Sen. Bernie Sanders to Chicago Teachers Union: You Guys Have Won a Victory for the Whole Country

By Hannah Leone, Chicago Tribune

05 November 11

 

hicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey was explaining the ratification process for their tentative contract agreement when he was interrupted by a phone call from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, among the Democratic presidential contenders who have showered the teachers union with support.

Before the episode of “CTU Speaks!” was recorded Thursday, Sharkey had spent hours at City Hall, working out a deal with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to make up five of the 11 school days missed due to the strike.

“Hold on, Sen. Sanders — you caught me right literally as we are taping a podcast for our membership,” Sharkey said on the podcast, which went online late Friday. “Can I put you on speaker? ... Sen. Sanders, hello.”

“We have Sen. Sanders in the building," announced one of the hosts, teacher Andrea Parker of Robert Fulton Elementary.

In apparent response to a question about how he was doing, Sharkey said, "I’m great. We just managed to secure a back-to-work agreement and our House (of Delegates) took a tentative agreement and we’re going back to work tomorrow.”

“Well, listen,” Sanders said. "I just called to congratulate you and the union on what looked to me like a very significant victory at a time of having a major funding crisis and staffing crisis in public education. You guys have won a victory that will not only be for Chicago but be for the whole country. So very proud of what you have accomplished. Look forward to working with you in the future.”

A spokesperson for the Sanders campaign confirmed the call and said it was not prearranged.

Sharkey thanked Sanders for his support, his work toward educational justice and for headlining a CTU rally in the days leading up to the strike.

When the call ended, the hosts shared their excitement.

“That was awesome,” said co-host Jim Staros, who teaches at King College Prep. “I have my Bernie sticker on underneath this shirt.”

While the teachers union has not endorsed a presidential candidate, all three front-runners endorsed the union in their contract fight. In addition to Sanders’ rally appearance, Sen. Elizabeth Warren joined teachers on picket lines, and former Vice President Joe Biden called in support. Many candidates, including Julián Castro and Sens. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, have also stated their support for Chicago’s educators on social media.

“This is a victory for students and Chicago public schools. Teachers deserve to be paid well for the critical work they provide for our kids. Honored to meet with @CTULocal1 this month to hear their concerns — so great to see this resolution,” Booker tweeted Thursday.

Harris also used Twitter to congratulate the union: “This is a promising step forward for Chicago public schools. Our children deserve to have a nurse and social worker in every school for early intervention, and our teachers deserve manageable class sizes. I’m glad that will now be a reality.”