LITTLE ROCK AND DOZENS INJURED.
MORE NEWS TODAY AMID A HIGHLY CONTESTED MAYORAL ELECTION FRICTION IS GROWING WITHIN THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION.
A GROUP OF TEACHERS HAS FILED LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE UNION ALLEGING UNION LEADERS ARE WRONGLY SPENDING DUES MONEY ON POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING BRANDON JOHNSON FOR MAYOR.
THEY SAY THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS BUT THEIR CONTENTION THAT THEIR OWN UNION HAS DECEIVED THEM.
>> THIS IS NOT THE WAY OUR UNION DOES BUSINESS.
>> MARY ESPOSITO IS A HANDFUL -- IS ONE OF HANDFUL OF TEACHERS AT ODDS WITH THE POLITICAL ACTIVITY.
THE UNION HEALTH OF DELICATES VOTED TO DIVERT UP TO $2 MILLION TO POLITICAL COMMITTEES SUPPORTING BRANDON JOHNSON FOR MAYOR.
SHE SAYS THAT IS A VIOLATION OF THE UNIONS BYLAWS WHICH STATE THAT POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE VOLUNTARY AND DO NOT COME OUT OF DUES.
SHE AND OTHERS REPRESENTING THE MEMBERS FIRST CAUCUS HAVE FILED AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES CHARGE WITH THE STATE EDUCATION LABOR RELATIONS BOARD.
AND THEY WANT AN IMMEDIATE HALT TO THE PAYMENTS.
>> WE ARE ASKED THAT PACKED MONEY BE DONE VOLUNTARILY AND ARE DUES MONEY SHOULD GO TOWARDS MEMBERS.
>> IS AN ESCALATION OF INTERNAL FEUD WITHIN CTU WHICH IS SPENDING BIG TO ELECT ONE OF THEIR OWN AS MAYOR.
LAST MONTH WE SPOKE WITH MEMBERS WHO SAID THEY WERE UPSET THAT THE UNION ALREADY LENT MONEY TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS WITHOUT GETTING APPROVAL FROM MEMBERS.
>> REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, CONSERVATIVES, PROGRESSIVES, LIBERTARIANS, EVERY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD AND THEY AREN'T.
>> A SPOKESMAN FOR CTU RESPONDED SAYING WITH SO MUCH AT STAKE FOR OUR STUDENTS THEIR CLASSROOMS AND CHICAGO'S EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT SUCH A FLIVVER IS FRIVOLOUS MATTER -- ESPOSITO SAYS THE UNION THROUGH ITS VAST POLITICAL SPENDING IS DRAINING MONEY FOR STANDARD UNION ACTIVITIES.
>> HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MONEY IS KEPT SEPARATE AND THAT THE MONEY THAT IS MEANT FOR MEMBERS GOES TOWARDS MEMBERS.
>> AND I SPOKE THIS EVENING WITH USC LABOR EXPERT ROBERT BRUNO SAID THE NUMBERS HAVE
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