UIC GEO RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION

CTU Support Resolution

Whereas all students deserve the right to a quality public education in their neighborhood school, and

Whereas all students deserve smaller class sizes to receive adequate attention from teachers, and

Whereas all students deserve access to a broad and diverse curriculum that includes art, world languages, computer literacy, and physical education, and

Whereas all students deserve support including fully-staffed libraries in all schools, access to social workers, school nurses, therapists and psychologists, and

Whereas teachers deserve to be adequately compensated for their work, and

Whereas the revenue necessary to fund a quality public education can be substantially realized by reallocating resources that go to mostly non-union Charter schools and the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts, both of which currently siphon revenue from public schools, and

Whereas teachers deserve protection against arbitrary dismissal and a fair recall procedure so that the talents and expertise of experienced teachers can be put to the best use serving the students of Chicago, and

Whereas the Chicago Board of Education, among other concessions, is demanding “merit pay” for teachers based on student test scores, despite a consensus among researchers that such scores to not reliably measure a teacher’s ability, and

Whereas the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is standing up for the children of Chicago and for all public employees and unions in this time of budget cutting and union busting, and

Be it resolved that the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Local 6297 of IFT-AFT, AFL-CIO supports the Chicago Teachers Union in its fight to negotiate a contract that addresses all of these issues with the Chicago Board of Education.

Be it further resolved that the Graduate Employees Organization, Local 6297 contribute a sum of $250 to the strike fund of CTU.

Be it further resolved that the Graduate Employees Organization, Local 6297 endorses local solidarity events in support of the CTU.

Be it further resolved that the Graduate Employees Organization, Local 6297 communicate such support to its members, including asking them to sign petitions and communicate their support for CTU and its demands to the Chicago Board of Education and Mayor Rahm Emanuel.