Lake County Gazette

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) may experience a shut down if contract talks between the Chicago Teachers Union and the city fails to make any progress.

The union has set a strike date of Oct 11, which would be the second time a strike has happened during Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s tenure.

 

Dawn Abernathy, the Republican candidate for state Representative in District 59, asserted that the strike is taking focus away from the students, whom see believes have faced numerous disappointments.  

 

“The Chicago Public School system and Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has failed Chicago students for years,” Abernathy told the Lake County Gazette. “CPS teachers are the highest paid in lifetime earnings among the 10 largest school districts in the nation. If the teachers really care about the students, they can opt out of the union and sign on as a fair share payer. They would not be penalized by the union if they do this before the strike.”

 

Indeed, teachers have the option to opt out of full union membership by becoming what is know as fair share payers. These teachers still pay what is considered to be their fair share of union’s costs to be represented by the union but are not beholden to unions. 

 

The union currently demands an 8.75 percent increase in teachers' wages, bumps in pay that kick in with seniority, pension pick ups, and better health care benefits.

 

Abernathy stressed that taxpayers are already overburdened and the state cannot afford anymore demands.

 

“The state is bleeding money and it is the taxpayers that have to provide the extra pints,” she said. “When will CTU realize there is no more money? Our residents are paying so much in taxes, and the teachers union wants more. (House Speaker) Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) has already provided millions to help bail out CPS and as usual, they want more money. When and where will it end?”

 

Ending the state’s fiscal problems is a priority for Abernathy. To ease the state spending and waste, she is refusing to accept a legislative pension or health care benefits if she is elected.

 

"We have a real serious problem with the state's pension systems and I intend to bring solutions to the table, not add to Illinois' financial shortcomings," Abernathy said in a news release issued to Lake County Gazette. “Illinois has the highest unfunded pension liability in the nation. We cannot tax, borrow or invest our way out of a $111 billion -- and growing -- unfunded pension liability.”

 

She concluded that the current pension system is broken.

 

“Currently, we spend one-quarter of every dollar sent to Springfield on pensions,” Abernathy said. “That’s unsustainable. Without reform, our pension system will swallow up the state budget. While my opponent (state Rep Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills)) has spent her tenure in Springfield fighting pension reform at every decision point, I understand that we need to take meaningful steps toward ensuring the sustainability of the funds we have promised our state retirees. I am going to Springfield to work toward real solutions for all of the families and businesses in my community.”

 

Working for real solutions is what drives Abernathy, who has toiled hard in the past few months in preparation for the Nov. 8 election. The campaign has brought her to all areas of her district, from Deerfield to Vernon Hills, she said. She attended many forums and events to listen and speak with the community, such as participating in the North Shore Jewish Community Candidate Forum at BJBE in Deerfield, the Octoberfest in Vernon Hills, and a meet and greet with U.S. Rep Bob Dold (R-IL).