Labor

CPS school closings: the writing was on the wall

CPS school closings: the writing was on the wall

“Chicago Public Schools on Thursday announced the largest school shakeup in the nation: closing 54 schools and 61 buildings, jostling 30,000 kids and leaving the future of more than 1,000 teachers unclear

When it comes to the AFSCME contract, taxpayers still in the dark

When it comes to the AFSCME contract, taxpayers still in the dark

After all, there is a basic democratic principle in play: An informed citizenry can hold its government in check. But how can we hold Quinn accountable if the information we receive is only what he chooses to share?

AFSCME memo releases new details on potential strike

AFSCME memo releases new details on potential strike

The Herald and Review has managed to get ahold of a new bulletin from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, to its members. This new message indicates that the union is getting closer to calling for a strike, and gives the union’s rationale for a walkout, revealing some very useful facts on the state...

By Paul Kersey

Contagion: Strike fever spreads across Illinois

Contagion: Strike fever spreads across Illinois

  [updated Feb. 4, 2013] With the Chicago Teachers Union having waged a largely successful strike against the Chicago Public Schools, we can expect to see other public school unions, and maybe other government employee unions, following their example. Strikes allow unions to preserve costly wages and benefits, or block needed reforms, by shutting down...

By Paul Kersey

AFSCME: Steps toward a walkout

AFSCME: Steps toward a walkout

The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, Council 31 sent a message to its employees last week urging them to prepare for a walkout.

High-paid union elite often use teachers to promote their agendas

High-paid union elite often use teachers to promote their agendas

According to union financial reports filed with the U.S. Department of Labor, there are more than 120 employees of the Illinois Education Association, or IEA, and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, or IFT, earning more than $100,000.

Speaker Madigan reminds the unions who’s in charge

Speaker Madigan reminds the unions who’s in charge

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan turned down an invitation to a pension summit sponsored by public employee unions. Madigan sent a firm letter to Michael Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO. Carrigan also heads the We Are One Illinois coalition of public employee unions. “In my view, the positions of organized labor were taken into...

Grayslake teacher contract details remain a mystery

Grayslake teacher contract details remain a mystery

“Grayslake” sounds like a great place for a mystery. It could be the name of a mansion overlooking a foggy moor upon which a wealthy young heiress was found dead of arsenic poisoning among half a dozen acquaintances, all with serious grudges.

Contagion 2.0: Did you really think it was over?

Contagion 2.0: Did you really think it was over?

The holidays are over and kids have been back in school for weeks. But students in Grayslake District 46 are back at home now that teachers are on strike.