UNION PREPARED TO FIGHT
IF CPS PROPOSES CUTS, LAYOFFS
April 9, 2010
The Chicago Public Schools are projecting a $700 million budget deficit for the 2011 fiscal year which begins July 1.
That’s according to a CPS PowerPoint presentation prepared in mid-March.
The plan calls for the elimination of 3,200 teaching jobs and 600 non-teaching jobs to help reduce the deficit. Class sizes would also be increased and popular programs, including non-varsity sports, would be cut.
However, the union wants to stress that it is early in the budget process.
The assumptions used by CPS are based on the worst-case scenario, with no additional revenue provided by lawmakers in Springfield.
The numbers also do not include the projected savings for CPS from a provision in a pension reform bill approved by the General Assembly in late March.
Under current contracts, if CPS declares a budget "emergency,'' it can move to reopen negotiations with its unions.
According to the PowerPoint presentation, union concessions are one of CPS’ "key elements" for reducing the deficit.
Still, any such concessions sought by CPS would have to be brought to the union. They are all mandatory subjects of bargaining.
In turn, the union would present any proposals from management to members.
Your voices are crucial to the collective bargaining process. We cannot make decisions without your input and feedback.
As we move forward, job security remains the number one objective of the union.
In these challenging economic times, we will continue to fight for your jobs, your benefits and your economic security.