Saturday coffee.
Orland Park demonstration to save Illinois teacher pensions yesterday.
The calendar may say that it is still Springtime in Chicago. But the thermometer is going to get near 90 degrees today.
Cooler by the Lake.
Except the NATO meeting is by the Lake. And so are the continuing protests against it. And the war policies and screwed-up priorities that NATO represents.
It may actually get a lot hotter by the Lake by tomorrow.
Colleagues asked me this week, “What’s the deal with protesting NATO?”
The answer is really quite simple. Although reporters seem to
Old school.
John Fogerty.
Ghost roads and union cards.
Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 18 hours ago
It’s only a 9 mile drive from my school to my front door. But on a Friday afternoon the inbound commute on the Kennedy Expressway can take any where from 60 to 90 minutes. I’ve tried many alternate routes. But that’s the commute time on a Friday afternoon But not today. Since Mayor Emanuel turned [...]
Sunday. Rally with the Labor Contingent.
Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 22 hours ago
SUNDAY, MAY 20th, 2012 RALLY WITH THE LABOR CONTINGENT AGAINST NATO Join brothers and sisters from local, national, and international trade unions to demand MONEY FOR SCHOOLS, NOT DRONES LIBRARIES, NOT WEAPONS 12:00 NOON Gather at Butler Field, 100 S. Lake Shore Dr. (NE corner of Monroe & Lake Shore Dr.)
The IEA declares raising the teacher contribution “not a benefit” and not covered by the constitutional clause?
Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 23 hours ago
I always worry when IEA leaders claim they are at the table. I worry about being the first course. Reports are that IEA and IFT leaders are involved in pension talks. And the reports aren’t reporting anything that would make a member happy. The IEA leadership said that they would NEVER agree to anything that [...]
Cullerton threatens retiree benefits in order to prevent a “flood of retirements.”
Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 1 day ago
Democratic Senate President John Cullerton. If as a retired teacher you think the current pension debate doesn’t impact you an any immediate sense, think again. You are so wrong, according to Democratic Senate President John Cullerton. Go to 2:16 of the video. Speaking in this interview on pension reform last Tuesday, Cullerton expresses concern that [...]
Naperville teachers rally.
Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 1 day ago
From the speech by Roger Sanders at the Naperville pension rally Thursday. What needs to be done: First, the Governor needs to get off the corporate welfare wagon, and stop giving millions of dollars in tax breaks to corporations. Second, the General Assembly needs to take a critical look at the state’s tax structure. Third. [...]
Owners and players.
Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 1 day ago
Even as a kid I knew the difference between owners and players and the game. As a Dodger fan I loved Jackie Robinson. And I hated Walter O’Malley. As an adult I could swear allegiance to the Bulls and MJ while feeling nothing but contempt for Jerry Reinsdorf. So I have no problem with the [...]
The in box. Pension rallies scheduled for today and tomorrow.
Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 2 days ago
ORLAND PARK – Pension Rally Please join the troops!!! Meet at: REPRESENTATIVE CHARLES KREZWICK’S DISTRICT (McCarthy’s Replacement) What: Rally Supporting Teachers and Public Employees When: Friday, May 18th from 4-6PM Where: Representative Krezwick’s District Office (8951 West 151st Street, Orland Park, IL 60462) Why: Rep. Charles Krezwick says he is supporting the Democratic Leadership’s Positions. The Democratic leadership’s current [...]
Protests in front by members. Deals behind closed doors by leaders.
Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 2 days ago
Tim Furman was up in Evanston yesterday at a protest outside Democratic State Representative Robyn Gabel and State Senator Jeffrey Schoenberg’s offices. As Furman points out, many of these characters are playing the “I haven’t seen the bill” game. And IFT’s director of research, Bob Shaevel, confirms that the so-called labor coalition, including the IEA, [...]
The in box. Draw a line and let the courts decide.
Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 2 days ago
Fred I read your blog about negotiating with the GA. I agree with you wholeheartedly. We shouldn’t. Here is an email I sent Klickna and the IEA team back on 4-22. –todd Cinda’s response: Well, our polling data indicated our members want us to engage, advocate, and raise issues. Cinda [...]
Napkin sketch to-do list for Thursday. Pension week.
Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 2 days ago
In addition to making more calls (I think I’m up to 100 since Monday), we had a PREA building meeting. I gave the number to every teacher and shared the talking points once again. “Can we call several times a day,” one asked? “Even more than that,” I said. I noticed the IEA liked my [...]
Brown and Zorn on pensions. The final exchange in which Zorn dismisses the constitution and shows he truly has a home at the Tribune.
Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 2 days ago
To Glen: Discussing future pension obligations with you is like discussing proposed restrictions on gun rights with an NRA member: Every answer invokes the constitution – the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in their case, the pension clause in the Illinois Constitution in yours – and avoids the request for a common-sense analysis of [...]
“One-Win” Quinn. The Governor uses bridge opening to attack teacher pensions.
Fred Klonsky at Fred Klonsky - 2 days ago
In 2010, in an overwhelmingly blue state, Pat Quinn could only beat right-wing Tea Party GOP candidate Bill Brady by 32,000 votes. There are 360,000 members of the Teacher Retirement System in Illinois. You do the math. “One-Win” Quinn. In a classless and truthless statement, Quinn opened the rebuilt Congress Parkway Bridge that goes under [...]