NAPERVILLE - While the entire nation watches and discusses the strike by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), the local free market group Americans for Prosperity–Illinois is drawing attention to a controversy surrounding candidates for elected office who have accepted large campaign contributions from the American Federation of Teachers of which CTU is Local 1. The candidates, listed below, who have received sizable donations have been distinctly silent during this week’s teachers strike.
“The Chicago Teachers Union is using this strike to bully the Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the taxpayers of Chicago into caving to their unreasonable demands of salary increases with little accountability,” said AFP- Illinois State Director David From. “These candidates who are funding their campaigns with teacher union money should declare they are on the side of the taxpayers and the children by calling on their union allies to end their illegal strike.”
With approximately 400,000 students, Chicago Public Schools is the third largest school district in the nation and ranks fourth nationally in per-pupil funding. In fact, CPS spends over 23% more than the national metropolitan average, yet has a graduation rate of just over 50%. A 2006 study found that only three percent of Hispanic males who attend CPS high schools as freshman attain a college diploma. CPS teachers enjoy an average salary of $76,000, which does not include additional benefits valued at $15,000. It has been widely reported CPS offered CTU teachers a 16% raise over the next four years.
The following candidates seeking federal office have received contributions from the American Federation of Teachers of which CTU is Local 1:
Tammy Duckworth (D-8): $10,000
Brad Schneider (D-10): $5000
Bill Foster (D-11): $10,000
David Gill (D-13): $5000
Cheri Bustos (D-17): $10,000
(OpenSecrets.org)
“For too long, Illinois politicians have sided with their special interest government union benefactors at great expense to the taxpayers of Illinois,” continued From. “These candidates should lead by choosing the taxpayers and the children and calling on CTU to end their harmful strike, immediately.”
