Experience tells us that the Chicago Tribune editorial board (which, for an institution that is mired in bankruptcy and under investigation, certainly has a lot of opinions about how other businesses should operate) can be an early indicator of what might soon be coming from the Illinois General Assembly. Interest groups, usually business interests, like to use the Tribune editorial page to float their ideas of what would make good legislation. When the editorial board agrees, they are happy to provide space.
That might explain Friday’s editorial which calls on the legislature to eliminate the right to strike for education employees.
Lawmakers need to block that threat. Just as state law prohibits firefighters and police officers from striking, so too should it stop teachers from walking out. Not just in Chicago, but across Illinois.
Cops and firefighters can’t strike because doing so would imperil public safety. They’re vital. Teachers can strike because … well, why? We think teachers, like police, are public employees crucial to the well-being of the community.
The Tribune is correct that teachers are crucial to the well-being of Illinois communities. That is why the right to strike is so important.
The Illinois Education Labor Relations Act, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 1984, helped usher in a new era of professionalism for public education, with our state’s students and communities among the primary beneficiaries.
Some facts:
- In the nine years leading up to the passage of the IELRA, school employees went on strike 221 times, an average of 24 strikes annually.
- Since 1984, there have been an average of only 10 strikes each year, and in the last 10 years, Illinois has seen an average of five strikes annually. That’s out of 879 school districts!
The IELRA allows employees to bargain contracts with districts as equal partners in the process, resulting in more professional bargaining, which typically yields contracts that allow districts to attract and retain high quality teachers and staff.
The Tribune has been an anti-union paper since the 19th century. The anti-strike position is not surprising.
What is a little surprising is the paper’s willingness to publicly shower disrespect on the parents of public school students:
Many parents don’t focus on limitations in what budgets can handle — or what taxpayers can afford. They just want kids out of the house, off the streets and back in school. So they pressure the school board to make a deal, no matter the cost.
Really? Are the parents not taxpayers as well? Are parents ignorant about the quality of education and the ability of districts to attract and retain quality teachers and staff?
That’s not our experience. We don’t think it’s anyone else’s experience in Illinois.
Looking down the road
The right to strike is among a number of issues of concern to education employee that could be the subject of legislation in the waning days of the current session of the General Assembly. While its possible something could happen when the veto session resumes after Thanksgiving, action seems more likely to come in early January. Speaker Michael Madigan has scheduled six work days for lame-duck legislators before the new General Assembly is seated later that month.
Though serious matters don’t usually come before the lame duck legislature in January, the word at the Statehouse is that that legislation to reform two big-ticket items, workmen’s compensation and the state’s Medicaid system, is in development.
The state’s budget crisis hovers over everything in state government. No sane person believes that the state can get on the road to fiscal solvency without some sort of a tax increase. Passing a tax increase would obviously be controversial, so it would not be surprising to see a tax hike voted on at around the same time more “reform” measures that don’t cost the state money are also being passed.
There are also statehouse whispers that legislation which would impact the state retirement systems is in development, including legislation that would allow the taxation of retirement income. In addition, other bills impacting issues of significant interest to education employees could be put into the mix. Among the potential issues are school vouchers, tenure and seniority.
IEA leaders and lobbyists are collecting information on what could be coming and devising strategies based on the available information. In the coming weeks, IEA members will be receive reports reflecting the latest developments and intelligence from the Statehouse.
To be informed, tune in
The time from Thanksgiving until New Year’s is usually when IEA members relax and focus on their work and their families’ holiday activities. This year, it would be prudent to remain tuned in to what your Association knows, via the IEA Website, facebook page and twitter feed. There you will find information and learn of possible calls to action.
Your elected IEA leaders are focused on keeping members informed of the facts, so be sure to remain connected.
Illinois Education Association is an association of more than 130,000 members composed of Illinois elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty and staff, educational support professionals, retired educators and college students preparing to become teachers.
I think that we should remember that the Tribune was founded by the McCormicks, the same family that owned the McCormick Harvesting Machine Factory. Why is this important? Because the McCormicks have always been against unions. In On May 3, 1886, after having locked out unionists since February, the McCormicks used Pinkertons to break the picket line resulting n the death of 2 workers. This was the direct precursor of the Haymarket Tragedy the next day – which is now the basis of the international Mayday celebratons. Later, the McCormick’s were influential in convincing the governor not to grant clemency to the Haymarket Martyrs, who wer hanged the following Nov 11, 1887.
Why should we expect anything different from the current crop of owners? They are just carrying out a long held tradition and position of the owners of this newspaper.
If we’re expecting the worst, might this be a good time to prepare a message for our members to deliver to their legislators before the session begins? I would also hope that our leadership is holding serious discussions with Governor Quinn, who would not be governor without our help.
The Tribune’s attack on our right to strike has a broader context. It is part of an attack which also targets our tenure and seniority rights. The Tribune has also gone after our retirees and our pensions. We absolutely should hold the Governor accountable on all these issues.
Would it not be lovely if a group of progressive investors purchased the Tribune and turned it into a responsible, world class paper. I know how tough it is these days in that business, but perhaps a consortium of interested parties could rise to the challege. Chicago needs a great newspaper and it is sad that it is without one. I cancelled my subscription last summer and now I have to force myself to look at their web site now and then just to stay somewhat informed on local news. I rely mostly on the NYT for everything else, despite the fact that is is not ideal either. It beats the Tribune.