In the past month since my words have graced this blog, I brought the basement project to an abrupt end and shifted gears immediately to get ready for the new school year.
The school year began with a mixed bag of optimism and trepidation on my part - optimistic about the new crop of students, a promising group of new colleagues, the introduction of Google Apps, and new curricula to implement; trepidation about a new school schedule, an end to staff meetings, and of course the looming contract negotiations.
I had 9 days of classes. Enough to learn (most) of the kids names, introduce my subject matter, and get some of the classroom procedures in order. In chemistry, I managed to complete 1 lab and start another.
We had 2 union meetings over this time, and the news from my union delegate was dire - hope for a settlement, but be realistic and plan on a strike. I had been hearing for the past year about the strike possibility, and it was clear that both sides had hardened their positions in preparation for this moment. The media and the city kept putting out hopeful comments, making it seem like a deal was possible. However, earnest and productive negotiations began so late that a deal was not gonna happen.
With a long way yet to go, the negotiators emerged on Sunday night with news that school was officially cancelled. (Why they had to wait until 10pm on Sunday, I have no idea. It kept us all waiting longer than necessary) I was officially on strike.
Back several years ago, when I was out of school and new to CPS, I had great reservations about the union. Colleagues spoke poorly of the union and its leadership, and I saw the organization as bloated and wasteful. I was happy for all the benefits I received as a result of the work of the union in the past, but wondered, "what have they done for me lately?"
Today, I certainly do not feel that way. So why the change?
Part of it is me. I am a little older, and thinking more now about this career and my future. I have more confidence today to say that I am in teaching for the long haul, and if so it makes financial sense to stay in CPS (lower pay than the suburbs but great retirement benefits). Naturally, I have more at stake in this contract negotiation than a recent college grad would.
The other factor is a change in the union. I work with an excellent group of teachers who care about the school and their profession. There is a new union leadership that better reflects the feelings of the city's teachers. We have a new common enemy in Rahm Emanuel. We have been told time and time again that we are not working hard enough, that we are greedy, that we are the problem. Our delegate described the union of a few years ago as a "dying beast, on its last breath." But today, thousands of teachers are marching at locations across the city, showing solidarity against attempts to fundamentally change public education in our city.
So today, I am proud to be a part of the CTU, and to have voted to strike. I do not profess to have all the answers, nor will I defend the union on all of its stances. I do believe that the union provides counter-balance against the tide of misguided reform. I do support the cause of labor unions and upholding the rights of workers, and hope that our fight will galvanize other teacher unions to fight against the privatization of education.
That being said, I hope even more to be back to work on Wednesday.
-alan
The school year began with a mixed bag of optimism and trepidation on my part - optimistic about the new crop of students, a promising group of new colleagues, the introduction of Google Apps, and new curricula to implement; trepidation about a new school schedule, an end to staff meetings, and of course the looming contract negotiations.
I had 9 days of classes. Enough to learn (most) of the kids names, introduce my subject matter, and get some of the classroom procedures in order. In chemistry, I managed to complete 1 lab and start another.
We had 2 union meetings over this time, and the news from my union delegate was dire - hope for a settlement, but be realistic and plan on a strike. I had been hearing for the past year about the strike possibility, and it was clear that both sides had hardened their positions in preparation for this moment. The media and the city kept putting out hopeful comments, making it seem like a deal was possible. However, earnest and productive negotiations began so late that a deal was not gonna happen.
With a long way yet to go, the negotiators emerged on Sunday night with news that school was officially cancelled. (Why they had to wait until 10pm on Sunday, I have no idea. It kept us all waiting longer than necessary) I was officially on strike.
Back several years ago, when I was out of school and new to CPS, I had great reservations about the union. Colleagues spoke poorly of the union and its leadership, and I saw the organization as bloated and wasteful. I was happy for all the benefits I received as a result of the work of the union in the past, but wondered, "what have they done for me lately?"
Today, I certainly do not feel that way. So why the change?
Part of it is me. I am a little older, and thinking more now about this career and my future. I have more confidence today to say that I am in teaching for the long haul, and if so it makes financial sense to stay in CPS (lower pay than the suburbs but great retirement benefits). Naturally, I have more at stake in this contract negotiation than a recent college grad would.
The other factor is a change in the union. I work with an excellent group of teachers who care about the school and their profession. There is a new union leadership that better reflects the feelings of the city's teachers. We have a new common enemy in Rahm Emanuel. We have been told time and time again that we are not working hard enough, that we are greedy, that we are the problem. Our delegate described the union of a few years ago as a "dying beast, on its last breath." But today, thousands of teachers are marching at locations across the city, showing solidarity against attempts to fundamentally change public education in our city.
So today, I am proud to be a part of the CTU, and to have voted to strike. I do not profess to have all the answers, nor will I defend the union on all of its stances. I do believe that the union provides counter-balance against the tide of misguided reform. I do support the cause of labor unions and upholding the rights of workers, and hope that our fight will galvanize other teacher unions to fight against the privatization of education.
That being said, I hope even more to be back to work on Wednesday.
-alan
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