CTU begins delegate training at King High School December 4
In what will be a lengthy process, the new leadership of the Chicago Teachers Union begins training for union delegates this Saturday, December 4, 2010, at King High School (4445 S. Drexel Blvd) in Chicago. The training is an early version of what will take place in a longer format in March. For the past several years, the delegate training done by the CTU, under former President Marilyn Stewart, has been spotty, according to delegates.
Delegates have been asked to participate in a one-day training session sponsored by the Chicago Teachers Union. A longer training will be offered in March 2011.Workshops (two of which are to be selected) are: Teacher Evaluation and Testing; The CTU and Municipal Elections; Contract Enforcement Basics; Activating CTU in your building; How to write a grievance; Advanced contract enforcement; Enforcing the contract for PSRPs; and Involving Parents and Community in Defending Our Schools — working with your LSC
The keynote address will be given by Steven Ashby, Professor of Labor Studies at the University of Illinois.
By: John Kugler
Local Empowerment
For those delegates and for that matter any bargaining unit members that are tired of being bullied by the boss, lets work together to bring back the power of the union in your work unit. 3-1 level grievances can be handled in minutes and served on your local administrators or mangers right at the time of an incident or contract violation.
Remember three parts of a grievance:
1) Contract Article Violated – All grievances should have Article 3 cited
2) Facts of the Case - without commentary or emotions
3) What is the resolution sought? Always include: any and all actions to make the grievant whole.
Always keep of copy of the grievance served upon the administrator and have a confirmation of service (when you gave it to them). Send a copy to the union. Fax is the best way to have communications with the union because everything faxed in gets scanned into a central database.
312-329-6203 fax Grievance Department
ARTICLE 3. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
Definition: A grievance is a complaint involving a work situation; a complaint that there has been a deviation from, misinterpretation of or misapplication of a practice or policy; or a complaint that there has been a violation, misinterpretation or misapplication of any provisions of this Agreement.
3-1. Adjustment of Grievances–School Level.
3-1.1. A sincere attempt should be made to resolve any dispute on an informal basis between the grievant or the school delegate and the principal or the grievant’s immediate supervisor if the grievant is not assigned to an individual school before the dispute becomes formalized as a grievance.
3-1.2. Any grievant or the UNION may present a grievance in writing to the principal or the grievant’s immediate supervisor if the grievant is not assigned to an individual
school within forty-five school days after the occurrence of the event giving rise to the alleged violation, or within forty-five school days from the time the grievant or the
UNION should reasonably have become aware of the occurrence of the event giving rise to the alleged violation, whichever is later, with the further proviso, however, that this time limitation shall not apply to any salary grievance. If two or more grievants have the same grievance, a joint grievance may be presented and processed as a single grievance.
A grievance must bear the signature of the grievant, the UNION school delegate or the
UNION President, specifying the complaint(s) and/or violation(s) alleged and a brief statement of facts sufficient to allow a response.
Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (115 ILCS 5) states:
Section 3. Employee Rights. (a) It shall be lawful for educational employees to organize, form, join, or assist in employee organizations or engage in lawful concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid and protection…
JohnKugler@ctulocal1.com
Citywide Member Services