STRIKE AVERTED: Passages Charter School (IL) Reaches Tentative Agreement
Chicago-based Passages Charter School was set to strike on 7 a.m., Thursday, May 25, 2017, if it could not reach an acceptable agreement with its management organization. Asian Human Services, Inc. (AHS).
Had Passages followed through with its plans to strike, it would have been the first charter school to do so. Charter schools rarely unionize; however, it seems they are doing so more and more as charter school teachers and staff tire of living the unsustainable life of the at-will employee.
One of the Passages teacher complaints was that salaries were low, between $30K and $40K, even as CEO salaries were notably larger.
According to the Passages web site, tentative deal was reached at 11 p.m., Wednesday, May 24, 2017. The web site includes two statements: One from the union representing the Passages teachers, teaching assistant, and staff, and another from the AHS management, apparently posted prior to reaching the agreement.
Below are both statements. First, a brief word from the union, ChiACTS:
Press ReleaseMay 25, 201712:15 a.m.At approximately 11:00 p.m. May 24, 2017, bargaining teams for Asian Human Services, Inc. and ChiACTS, Local 4343, reached tentative agreement on an initial collective bargaining agreement.Local 4343 represents the teachers, paraprofessionals, teacher assistants, administrative assistants, school counselors, case managers and office clerks employed by AHS at Passages Charter School.In light of the tentative agreement, Local 4343 has canceled its scheduled strike planned to begin at 7:00 a.m., Thursday, May 25, 2017.The parties are currently scheduling ratification votes among their respective groups.
And now, from AHS (Passages management), apparently prior to reaching the agreement:
AHS/LOCAL 4343 NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE
- AHS has been bargaining in good faith with Local 4343, the union that represents the teachers and paraprofessionals at Passages Charter School, for more than a year.
- Negotiations began in May 2016, shortly after the Union was certified by the National Labor Relations Board.
- The parties have met on more than 30 separate occasions for negotiations over an initial collective bargaining agreement to govern the
STRIKE AVERTED: Passages Charter School (IL) Reaches Tentative Agreement | deutsch29:
