The Chicago Teachers Union’s secret to success? The rank and file are in control

[marmar]

from In These Times:


Democratic to the CORE
The Chicago Teachers Union’s secret to success? The rank and file are in control.

BY Micah Uetricht


During September’s Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) strike, local and national media rushed to frame the fight as a clash of oversized personalities: the stubborn, foul-mouthed Mayor Rahm Emanuel against the brash chemistry-teacher-turned-union president Karen Lewis. Even progressive media hyped Lewis as the driver of the union’s victory, praising her personal toughness as more than a match for Emanuel. It was classic “Great Man” historicism, tracing the strike’s origins to leaders’ personal traits.

Few accounts mentioned the constituencies behind these leaders. For Emanuel, this includes anti-union charter-school advocates, who donated $12 million toward his election. In Lewis’ case, it was the dictates of her 30,000 members. Indeed, the CTU is one of the most vibrantly democratic union locals in the United States.

Since a 2010 upheaval within the CTU, rank-and-file teachers have made up the union’s leadership, and members make many of its day-to-day decisions. Public actions are typically planned and executed by members themselves, not paid staff. And the CTU took the incredible step of extending its September strike an extra two days to ensure members had a chance to examine and debate the proposed contract.

As Lewis puts it, “We put the power into the hands of the rank and file, where it belongs.” ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/14207/democratic_to_the_core

[xchrom]

1. du rec. nt

[PETRUS]

2. K&R for democracy & solidarity.

[yurbud]

3. a lot of the problems unions have are when members view it as a service instead of democratic

community they belong to.

Too many think in terms of "What has the union done for (or to) me lately?" instead of "What have we made the union do for us lately?"

[tama]

4. There is nothing glorious

about "traditional" male dominated hierarchic and bureaucratic unions and their professionally corrupt union bosses. Whose main function is to keep workers pacified and subservient.

Occupy unions is the way to go...