Chicago Teachers Want a 30% Pay Increase Over Next 2 Years

It’s for the kids.

In 2010 14,866 Illinois teachers made over $100,000. The highest paid teacher in Illinois teaches PE and made $203,154. 760 Illinois P.E. teachers made over $100,000 not including benefits.

But, they want more…
The Chicago Teachers Union is asking for 30% raises in next two years.
The Chicago Tribune reported:

The Chicago Teachers Union is asking for raises amounting to 30 percent over the next two years, the opening salvo in heated contract negotiations with school officials who are implementing a longer school day across Chicago Public Schools next school year.

Documents obtained by the Tribune show that in the face of Mayor Rahm Emanuel‘s expansion of the school day, the union has led with an offer seeking a 24 percent raise in the 2012-13 school year and a 5 percent increase the following year, the net effect being 30 percent.

It may be playing hardball, or it could be, as one education expert described it, an “exorbitant offer” that ignores the district’s growing financial constraints.

As she left CTU headquarters for contract negotiations Thursday, union President Karen Lewis declined to comment on the details of the proposal.

“We are not negotiating this in the public,” Lewis said.

CTU spokeswoman Stephanie Gadlin issued a statement, saying: “Our contract negotiations have just begun and are negotiated in good faith and not in the public. We have not authorized the release of any proposals outside of negotiations.”

The proposal also calls for reducing elementary school class sizes from 28 to 23 students and shrinking class sizes in the upper grade levels from about 31 students to 23.

#1 February 17, 2012 at 10:27 am
wanumba commented:

Smaller classes mean only more staff, meaning more union dues paying members. There is NO curriculum or actual TEACHING improvement involved in this. NONE.
#2 February 17, 2012 at 10:29 am
#1AMERICAN commented:

and the crooked marxists in the state will give it to them…ha ha ha what a crock of $hit
#3 February 17, 2012 at 10:31 am
Blue Hen commented:

Doesn’t Illinois have some of the worst finances in the country? And these greedy thugs are demanding 30% increases in two years, and wil not allow the light of day anywhere near it.
#4 February 17, 2012 at 10:39 am
Tee Dub commented:

It’s important to make sure teachers make a $hitload more money as government workers than in the private sector. This makes them 100% socialist and fiercely defensive of it. As such, they are now in the perfect position to indoctrinate our children to the wonderful world of socialism and more than willing to do so.
#5 February 17, 2012 at 10:41 am
Militant Conservative commented:

Stomping on the gas and the car is already over

The cliff.
#6 February 17, 2012 at 10:47 am
The Elector of Saxony commented:

Did the Union Goons, I mean, “teachers” mention that our educational results have been on a downward spiral for 50 years? Oh, I forgot. That’s the fault of parents. But the parents aren’t paid for educating the children, the teachers are. But of course, you can’t fire a teacher and you can’t hire a non-union teacher, so who ya gonna blame, right? And of course, no testing can be allowed to benchmark teacher performance because that would pervert the “higher educational mission” of the educator.

If we want to take this country back, one of the first and best things we could do is bust the whole public school racket right down to the ground. Better to destroy it even than reform it. Schools should be localized, and the voucher system should be implemented everywhere. If the State wants to compete in education, so be it, but they are going to compete with Montessori, Catholic schools, private academies providing specialized services, and yes, vocational ed for those who aren’t going to rocket scientists. No more unions, no NEA, no superintendents making 500 grand a year with 40 assistants making 250. No more top heavy administrations, and teachers who can get what they get for an 8 month job.
#7 February 17, 2012 at 10:47 am
A.Men commented:

Chicago thugs!
#8 February 17, 2012 at 10:56 am
Big Al commented:

It will be very interesting to see whether the far left regime(s) in Illinois even try to deal with this like Wisconsin did. I frankly doubt it. Illinois is rapidly approaching bankruptcy with no solution in sight.
#9 February 17, 2012 at 11:05 am
More Liberty commented:

Palm meet face.
#10 February 17, 2012 at 11:06 am
olm commented:

SAY WHAT?
This is hilarious. Reminds me of Detroit and look at how that turned out.
30% in a down economy? I can’t wait to see the outcome of this one.

I don’t understand why all of a sudden the leftists are pushing so hard? Either they know something we don’t or they are scared as hell that BO is going to lose in November.
#11 February 17, 2012 at 11:09 am
paul52 commented:

Illinois’s credit rating #50 of all states. (No, Barry, not #57!) Good luck on this one, Rahmbo!
#13 February 17, 2012 at 11:13 am
cal rifkin commented:

Hey, don’t you know that teachers are underpaid? C’mon! It’d be better than paying some rich ballplayer! And the schools are doing a good, no; an ok, no; a barely adequate job! What’s wrong with all y’all??
#14 February 17, 2012 at 11:15 am
daryl commented:

Best example of ‘bunker mentality’ recently displayed.
#15 February 17, 2012 at 11:18 am
Mutnodjmet commented:

I’m TRIED of my KIDS and CHURCH being WEAPONIZED against me!!!
#16 February 17, 2012 at 11:23 am
Chicago Teachers commented:

We are not negotiating this in public. We just expect the public to pay for it. Gimme, gimme, gimme!!!
#17 February 17, 2012 at 11:24 am
pink lady commented:

Why stop there? Why not 200% increase every year??? Every capitalist American will be required to walk around in a potato sack? Geesh, where is everyone moving? This country is finished
#18 February 17, 2012 at 11:27 am
Bad Actor commented:

#6 Elector of Saxony:

You are absolutely right – tear it up and start all over. Number One: get our schools back on a path that instills love of country, study of the constitution and founding fathers, and get rid of all the feel-good, politically correct, multiculturism garbage. Back to basics – American history, math, english, science – build the skills we need in future successful citizens. Everybody should learn to be proficient in English – immigrants need to assimilate, rather than the rest of us accommodating them. Do all that, and maybe our country has a chance. Also, don’t hire teachers with over 5 years prior experience, they are mostly all socialists. And no unions for publicly paid employees – none of them – teachers and other school personel, cops, firemen, postal workers, city, state, municipal workers – that would be a beginning.
#19 February 17, 2012 at 11:27 am
Patty commented:

This has to be a Joke. These teachers are ego maniacs. Shouldn’t teach ever. And don’t hire this type of teaching if you can help from it. Our education in the U.S. S….!

There are capable people who have graduated and are waiting to teach our kids will excellent resumes.

The only thing holding our kids back are Unions. Pay teachers for the performance not because the call themselves a teacher and they are just there. Pathetic money beggars and our kids deserve more. They are out protesting while they need to be teaching but on the other hand stay outside of the classrooms our kids don’t need the likes of these people.

This shows how out of touch they are and they probably are a much of more liberals we don’t need teaching our kids more crap.
#20 February 17, 2012 at 11:40 am
Texas_Treeroach commented:

America had better wake up and start paying attention.
People had better start protecting their voting processes at all levels.
They had better take interest in who they elect as their Local, State and Federal officials.
That includes all of the Judges, up and down the line.
That even includes School Board officials.

“When the gates are all down,
And the signals are flashing,
And the whistle is screaming in vain,
And you stay on the tracks, ignoring the facts —
Then you can’t blame the wreck on the train.”
#21 February 17, 2012 at 11:49 am
1RedBeard commented:

I want a 30% increase in income, as well. Trouble is, I have to work harder to earn it. I can’t simply extort it from the state. Life is SO unfair.
#22 February 17, 2012 at 11:49 am
hermie commented:

And remember that pensions are based on the employees’ salaries. A 30% increase in salary means even bigger bucks from the already strapped for cash Illinois Pension System.

No wonder Rahm is going nuts over seizing taxpayers’ income tax refunds.
#24 February 17, 2012 at 11:58 am
Not a union member commented:

Just exactly where the F*** do they think they are going to get this money when the state of IL is busted. What a bunch of frickin MORONS.
#25 February 17, 2012 at 11:58 am
Bill commented:

“We are not negotiating this in the public,” Lewis said. Aren’t unions supposed to negotiate with those that pay their wages?
#26 February 17, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Brian Bollmann commented:

Will there be a 30% increase in the quality of education? 30% increase in the ability of the children to succeed in the world?

No.
#27 February 17, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Ben commented:

Once again the public sector unions demonstrate their belief that the private sector are their own personal pack mules.
#29 February 17, 2012 at 12:14 pm
SeniorD commented:

Waitaminnit!

A Public Employee Union is negotiating with a Public School District and the Public can’t get involved?

Chicago politics – brought to you by the same people that sent that Valentine’s Day message.
#30 February 17, 2012 at 12:26 pm
H8Unions commented:

I find it ironic that it says “NUT” on the bottom of their signs. Another reason the rest of Illinois wants Chicago to become the 51st State.
#32 February 17, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Bad Actor commented:

I just wonder – did a decimal point get left out somewhere? If so, even a 3% raise in these hard economic times would be asking for quite a bit.
#33 February 17, 2012 at 12:48 pm
havok commented:

30% Pay raise for a less than 30% Minority graduation rate…..yep, we are living in an Obama world now. Where failure is rewarded, and competency isn’t tolerated.
#34 February 17, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Blacque Jacques Shellacque commented:

From around 2003 until the time the company I worked for went under in 2009, I got no raise of any kind. I had no complaints.

Given the cost of living in this place, I did get paid decently though (a recruiter told me afterwards that I had been underpaid), and that’s all I wanted.
#35 February 17, 2012 at 1:11 pm
wanumba commented:

#19 February 17, 2012 at 11:27 am
Patty commented:

This has to be a Joke. These teachers are ego maniacs. Shouldn’t teach ever. And don’t hire this type of teaching if you can help from it. Our education in the U.S. S….!
::::::::::::::::::::::

WHat are the stats? 98% of the education establishment today is women. This FAIL is female.
#36 February 17, 2012 at 1:39 pm
tommy mc donnell commented:

they need that 30% raise, the union is making them kick in 29% to obama’s campaign.
#37 February 17, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Patty commented:

wanumba

It all depend on any individual trainer’s competence in the field and their communication skills.

Kids need both men and women teachers. Men don’t always wish to be a teacher. Of course there needs to be more men in teaching. But male or female a great teacher is a great teacher.

So, failing education in America has a great deal to do with Bureaucrats. Leave the good alone and the will teach and those who are just there for the money, need to be fired.

They need to be evaluated each year on the stats. Have they performed their duties no matter the gender to the “best” of their abilities. The most important thing we can do for our kids is a “firm” cooperation from both parents and teachers. And in some inter cities they are rewarding students to attend classes. Those who have been absent for a number of days are showing up presently. These rewards have been donated not by tax payers money. This sounds unbelievable way to have students attend class but it is working.

In my day there was a truant officer who was suppose to go to home and ask parents where their child was. Today, rewards? in the poorest of the poor areas.

Teachers who are wanting more pay in this time in history are in my opinion both men and women who should never teach again.
#38 February 17, 2012 at 3:43 pm
wanumba commented:

Patty commented:
wanumba
It all depend on any individual trainer’s competence in the field and their communication skills.

Kids need both men and women teachers. Men don’t always wish to be a teacher. Of course there needs to be more men in teaching. But male or female a great teacher is a great teacher
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Our last two kids are in a French school right now. MY 11 year old has a male teacher. WHen he was in kindergarten, he had a male teacher, our no 5 had a male teacher in first grade. Our no 1 had a male teacher in 5th grade. There are NO male equivalents in the USA for those grades. NONE. These teachers are indeed TEACHERS. They know their subjects, they demand attention, results, discipline… both the men and women in this school – and all the French school we have attended – which is now SIX in total, in SIX different countries – proving a consistency that goes beyond one school.

Can you think of a single American school that has ANY male teachers below grade 8? And in grade 8, any male teacher would be in the glaring minority amongst women, they are the very small minority in every grade.
The US school system is monopolized by women. at least 97% women.

My women teachers in the 1960s were TEACHERS. They knew their subjects. When they retired, they were replaced by “process know-nothings” out of teachers’ colleges.

The FAIL of this generation in education is managed by WOMEN. They pushed the shift to facilitator, the shift to no facts, just process, the push for Ritain, the push for no recesses, the push for more money more money. No one likes to talk about about it, but it’s a very shameful truth. We are YEARS behind other countries and continuing to fall further behind.
#39 February 17, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Sorry to live in Illinois commented:

I’ve got the solution!

Turn schools into stadiums. Cover every square inch that is not covered with grafitti into a billboard. Imagine the possibilities. Replace those religious banners with paid advertisers. Every door. Every classroom. Every hallway. Every Restroom.

Planned Parenthood could advertise. Nike. Red Bull. Colt 45. The list is endless and so is the revenue!
#40 February 17, 2012 at 3:58 pm
wanumba commented:

#39 February 17, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Sorry to live in Illinois commented:

I’ve got the solution!

Turn schools into stadiums. Cover every square inch that is not covered with grafitti into a billboard. Imagine the possibilities.
::::::::::::::::

Sorry, you’re too late. The schools already do that sort of thing.
#42 February 17, 2012 at 5:02 pm
dnb commented:

Why aren’t negotiations made in public, when it’s the public who has to pay for them?
#43 February 17, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Christopher Taylor commented:

I’m glad she kindly put the word “nut” on her placard so people can tell what she is without asking.
#44 February 17, 2012 at 7:10 pm
Ms Liberty commented:

Chicago school system results are terrible. The best thing about paying those teachers all that money is it keeps all that failure in one place! It’s better to keep them there than to let them pollute all the other districts of the state.
#45 February 17, 2012 at 7:18 pm
InRussetShadows commented:

Anyone else catch the irony of the PUBLIC school teachers union refusing to divulge their salary demands to the PUBLIC that pays their wages?
#46 February 17, 2012 at 9:21 pm
WOW commented:

Boy that’s a hoot. Down in Texas we haven’t had a raise in 3 years. Our super got one every year. I have been teaching for 13 years and just break 50,000. I don’t know what they are complaining about.
#47 February 17, 2012 at 9:26 pm
WOW commented:

Hey Wanumba stop blaming the women! It’s the supertiendents that are all MALE!!! Choke on that one.
#48 February 17, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Chicagoan commented:

Hey, you do get that Chicago and Illinois are not the same, right? Chicago is a city and Illinois is a state. In fact, nobody teaching in Chicago makes 6 figures. Follow that link to top paid teachers in the state and you won’t find one from Chicago. You also know that the teachers are being asked to work more than 30% more hours next year, right? Anyway, continue your outrage.
#49 February 17, 2012 at 10:58 pm
Ex-Californian commented:

As a recently retired male senior high school teacher with 4 years in the clssroom I will verify the seizure of our public schools by hordes of clueless mentally limited feminist activists.
The opening of medicine, law, denistry, & the upper levels of the corporate world has meant that only the lowest caliber of easily indoctrinated mush major women are left for the nation’s elementary & junior high schools. The declining intellectual quality of elementary teachers is borne out by the ever sinking National Teachers Test scores since the 1970s.
When I was an elementary student in California in the 1950s all of my teachers from 4th grade up were male. The senior highs where I taught beginning in 1966 were staffed with males by a 2 to 1 ratio until the early 1990s when female quotas for nearly every subject field became the rule.It was obvious to anyone not sufferig from severe myopia that males were non grata in the nation’s schools even when one presented himself.
By the time I retired in 2006 young male teachers were a scarce species even at the senior high level. Contrary to what is stated above a large majority of administrators at least in California are female including large numbers of the superintendents. Our schools have become so anti-male that boys and men at the college level are turning off and tuning out. The feminazis and the NAGs have destroyed our public schools and male teachers are becoming an increasingly rare species. As a parent of an intellectually talented son I did my best to steer him away from teaching at any level.
#50 February 17, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Ex-Californian commented:

The 4 years s.hould be 40
#51 February 18, 2012 at 3:34 am
BS61 commented:

Well, I guess between the teachers union and the increase in taxes by the gov, I won’t ever get to move back to my sweet home Chicago! I see them being Detroit in the future!

I need a midwest city for the future, any suggestions?!
#52 February 18, 2012 at 3:42 am
BS61 commented:

#35 wanumba commented:

WHat are the stats? 98% of the education establishment today is women. This FAIL is female.

No Wanumba, it’s a govt fail – they need to get out of the education business!
#53 February 18, 2012 at 6:26 am
AuntieMadder commented:

wanumba, if you’re looking for male teachers of 8th grade students and younger, there’s that elementary school in Los Angeles that has – make that “had” – at least a couple of them.

Seriously, the teachers don’t get to take full credit for the epic FAIL. WOW is right (happens to broken clocks twice each day, too, so don’t get the big head, WOW) that the teachers’ bosses – those running the schools – are mostly men. the higher ups who run the unions are also men and I give the unions most of the credit for the current quality of public school education. And, as BS61 pointed out, public schools are govt institutions and, like all things run by the govt, they’re run poorly until they’re run into the ground.
#54 February 18, 2012 at 7:37 am
wanumba commented:

#47 February 17, 2012 at 9:26 pm
WOW commented:
Hey Wanumba stop blaming the women! It’s the supertiendents that are all MALE!!! Choke on that one.

:::::::::::::::::::

Nope, I’m blaming the WOMEN. Because WOMEN have been screechnig about how they are EQUAL to men and how they DESERVE more money and how they are always victims of SEXISM and GENDER BIAS.

So, WOMEN have to OWN this FAIL, because at 97% monopoly of education staffing, so to blame it on males who make up less than 3% discredits EVERYTHING women CLAIM.

Here is an entire SECTOR that is dominated by women so, what’s the EXCUSE?

They’ve RUINED it. Now, we can get more specific, and I’m happy to:

Education is 98% PROGRESSIVE LEFT DEMOCRAT WOMEN FAIL.

Conservative women are TEACHING their KIDS.

See? It’s far more nuanced than your knee-jerk reaction to my correct observation.
#55 February 18, 2012 at 7:47 am
mamagriz68 commented:

I taught in a public school system to the west of Chicago for 7 years (until I couldn’t stand the insanity anymore and wanted to stay home with my new son). This was a district in a fairly well-off community, and we only had 2 schools that were struggling at the time. The most we ever got was a 6% raise, and that seemed extravagant. (I have to add that at the time I left, the district was offering tuition reimbursement to teachers for grad classes, which would then force them to pay those teachers a higher salary as the accumulated more credits. That just didn’t make sense to me at all.) The CTU does not live in the same universe as the rest of us (as most unions do not). Until the public schools have to compete and show results to get and keep students into the classrooms, the waste, fraud and abuse of the system and the taxpayers will never end.
#56 February 18, 2012 at 7:57 am
Susan T commented:

If teachers make this much in Illinois, and it’s funded with taxpayer money, then they should have to be transparent in their negotiations.

Illinois is a cesspool of union thugs.
#57 February 18, 2012 at 8:48 am
Shawn commented:

Teaching used to be an honorable profession. Now we have a bunch of incompetent,greedy boobs teaching our kids nothing but how to put condems on wooden penis. Time to blow up the public school system and start over without the union thugs being in place.
#59 February 19, 2012 at 10:27 am
DGA commented:

Saul Alinsky would be proud, this will certainly break the system. And I loved how that marxist thug karen lewis is not willing to let the negotiations become public, gee, wonder why not karen, the public is the one who has to pay for it!!
#61 February 25, 2012 at 9:13 pm
wolffy commented:

It is a damn joke,not a penny of all the money getting pumped into education goes towards making a smarter kid!!!Scores are down nation wide,and they still want more money.