective as a full-time Administrator in his previous non-public, non-unionized school while simultaneously navigating a full-time MBA at the Kellogg School, one of the most competative buisness programs in the entire country?
His prospective teaching staff was wise to reflect on the adage: "If it sounds too good to be true, then it is too good to be true."
Thank Heaven the union movement is still alive in Chicago.
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