CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION CALLS FOR CITYWIDE DAY OF ACTION APRIL 1

This is no early April fool. The Chicago Teachers Union is serious about using union power in a positive way as they are calling for a citywide day of action for April 1. DNAinfo is saying this is pretty much a call for a one day general strike in Chicago.

GO CTU!

This is from the DNAinfo piece:

For an explanation on what that "it constituted, the union posted an event on its Facebook page asking "all concerned Chicago citizens" to "unite" in "withholding your labor, withholding your dollars, boycotting classrooms, boycotting the Magnificent Mile" and other actions, including protests against Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Bruce Rauner."

My friend Sam Lazarus who was Chapter Leader at Bryant High School for many years after teaching at Jamaica, persuaded me that the best way for unions to succeed in this very difficult political climate would be to combine our forces.

I tried to convince then UFT President Randi Weingarten to combine with the Transit Workers Union in 2005 for a joint action. Needless to say, Randi rejected my suggestion as she agreed to the disastrous giveback laden 2005 contract that among other things gave up seniority and SBO transfers thus creating the huge Absent Teacher Reserve pool. She also gave up our right to grieve observations and other material in our files. We gave back a great deal while the Transit Workers went on strike on their own. 11 years later in Chicago the time for combined union action may be upon us.

A link to the CTU action page is here.