Dear Delegates,

As you know, May 21, 2010 will be the only opportunity for Chicago Public School Classroom Teachers, City-Wide Teachers, and Paraprofessionals, to send CPS a clear message.

The Chicago Teachers Union elected leadership must change!

Our rank and file membership has ONE opportunity to change the direction our union is taking. The systems’ 30,000 members are counting on you to take a lead role in the upcoming officers’ election by providing your schools’ staff members with a voting recommendation. The S.E.A. would like your approval because our leadership and supporters want to see the following:

1. Bring respect to our members and stop all types of CPS intimidation.
2. Create honesty, fairness, and leadership within our own House of Delegates.
3. Negotiate real job protections and eliminate major contract loopholes.
4. Keep salaries and benefits proportionate to Chicago’s rising economy.
5. Create a new and unified CTU with members of all caucuses.

By re-electing Marilyn Stewart’s UPC Caucus, the membership will then be validating: school closings, massive job losses, dishonesty and lack of democracy, significant misappropriation of our dues, an unnecessary long contract with ambiguous language, picking and choosing how to use our constitution and by-laws, single party rule and private club mentality, along with preferential treatment to those members who support HER personal agenda.

Why do members support the School Employee Alliance?

1. Our presidential candidate is a contract expert with an established political background.He understands the inner workings of CPS and CTU, is familiar with both clerical and managerial aspects of CTU day to day operations, and has a well established reputation as a powerful advocate for our CTU members. Simply put, he is the only bona fide union professional with reliable and trustworthy qualifications.
2. All of our officer candidates have specific expertise and experience. They represent the diversity within our membership.
3. Our officer candidates have the ability to run the Chicago Teachers Union, without the concern of any internal disruptions with existing contracted union staff. The S.E.A. has what it takes to successfully run the CTU with efficiency and accountability from their first day in office!

CPS has made it very clear that they intend to exercise their authority to re-open our contract. Support REAL CHANGE AND REFORM without sacrificing experience, knowledge, and credibility.

o THE S.E.A. LEADERS HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE NEXT DECADE OF BOARD/UNION RELATIONS

o SUPPORT EXPERIENCE, ENERGY, AND HONESTY!

A FAILED PAST CANNOT TRANSLATE INTO A PROMISING FUTURE! The School Employee Alliance Officer Candidates