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?
Laying blame: union bosses also culpable for pension crisis
Laying blame: union bosses also culpable for pension crisis
In case you missed it, a couple of days ago journalist Dave McKinney of the Chicago Sun-Times put together an interesting history lesson on how the state of Illinois wound up committing securities fraud.
By Paul Kersey
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.
AFSCME to state workers: Prepare for a strike
AFSCME to state workers: Prepare for a strike
The states largest employee union is urging its members to be prepared for the possibility of a strike.
West Chicago teacher strike: lack of collective bargaining transparency leaves taxpayers in the dark
West Chicago teacher strike: lack of collective bargaining transparency leaves taxpayers in the dark
Faced with the prospect of lean financial times, the West Chicago Elementary District 33 school board decided it would be prudent to reduce automatic annual pay increases and lengthen the amount of time it takes for teachers to reach the top of pay scale
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...
Back room collective bargaining deals leave taxpayers in the dark
Back room collective bargaining deals leave taxpayers in the dark
The time for passing a Truth-in-Collective Bargaining Act is long overdue.
By Brian Costin
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.
Passage of management bill will prevent some government workers from unionizing
Passage of management bill will prevent some government workers from unionizing
With the last procedural hurdles cleared, Senate Bill 1556, also known as the "management" bill, will be presented to Gov. Pat Quinn and is expected to receive his signature.
By Paul Kersey