By Victor Skinner
EAGnews.org

CHICAGO – The Chicago Teachers Union recently secured a “cake” contract for its members during the September teachers strike.

Now, the cake is all over the union’s pudgy face and everyone is staring.

MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK

They’re staring because the expensive labor contract that came out of the strike is forcing Chicago Public Schools officials to pursue cost cutting measures to address the district’s $1 billion budget hole. CPS officials want to close 120 schools next year, to save between $500,000 and $800,000 per campus, but union officials are already throwing a fit.

They’re screaming for a moratorium on school closings with their mouths full of cake.

Didn’t their mothers teach them not to talk with their mouths full?

The CTU is obviously fighting to preserve employment positions for its members and revenue for its coffers, but the fact is that CPS has far too much capacity for its current student population, and some schools need to close.

The new CTU contract is undoubtedly necessitating some of the school closures, but it’s only one union-related issue driving the district’s massive debt. Teacher pensions are another.

“Chicago voters also overwhelmingly approved a nonbinding ballot measure on Election Day that would transfer Chicago teachers’ pensions to the state. It is unlikely to go anywhere, however, as Illinois residents outside of the city are unwilling to take on the burden of additional pensions,” according to the Illinois Review.

MORE NEWS: How to prepare for face-to-face classes

“The sad fact is that even in an ideal world, where all of these cost-cutting measures were easily passed and implemented, CPS would still not generate enough revenue to make up for the four-year pension contribution holiday that it took to cover its operating expenses.”.

Without union concessions, school leaders are left with few options but to cut teaching positions, student programs and other school services that benefit students the most.

The CTU has its cake and it seems to be enjoying it.

But union bosses should at least wipe the frosting off their faces before making more demands.