CPS, CTU Set To Reject Arbitrator's Report

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 16, 2012 2:35PM

The Tribune is reporting this morning that the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools are both expected to reject this week a report from arbitrator Edwin Benn offering his recommendations at breaking the stalemate in contract talks between the two sides.

Benn's report is due Wednesday and, while it isn't binding, if either side finds it inequitable and rejects the report, it could trigger the first strike by Chicago teachers in 25 years. Sources told the Tribune Benn's report will recommend a 15-20 percent hike in teachers wages in the first year of a new contract, based in part on the new longer school day that will take effect. Benn is required to ground his report in CPS' "fiscal reality," which isn't very sound, currently.

Based on that alone it's easy to see why both sides would favor rejection. CPS, which is tapping into its reserve funds to help balance its FY 2013 budget, has proposed a modest two percent pay raise for teachers. The teachers union finds itself in the position of possibly rejecting a pay raise half of what they were proposing. But the CTU vice president Jesse Sharkey also said the union has asked for better use of a school day and wants assurances class sizes won't increase.

CTU voted to authorize a strike in June but the ultimate decision falls on the union's Board of Delegates to set a strike date, which could happen as early as Aug. 17.