Mayor Emanuel: Fire Striking Teachers, Or Be Fired Yourself

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CHICAGO–Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel should, for once, take the side of Chicago taxpayers and fire the city’s striking teachers, said Jim Tobin, President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA).
“Huge raises have been offered to striking teachers. Four percent raises per year would take the average salary of Chicago government-school teachers from $76,000 to $88,900 by 2016. The teachers union is still keeping its exact demands under wraps.”
Download the top 100 teacher salaries for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) here.
“Where is this additional money going to come from? From Chicago taxpayers, of course, by way of significant hikes in their property taxes. Mayor Emanuel is supporting a $340+ million property tax increase on the middle class and poor.”
“It’s time Chicago taxpayers demand that Mayor Emanuel fire striking teachers rather than saddling them with more property tax increases. Using his unlimited home rule powers, and working with the Democrats controlling the Illinois General Assembly to eliminate tenure, he could replace these greedy public employees with qualified teachers who care more for children than their own pocketbooks.”
“If Rahm Emanuel is not up to the task, Chicago taxpayers should fire him when he runs for re-election.”
This release is the third in a series. To see the previous two, click below:

Chicago Government-School Administrators Really, Really Rake in the Bucks!

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CHICAGO–The news that well-paid Chicago government-school teachers have gone on strike because they didn’t get a 29% increase in salaries over 2 years draws attention from the even more outrageous salaries that Chicago government-school administrators are getting, according to Jim Tobin, President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA).
“Our recently-obtained list of the ‘Top 100’ Chicago government-school administrator salaries reveals that these are the guys who are pulling in the really big bucks — courtesy of Chicago taxpayers.”
Download the top 100 administrator salaries for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) here.

“At the top of our Top 100 list, Jean Claude Brizard, Chief Executive Officer, gets an annual salary of $250,000. Chief Administrative Officer, Timothy J. Cawley, receives $215,000.”
“Alicia Winckler, Chief Talent Officer — whatever that means — gets $205,000. David G. Watkins, Chief Financial Officer, pulls in $195,000.”
“Even at the bottom of our Top 100 list — number 100 — Principal Martha Alba gets a generous annual salary of $142,203. Not a bad salary for being number 100.”
“The greed of the Chicago government-school teachers and their well-to-do administrative counterparts is so obvious that I’m surprised Chicago taxpayers haven’t revolted and demanded that the striking teachers be fired and replaced with non-union personnel. Chicago is broke, and the government-school system also is broke. Cook County taxpayers, with average wages of $58,000 and a median home value of $269,000, have their backs to the wall. Chicago taxpayers need to say to the Mayor and to the Chicago Teachers Union: ENOUGH!”

Chicago Teachers’ Strike Would Be Just Plain Stupid!

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CHICAGO–Chicago teachers, who are the second-highest paid big-city teachers in the nation, are demanding an unconscionable pay hike while workers in the private sector struggle to keep their jobs, according to Jim Tobin, President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA).
“The average Chicago teacher makes $76,000 a year, according to Crain’s Chicago Business,” said Tobin, “and, in addition, Chicago picks up a 7% pension contribution for the teachers, which no other city does. The average Illinois statewide teacher salary is $63,000.”
“Depending on the source, they are demanding a 29% pay increase over 2 years (Chicago Sun-Times) or a 25% pay increase over 2 years (Crain’s), despite the fact that the CPS system is projected to have a $665 million budget deficit for the fiscal year ending next June 30. For fiscal year 2014, the deficit will soar to $1 billion.”
Download the top 100 teacher salaries for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) here.

“TUA just released the ‘Top 100’ Chicago Public Schools teacher salaries, and some truly egregious figures are revealed. The highest-paid teacher, Janet Jones, who teaches chemistry in grades 9-12 receives a salary of $183,777 for 9 months of employment.”
“Omar Fong-Bances, who teaches instrumental music, receives a salary of $123,929.”
“Robert Bush III, listed as an Auto/Automotive Mechanic/Technician, receives a salary of $113,958.”
“Between 2007 and 2012, according to Crain’s, while many Chicagoans endured pay cuts and layoffs, teachers enjoyed pay increases from 19 to 46 percent. The Chicago Teachers Union’s demand for a huge salary increase of up to 29% while threatening a strike if these demands are not met, is outrageous, unrealistic and just plain stupid.”