When the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board (IELRB) certified
a unionization bid by teachers from three Chicago charter schools late
last month, the newly-formed union hoped for a seamless transition
from organizing to collective bargaining. Unfortunately, that hasn't
panned out. Instead, Civitas -- an arm of the Chicago International
Charter Schools (CICS) network -- has opted to challenge
the state board's authority to rule on the matter, arguing that as a
"private entity," the decision ought to fall to the National Labor
Relations Board (NLRB).
Late last week both sides filed briefs with the NLRB, which is expected to decide whether it will override the state board's certification by month's end. WBEZ reporter Linda Lutton noted on Monday that 30 members of the General Assembly are pushing back against Civitas' tactics and putting pressure on Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman to make clear to CICS that their schools are part of the public sector.
From the letter (PDF) they sent Huberman last week:
This in our view is an unacceptable attempt to privatize the Chicago public charter school employees, contrary to the legally designated State Board.
Furthermore, this action by CICS/Civitas undermines the attempt by the General Assembly under the Charter School Law to "create opportunities within the public school system in Illinois for the development of innovative and accountable teaching techniques" (emphasis added). We believe that it is appropriate for you as CEO of Chicago Public Schools to make known to CICS/Civitas your emphatic support for the clear intent of the law [...]
The public nature of charter schools must be affirmed for all to hear.
This development is significant because it marks the second time this session that state lawmakers have taken aim at CPS' outsourcing of schools. The first was Rep. Cynthia Soto's (D-Chicago) bill to reform school closures, which attracted 34 co-sponsors in the House and recently passed out of the Senate Education Committee.
Meanwhile, CPS isn't taking sides on the union issue. Yesterday afternoon, district spokesman Malon Edwards told us that "our position is under review with legal council." He added that, in the agency's view, charter schools "are Chicago public schools" even if they have more autonomy.
While CICS' challenge presents a setback, the Illinois Federation of Teachers' Gail Purkey tells us that the teachers and the state-recognized union, the Chicago Alliance of Charter School Teachers and Staff (Chicago ACTS), "are ready to begin bargaining."
