UNO/Acero begins first ever charter strike in Chicago

Updated 10 December 2018

In the ongoing tug of war between charter schools and their management, especially with the lower compensation, than their public school counterparts, it was recently announced that “CTU charter teachers and paraprofessionals at four CS/Civitas/Quest schools voted overwhelmingly to strike . . .in their battle for more classroom resources for students and better treatment of educators by the bosses,” in a statement released earlier this month.

On Tuesday morning, it began, the first ever charter strike, with demands for smaller class sizes, increase resources to meet federal guidelines for special education students, low pay for paraprofessionals, increased time for lesson planning, greater classroom resources, and sanctuary status for an increasing Latinx student body.

"Management had the power to settle a contract tonight—and instead they offered us more of the status quo that has plagued the charter industry for years," said CTU President Jesse Sharkey, who caucused with bargaining team members tonight. "We will be on the picket line until they come back with an offer that respects our students and the people who educate them."

In their media alert, UNO/Acero, via the Chicago Teachers Union, said: “Management has been denying resources from its schools, and ended 2018 spending $1 million LESS in staff salary costs for program services than in 2017, according to an audit that management provided Friday morning—months after educators first began asking for it. As of June 2018, ACERO had $24 million in unrestricted cash in its accounts, plus a separate reserve of $4 million in cash as part of its requirements to its bond holders.

They also stressed that “Overall, ACERO’s cash position increased by $10.6 million in just one fiscal year—yet they have said that they cannot give paraprofessionals ANY wage increase—even an increase that allows their wages to keep pace with inflation. Management also tendered a salary 'increase' for teachers so paltry that CTU members describe it as laughable. That move, say bargaining team members, was designed to pit teachers against paraprofessionals—a strategy educators reject.”

Last month, The Chicago Tribune reported that “The Acero charter school network, which serves about 7,500 predominantly Latino students at 15 campuses, has so far failed to negotiate a labor deal with roughly 500 teachers, counselors and office workers who are now affiliated with the Chicago Teachers Union.”

“Out of the four-school bargaining unit of roughly 150 union workers, 138 CTU members, more than 90% of the union workforce, voted. 133 CTU members, just over 96% of those who cast ballots, voted to strike. More than 70% of the schools' workforce is female, and over half identify as people of color, it was noted.

No less important was the top-heavy pay for managers; and, they noted that “Citing less money for special education students and more money for CEO salaries, “Charter managers admitted to teachers today that one school pays over 24% of its public education dollars directly to CICS and its 'manager' Civitas, instead of spending those funds on students in classrooms. CPS takes an additional amount—between 2.3 and 2.8 percent of public education dollars at each school—for its own 'fee',” they reported.

“UNO/Acero CEO Richard Rodriguez collects more per year in compensation than CPS CEO Janice Jackson, while overseeing just under 8,000 students at 15 schools. Jackson oversees more than 500 schools with over 350,000 students,” they

"Even after the Illinois' General Assembly passed new educational funding a year ago, there still aren't enough funds going into our schools," said CTU Vice President Stacy Davis Gates. "That is offensive to our students who need special education and other educational supports, and it is offensive to parents and educators who come out of their own pockets to pay for basic classroom resources that charter operators should be providing”.

“Charter operators are failing charter school students," said CTU ACTS Division Chair Chris Baehrend. "They're diverting public funds away from education into private enrichment. We lack transparency, accountability and diversity. We're putting the entire charter industry on notice—public funds will be used for public services in our schools, and if we have to strike to make that happen, we will."

Charter schools have long been a bone of contention for Chicagoland, as educators have worked with reduced resources in Chicago Public Schools, while charters have frequently siphoned money away from neighborhoods schools, while, as stated, their teachers have made less than those in CPS.

Notably charter test scores have remained behind those of traditional neighborhood schools, thus increasing public scrutiny.

Besides better wages and more reasonable working conditions, CTU Acero educators are also fighting to make schools real sanctuary schools for a student population that is overwhelmingly Latinx. Special education needs and poor treatment of paraprofessionals are also critical issues.”

In June of last year, ASPIRA another charter averted a strike and it is hoped that the same will be true for Uno/Acero.

At the time, CTU President Karen Lewis said, “"It's not about destroying charter schools," she said. “Charter schools are here; they're not going anywhere. So the key is, how do you make them a bitter pill to their management companies? It's the management companies we have the issues with, not the charter teachers, not the students, not the parents. The key is, organize people to fight for fairer conditions of work, and then that's good for everybody."

Some of course have said that this is an attempt to destroy charters, which strikers have characterized as false.

“After the 2017 state funding change that sent over $38 million in additional funding to all CPS charter schools, ACERO saw a leap in its budget picture, its 2018 audit shows. ACERO closed out 2018 with over $89 million from CPS revenue sources, a 10% bump from the $81.6 million they received in 2017. But rather than investing that windfall in the classroom, ACERO chose to stockpile cash, and slash expenditures and resources to its schools and students,” they concluded.

On Sunday, a tentative agreement was reached to settle the strike. Here, in part, is the AP story:

CHICAGO (AP) — The nation's first teachers’ strike against a charter school operator will end after their union and management struck a tentative deal Sunday that includes protections for students and immigrant families living in the country illegally.

The Chicago Teachers Union said more than 500 teachers will return to classes Monday at Acero’s 15 schools with 7,500 predominantly Latino students. Teachers went on strike Tuesday and classes were canceled.

Robert Bloch, general counsel for the union, said that since the schools’ enrollment is “overwhelmingly low-income Latino,” the union felt it was necessary to have provisions to protect students, their families and teachers who may be living in the country illegally. The agreements prohibits Acero from collecting and distributing information about the immigration status of students, teachers and families and restricts access by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to schools except by court order, he said.

Acero said in a news release the two sides agreed to raises for teachers and staff annually over the four-year term of the contract and the charter operator agreed to the union’s request to shorten the school year to more closely align with the Chicago Public Schools.