MEDIA WATCH: The first Labor Day Video Marathon by Labor Beat features many videos about CTU struggles, CORE campaigns, and the broader struggle to save public education in Chicago and across the USA
Our friend Larry Duncan at Labor Beat has reminded us that the Labor Day Internet video marathon — "On the March for Public Education" is about to happen. That's right. This is just a reminder for Labor Day that people can get a full collection of the Labor Beat videos that, along with www.substancenews.net, chronicle the two years of struggle that led up to the historic CORE election victory on May 21 and June 11, 2010. Labor Beat, Chicago's labor news video organization, is presenting "On the March for Public Education" on Monday, September 6, 2010. The Labor video marathon is also on the Internet starting at 4 pm CST (Chicago time) Monday, September 6, 2010:
http://www.ectv.com
You can also view it also in Evanston, IL on Cable Channel 6.
Steve Dalber (left) of Labor Beat covering the Jaunary 28, 2009 protest against the school closings in Chicago. Many of the events that organized the recent changes in the Chicago Teachers Union were only covered by CORE, Labor Beat, and www.substancenews.net. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.The marathon features eight hours of Labor Beat programs on the fight to defend Chicago Public Schools against privatizations, turn-arounds, and attacks on the teachers union. Also, graduate student union's victories to defend access to public university education in Illinois. Plus struggles of college campus workers at University of Chicago.
Full Schedule (All times are Chicago Central Standard Time)
4:00 pm. Marathon Introduction
4:06 pm. Chicago School Board vs The Community. April, 2007. the fight-back against the assault on public education leads to a city-wide campaign to change from an appointed to an elected Board of Education.
4:30 pm. Don't Take Senn from Our Hands. December, 2007. Students, faculty and community at Senn High School organize a major opposition to a wing of their school being taken over by a Navy Academy.
5:00 pm. Struggle Against Renaissance 2010. January, 2009. A Community Hearing at Malcom X College to oppose the privatization of Chicago Public Schools. Sponsored by teachers union and community groups.
5:30 pm. Raises on Backs of Lost UIC Jobs. May, 2009. At the U. of Illinois Chicago, students, campus workers, graduate employees demand no layoffs or bumping, no tuition or fee hikes, healthcare for all, access for all students.
Chicago Protest 16 School Closings. February, 2009. A big community, union and student protest at Chicago Board of Education as 16 Schools are slated for closing under Renaissance 2010.
6:00 pm. Defending Public Education in the USA. July, 2008. The Peace and Justice caucus in the American Federation of Teachers met during the 2008 AFT Convention in Chicago to discuss attacks on public education nationally.
6:30 pm. The Peace and Justice Caucus at the AFT Convention. July, 2008. At the 2008 American Federation of Teachers convention the Peace and Justice Caucus worked to promote resolutions on peace, immigrants rights, support of Puerto Rican teachers, more.
7:00 pm. The New Chicago Teachers Union: Reclaim the Power, June, 2010. Panel discussion with Karen Lewis, President elect; Kristine Mayle, Financial Sec. elect; and Michael Brunson, Recording Sec. elect.
The dramatic press conference held during the June 2010 Chicago Board of Education meeting helped form the Labor Beat video on how the corporate media distort the news by framing silly questions for union leaders. Above, Marilyn Stewart (outgoing CTU president) and Karen Lewis (president elect of the CTU) refused to answer questions about taking cuts in the CTU contract from corporate media reporters. The story in full airs in the Labor Beat video "Corporate Media and the Attack on Public Education" a 20-minute video on corporate media's distortions of the news about Chicago's public schools and the teachers union. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.7:30 pm. Corporate Media and the Pillage of Public Education. August, 2010. Examines how Chicago's corporate public relations world attempts to spin the story of new union militancy in the face of layoffs and 35 students per classroom.
8:00 pm. Don't Let Them Close Our School. February 2006. The fight to keep open Chicago's Collins High school reveals a power struggle that is less about education and more about real estate.
Rally Supports University of Chicago Workers September, 2007. A protest at the University of Chicago in support of campus workers and members of Teamsters Local 743. The University had offered the workers a sub-standard contract.
8:30 pm. Secretary of Education Duncan: Pushing the Chicago Plan. December, 2008. Before President Obama appointed Arne Duncan Secretary of Education, Duncan was the CEO of the Chicago Public Schools. What was Arne Duncan up to during those years?
9:00 pm. Public Dollars, Public Schools - Chicago School Protest. February, 2009. Well over 500 parents, children and teachers converged on the Chicago School Board protesting the proposed 20 school closings.
Defend Professor Capeheart. April, 2009. A press conference was held at Northeastern Illinois University to defend Professor Loretta Capeheart against NEIU administration attacks because of her union activities.
Chicago Protest Against School Board Vote. June, 2010. In an 'emergency' Chicago Public Schools Board meeting, the Board voted unanimously to enable CPS CEO Ron Huberman to enact class size increases to 35 and lay off 2,700 more teachers.
9:30 pm. It's A Done Deal: CPS vs Community. March, 2008. Despite broad protests from the affected communities throughout the city, the Chicago School Board closed 18 schools.
Hey Barack, Race to the Top Is a Crock. August, 2010. As President Obama spoke in Chicago a group of Chicago Public Schools teachers and other public workers protested outside against his Race to the Top (RTTT) education policies.
Univ. of Illinois Chicago Graduate Employees Get An Agreement. April, 2010. The Graduate Employees Organization at University of Illinois Chicago held a protest before going into negotiations with the University's administration.
10:00 pm. GEM-CORE Summit 2010. January, 2010. Grassroots Education Movement and Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators held a public education summit at Malcom X College in Chicago against school closings and turnarounds.
10:30 pm. Ron Huberman, Show Us the Money!. May, 2010. Chicago teachers take it to the streets to get from CEO Ron Huberman some honest and accurate information about where school money is and how it's spent.
Chicago's Save Our Schools Rally. A huge Save Our Schools rally in Chicago's Loop.
May, 2010. Karen Lewis Victory Press ConferenceJune, 2010. Press conference following victory in a union election with national significance. The Chicago Teachers Union Local 1 is the largest union in the state of Illinois.
11:00 pm. The New Chicago Teachers Union: Reclaim the Power. June, 2010. Panel discussion with Karen Lewis, President elect; Kristine Mayle, Financial Sec. elect; and Michael Brunson, Recording Sec. elect.
As late as the 2008 convention of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) at Chicago's Navy Pier, the union was still helping members understand our own history and the history of labor unions in the USA. By the AFT's 2010 convention in Seattle, the memory of the militant labor movement had been erased from the AFT's official version of history, replaced by a major speech by billionaire Bill Gates. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.11:30 pm. Corporate Media and the Pillage of Public Education. August, 2010. Examines how Chicago's corporate public relations world attempts to spin the story of new union militancy in the face of layoffs and 35 students per classroom.
Labor Beat is supported by working people like those of us at Substance and those reading this news report.
For more information: lduncan@igc.org, 312-226-3330
By: Margaret Wilson
Happy Labor Day
I just want to wish everyone a Happy Labor Day. Teachers have made a huge difference in the Labor Movement and continue to do so, so this is our day to give ourselves credit for the difference we have made in the lives of many people. I wish everyone a successful school year. Also, to those of you who are Jewish, Happy New Year. May you be sealed and inscribed in the book of life.