Progress Illinois

Yesterday, employees at three Chicago International Charter Schools (CICS) campuses made history by becoming the first charter teachers in the city to unionize. As regular readers know, their organizing campaign has been rocky at times.

The bid grew out of frustration among staff about growing class sizes and a heavier workload which together have led to increased turnover at the schools. After garnering support from 75 percent of the teachers via a union petition (also known as "card check"), the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board (IELRB) certified their bid and the teachers prepared to begin collective bargaining. But Civitas challenged the state board's ruling, contending that as a private entity, they should be subject to national labor laws requiring a secret ballot election. Ultimately, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) agreed, and set an election day of June 18.

The outcome was a clear success for the organizing unit. Roughly 60 percent of the teachers from the three Civitas schools -- the Ellison, Wrightwood, and Northtown Academy campuses -- approved joining the Chicago Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff (Chicago ACTS). Chi-Town Daily News has the vote count, as well as its implications:

With a 73-49 vote, teachers forced management at Civitas Schools to bargain collectively with new union leadership rather than individual teachers. The victory sets a precedent for teachers at other charter schools who want to organize their labor force.

That organizing momentum comes at a critical time in the charter school movement. Just last month, the General Assembly agreed to lift the state's charter cap, clearing the way for the number of outsourced public schools to more than double. Despite the fact that these schools are taxpayer funded -- the Daily News notes that 90 percent of Civitas' budget comes from the state -- the degree of accountability exercised by Chicago Public Schools remains an open question.

Up next is collective bargaining. Jean Goldrich, an English and writing teacher from the Northtown Academy, tells WBEZ that teachers are "thrilled" and "can’t wait for negotiations to start."