Chicagoans begin responses to Tribune article on 1987 teachers' strike
Following the publication of the August 29, 2011, story in the Chicago Tribune about the 1987 Chicago teachers' strike, numerous teachers and parents from across the city began responding to the Tribune's version of history. What follows are some of those responses, which Substance asked people to share with our readers just in case the Tribune refuses to report them.
FROM KIRSTEN ROBERTS, CHICAGO.
I would really like to thank writer Joel Hood for the Aug. 29, 2011 article on the Chicago Teacher's Union strike of 1987.
As a parent of a CPS preschool student at the wonderful Belmont Cragin Early Childhood Center, I was very happy to learn from the article that I have the Chicago Teacher's Union strike in 1987 to thank for smaller class sizes in our public schools. What a wonderful example of how teacher's unions protect both their own members AND the rights of students to a decent education. Rahm Emmanuel knows how important small class sizes are because he buys them for his own children at the University of Chicago Lab School. Thank you teachers! You are appreciated.
Second letter referred to Substance (received August 30 at Csubstance@aol.com)...
Dear editor,
I am glad that this paper decided to look at the present situation facing teachers, students and parents and compare it to the 1987 strike. Unfortunately, Joel Hood does not do the subject justice. For one thing, the 1987 strike involved tens of thousands of teachers and many times more parents and students, yet the lessons of that strike are not drawn from the experiences of participants of that important event.
Secondly, comparisons are drawn with suburban school districts and how they are dealing with strike situations. Little effort is made to look at the actual situation facing our community today. Finally, what little effort is made emphasizes the "compromise" of a 2% raise compared with the contractually agreed upon 4% raise, with the proviso that teachers will be in the classroom 90 minutes more per day. This is tantamount to ordering teachers to work overtime without compensation. It is my impression that forced, unpaid labor was outlawed under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
Over the next 12 months your paper will have plenty of opportunity to explore the real story behind today's teachers' union and at least some significant parent opposition to the arrogance of the school board. Hopefully, you will avail yourself of the opportunity and really inform our community.
Lew Rosenbaum, Chicago Labor & Arts Festival, http://chilaborarts.wordpress.com/
By: Bob Busch
1987
1987. The strike of 87 was much different than most. Our union was led by a iron willed woman named Jackie Vaughn who hated the leader of the board Manfred Byrd.
Our mayor Washington choose to fly off to Japan on some junket rather than stay home and deal with the strike. Personally I walked the line outside the district office at Harlan high school (there were three high school "districts" and 20 elementary districts then) where a person was found murdered in their car out on the street.
The issues were the same, sweat a little more out of the teachers so the Board could have more to throw at their friends .It was a long bitter strike. Most of us did not know Jackie had terminal cancer and this was her last job action.
The results are still with us because this strike prompted the 1988 bill that brought us Local School Councils. Word got out that this would be our last strike because we held together like glue, and embarrassed the sainted Mayor.
The next time we called a strike in 91 or 93 the board got some parent to appeal to the Federal Court on the grounds the schools can’t be integrated if they are not in session.
We won the battles but lost the war. If Jackie Vaughn had lived I feel things would be different. No reporter ever got away with any bull when she was president.