Former Schools CEO Paul Vallas Believes Teachers Strike Will Be Short, now you know what he thought two weeks ago
CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A former head of the Chicago Public School system believes the teachers strike that started Thursday is going to be a short one.
Former Schools CEO Paul Vallas said teachers and support staff have every reason to be angry at the system after what they went through with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, “being forced to
give things back, the closing schools without establishing a really sound process,” and the lack of consistency in budgets.
give things back, the closing schools without establishing a really sound process,” and the lack of consistency in budgets.
He said, though, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has gone beyond some recommendations and offered teachers a nice financial package, 16 percent pay raises over five years and no touching of their “step pay increases”.
“This financial package is too good for them to strike long. They’ll probably compromise on some language calling for the phase-in of the additional staffing that’s going to be needed,” he said.
Paul Vallas ran the schools from 1995 to 2001, and there were no teachers strikes during that time. He jokes that people were too exhausted from the teacher strikes and work stoppages that had happened during the 15 years before that.
Vallas believes the pay raises offered to teachers will, in the end, be too good to leave on the table for long. He also said some of the things teachers are asking for would tie the Mayor’s hands financially in years to come.
“I’m not saying class sizes are acceptable or that there’s an acceptable level of support staff. I’m just saying the schools are not out of the financial woods, yet," he said.
Vallas said that while the Illinois General Assembly came through with more money for schools this year, there’s nothing to say when that kind of help may stop.
Vallas was wrong.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think it was going to go this long either. my neighbor has two children who've been CPS teachers for quite a while now and Sunday they were by the neighborhood and both said that for the most part they are 1000% behind the strike and will wait it out until they get what they feel is the best deal. However they both said you'll see support begin to crumble on 11-01, when the health benefits expire and the teachers will have to pay out of pocket for their coverage, as well many of us know,that can be a big hit
ReplyDeleteTeachers paying for their own health insurance! OMG!
DeleteHow about they pay more than 2% into their generous pensions!
That health insurance is about 2100 per month.
DeletePut them on Obamacare. Rahm Emanuel did that to police retirees and widows.
DeleteI was wondering if Jesse Sharkey and the Red Shirts may have gotten some Soros funding to prolong the strike until after the Trump appearance. Makes little sense to turn down a 16% raise, especially when you're only kicking in 2% to the pension fund.
ReplyDeleteVery clear thinking.
DeleteOVERRATED
ReplyDeleteIts all smoke and mirrors folks.....
ReplyDelete