Big money CTU bosses: Union leaders make nearly three times median teacher salary

While we do not have a complete list of CTU employees, the union

by Paul Kersey

 

While we do not have a complete list of CTU employees, the union’s IRS Form 990 does allow us some idea of how well key CTU officials are compensated. Non-profits, like CTU, are required to report compensation for officers, directors and their five highest-paid employees. The following are the compensation figures that CTU reported to the IRS for 2010, the last report available. There are at least five employees who take in at least $160,000.

The compensation estimates are complicated by a change in leadership with the election of Karen Lewis and her team. The position of “Treasurer” appears to have been terminated, while a new “Vice President” office was filled. The positions of “President” (now filled by Ms. Lewis), “Recording Secretary” and “Financial Secretary” were carried over. We understand that the amounts listed in the 990 for each of these officers only covers part of the year.

For instance Marilyn Stewart was compensated for serving as President for the first part of the year, while Karen Lewis was compensated for the later part of the year, after she was installed as President, and same thing happened for the Recording Secretary and Financial Secretary.

To account for a mid-year transition, I have added the wages of the current and former occupants of the three offices to determine what we believe to be the annual salaries for three posts. Former Treasurer Linda Porter and current Vice President Jesse Sharkey also only served for part of the year, but because these are different positions we cannot say what their annual salaries would likely be.

CTU can confirm these estimates by releasing current compensation information for top leadership and staff.

The generous salaries that CTU’s top leaders receive illustrates again that while CTU wants to present itself as the defender of the downtrodden, it really represents the viewpoints and interests of the well-off.