Teachers reject 2 percent pay hike in return for 90 more minutes in school day

Rosalind Rossi & Kim Janssen:

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis Thursday rejected an offer of a 2 percent raise for working a 90-minute-longer school day, saying teachers would not be "bullied" by public attempts to push through a slapdash plan.

Lewis refused a proposal involving elementary-school teachers only that was aired in the media Tuesday evening by Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard and later amplified in writing to the union Wednesday morning.

"We fully support a better, smarter school day for our children but teachers are now being asked to work 29 percent longer for only a 2 percent pay increase," Lewis said in a written statement. "To that we say thanks but no thanks."

Lewis left the door open to further talks on the issue, however. She told the Chicago Sun-Times the union is crafting ways to add 15 to 60 more minutes to the elementary school day.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at August 27, 2011 1:49 AM
Subscribe to this site via RSS/Atom: Newsletter signup | Send us your ideas