Asserts the educational consultant and moderate-liberal Democrat: "Wow. It’s pretty unusual for a teachers union leader to take a deal back to their members
and have it rejected like this. It happened in Baltimore in 2010
because a lot of the deal was left to be worked out later and teachers
didn’t feel they had enough information – that contract was ultimately
ratified though. In this case the cause seems to be not a lack of information but
rather something that’s plagued these negotiations all week according to
people involved in them - some disagreement and disorganization within the union so it’s hard to figure out what bottom lines are. And after yesterday probably harder. The internal politics will pick
up because this was hardly a vote of confidence for Chicago Teachers
Union president Karen Lewis."
Mr. Rotherham continues his commentary about the strike: " Per [my previous post], they were coming out of this OK but this latest stunt may well undo that because 'Our members are not happy. They want to know if there is anything more they can get'
as Lewis put it is at odds with the earlier messaging on what the
strike was all about – and not the most appealing message after a week of no school...."
Andrew Rotherham: "The Chicago Teachers' Union Strike Is Snatching Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory"
