By Kyle Olson
EAGnews.org

CHICAGO – The Chicago Teachers Union was derided earlier this year when the public learned it was demanding a 30% raise for teachers, including 24% in the first year. Given the current economic conditions and financial state of the school district, most people saw the union as out-of-touch and downright nuts.

At a recent event sponsored by SEIU, CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey told a citizen journalist that the union doesn’t honestly expect it will “in the end wind up with 24%.  It’s an initial bargaining position.”

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It just goes to show how the collective bargaining process is one of posturing and gaining leverage to extract a better deal. And the corrupt system in Chicago will likely lead to a strike just prior to the start of the school year, so the union can gain more leverage and secure a bigger raise and less accountability for teachers.

Sharkey also divulged that the school board, controlled by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, has offered a five year contract with a 2% annual raise.

Throughout the interview, Sharkey demonstrates his ability to rattle off catch phrases, including “smaller class sizes,” “better day,” “fair compensation,” and “job security,” whatever all those terms precisely mean.

It all suggests that the end result of contract negotiations is not going to be in the best interests of students, because all the issues Sharkey describes are adult issues. The adults may be able to gain leverage to feather their nest, but it won’t do much good for student learning.

Teachers unions exist to benefit teachers and themselves. Public schools exist to benefit students. The sooner Chicago residents understand the difference, the sooner they will back the mayor in his effort to corral union power and runaway labor expenses.