Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said the union could not rule out a teacher’s strike, amid contract negotiations with Chicago Public Schools, after its independent analysis found that CPS could not survive the contract it offered CTU in January of this year.  

Lewis addressed attendees of the City Club of Chicago during a luncheon at Maggiano’s Little Italy Banquet Hall, 111 W. Grand Ave on April 20.

Lewis spoke about the controversy surrounding current contract negotiations between CTU and CPS. She also expressed dissatisfaction with Gov. Bruce Rauner, who she said has launched a personal crusade against CTU.

“If Governor Rauner says he loves Illinois but hates labor, then he’s a liar—there is no Illinois without labor,” Lewis said. 

Lewis also claimed Rauner is not fit to govern Illinois and referred to his attacks on CTU as a “purposeful distraction to redirect our attention from his inability to govern and manage the state’s finances.”

Lewis also asked the crowd whether anyone from Homeland Security had checked on Rauner, comparing the governor to the Islamic State group ISIS.

“The things he’s doing look like acts of terror on poor and working class people,” Lewis said.

Although many applauded after Lewis made that statement, a spokeswoman for Rauner was not pleased.

Catherine Kelly, a spokeswoman for Rauner, said in an April 20 statement to the Chicago Tribune, “This kind of rhetoric has no place in American public discourse and sets a terrible example for our kids.”

Lewis also denounced a statement in a fact-finding report that was quoted in an April 16 CPS press release that a “third-party impartial arbitrator—one who was chosen by both CPS and CTU—found that the deal we reached in January was a reasonable and fair contract in extremely

difficult circumstances.”

The press release claimed the Jan. 29 agreement reached with CTU that was rejected by CTU’s bargaining team was the “most reasonable approach to an extremely difficult situation.” It also stated the proposed agreement “sought to protect, and indeed, did protect, the core interests of both parties.”

According to an April 18 Chicago Tribune article, CPS CEO Forrest Claypool announced the district would have to borrow more money to stay open and urged the CTU to accept the contract recommended by the independent fact-finder.

Lewis said the CTU had an external analysis conducted that said the neutral fact-finding report was “dead on arrival.”

“The reality is the Chicago Board of Education cannot afford to sign a contract with the Chicago Teachers Union. CPS finances have surpassed the danger zone and are now nearing a meltdown,” Lewis said. “The CTU has been clear on its revenue positions: tax the rich, rein in the banks and close the budget gap. Structural solutions require progressive income tax. We are also looking at a way to tax the billions spent on the Chicago Board of Trade, which currently is at no tax.”

According to the Tribune article, CTU’s rejection of the fact-finder’s recommendations on April 16 opens the door for a strike after 30 days, with a union issuing of a 10-day notice.

“Despite his constant attacks on the Chicago Teachers Union, he’s had no problem clouting his daughter into Walter Payton High School, where CTU members work,” Lewis said. “We find it so ironic that Rauner blames CPS teachers for failing students, yet chooses to send his daughter to a city school.”

An April 20 email from Claypool to Lewis proposed a final and binding arbitration—a sit-down between the two parties with a third-party moderator who makes the final decision—instead of a teachers strike.

The email goes on to say “[A strike] would be devastating to our students and parents. Further, we are at a loss as to how a strike would solve or even advance a solution to the considerable challenges that CPS faces. The best course is for CPS and CTU to join together in Springfield for long-term, sustainable funding for our schools.”

When asked about the call from Claypool for binding arbitration at a press conference following the event, Lewis called it a “pure publicity stunt” and said Claypool has her phone number and never bothered to reach out to her. She added that she thinks he did this because he knew she would be speaking at an event.

Ronald Robinson, community relations director for Lydia Healthcare, a mental health rehabilitation facility in Robbins, Illinois, said many co-workers at Lydia live in Chicago and have children in CPS. He said he is concerned about CPS and the State of Illinois.

Robinson said he was skeptical of Lewis when he arrived at the luncheon, but was moved by her speech and now agrees with her perspectives. 

“She really swayed me and changed my thinking in a lot of ways,” Robinson said.

Ashley Glover, social media manager at Lydia Healthcare and a parent to children in CPS, said she is concerned for her children’s education. She said their school recently cut its after-school program due to a lack of funding. 

Glover said she is worried about a strike because it could cut down the amount of time her children spend in the classroom.

“I understand that teachers have to make money; they do have to make a living. There are some concerns, but I think with Karen on board—I think we’ll be OK,” Glover said.