CORE turned in CTU nominating petitions with more than 3,000 signatures at deadline March 23
On March 23, 2010, CORE submitted over 3,000 signatures, more than twice the number needed to qualify for placement on the May 21st CTU election ballot. CORE presidential candidate Karen Lewis and CORE Area A vice presidential candidate Carol Caref delivered the signatures of teachers and PSRPs from 134 schools who gave CORE their vote of confidence in the upcoming election.
CORE candidate for CTU President Karen Lewis (above) teaches at King High School. Substance photo by Carol Caref.“CORE has proven time and again that it has what it takes to lead the CTU,” said Fern Hahn, a teacher at Locke School. “CORE believes in the collective power of the CTU membership. I’m a teacher. It felt good to be asked to take real action for our Union. CORE respects us and trusts us to stand up and fight for our rights.”
At the same time as the ballot drive, CORE continued its nearly two-year long fight against school closings and turnarounds. CORE testified at CPS and aldermanic hearings, came out in full force at the February Board meeting (see video of CTU Recording Secretary candidate Michael E. Brunson at COREteachers.org) and spoke at Operation PUSH. Additionally, CORE organized hundreds of parents, students and teachers to demonstrate at Mayor Daley’s office twice; ultimately voicing our objections to CPS’s policy of destroying school communities to Daley’s education point person.
“CORE met face-to-face with over 1 of 10 CTU members city-wide to collect 3,062 ballot signatures,” said Karen Lewis, CORE’s Presidential candidate. “Scores of CORE supporters petitioned their schools and others while CEO Ron Huberman was making that very action ‘outside his law.’ CPS intimidation can’t hold a candle to the power of 28,000 courageous teachers and PSRPs.”
