City Room™ - Education - Chicago Teachers Union Election Gets Tougher for Incumbent

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Chicago Teachers Union Election Gets Tougher for Incumbent
Produced by Linda Lutton on Thursday, May 27, 2010

The current president of the Chicago Teachers Union is facing an uphill re-election battle. And it just got a little more difficult. That could shake things up in Chicago education.

Just 500 votes separated CTU President Marilyn Stewart from her toughest challenger in last Friday’s election. More than 19,000 teachers cast ballots. Stewart didn’t get enough votes to avoid a runoff.

Last night, third place finisher Deborah Lynch announced she’s throwing her support behind challenger Karen Lewis. The fourth place finisher has also endorsed Lewis.

Lewis is a member of CORE—a group that’s opposed school closings through lawsuits and protests. They’ve also challenged CPS on issues the union rarely talks about, like overuse of standardized tests and recapturing TIF funds for education.

But Stewart says her opponent wouldn’t be able to deliver the contract she has.

STEWART: In any crisis you don’t change leadership in the middle of a crisis to try something new.

The race comes as teachers unions nationwide have come under fire for allegedly standing in the way of school reform.

Jay Rehak, Chicago // Thursday, May 27, 2010 @ 9:07 PM

It's time for change in the Union. Marilyn Stewart had her chance, but has been ineffective as an organizer and Union leader. It's time for the Union to have real leadership.

John kugler, McKinley Park // Friday, May 28, 2010 @ 10:51 AM

stewart is one of the most corrupt union leaders in CTU history and will have the highest pension when she leaves because she now holds three jobs (CTU, IFT, AFT). she will make in retirement what most executives make while working($200K)

Chris Meenaghan, Portage Park // Friday, May 28, 2010 @ 1:04 PM

Is the change you are looking for is for us to be out of our jobs by August, sure vote for c.o.r.e. I was there when she said that she would tell Daley no, and stand up to him, and threaten to strike in the middle of our contract. She is a bright woman, unfortunate she has no experience in politics, as is evident by her threats to the politicals already involved. Insist on the experience of the UPC to lead the teachers to another great contract and continued raises.

Earl Silbar, ex- Lakeview, now Elgin // Friday, May 28, 2010 @ 3:05 PM

The UPC leadership, starting with Marilyn Stewart, has been worse than ineffective against the corporate-led offensive to give public funds to private schools, layoff over 1,000 good teachers, turn the curriculum into test-factories, etc. Her leadership team even asked CEO Huberman to shut down those who oppose her in the union. CORE has made the fight that the union should have but did not. More 'experience' like Stewart's and public education will be completely destroyed.

Nate Goldbaum, Pilsen // Friday, May 28, 2010 @ 11:31 PM

Chris, The status quo is that thousands of jobs are currently threatened. Thousands have already lost their jobs under Stewart through closings, etc. Our membership has declined by 6,000 under UPC. Why would you say CORE will have us out of our jobs, when that's exactly what's happening under Stewart? Stewart has "said no" herself to the cuts. But, what does saying "no" mean if it's not backed up by the threat of action? No one in CORE wants to go on strike. And there are many other (preferable) avenues for pressuring the Board and Daley. But at the end of the day, what incentive does the Board have to fund schools if they have no fear of the union? The Board already knows that Stewart is nothing but a groveler. They have no fear at all of her. As for Stewart's alleged political prowess: How is it, then, that Springfield gutted our pensions without the union membership even being informed that it was coming? How is it that the KEYNOTE SPEAKER at our 2008 legislators' dinner publicly declared that the CTU is "the worst gang in Chicago" -- worse than any of the drug-peddling, violent street gangs that disrupt our schools regularly and make teaching and learning in CPS a danger? This represents "a seat at the table?" Some political activity involves reaching out to politicians. Other activity involves holding them accountable. There appears to be NO accountability in the relationships that our current misleadership has supposedly fostered.

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