A Better, Stronger, Safer Union Requires CTU to Self-Reflect and Change - By Joey McDermott

Brandon Johnson’s rise from teacher to Chicago's mayor is a historic victory. CTU members feel validated, but can't become complacent. The victory necessitates more CTU member engagement. CTU leadership has an ally on the fifth floor and unchecked power creates temptations for unethical practices.

We must hold CTU leadership accountable. This includes elected allies and CORE loyalists who enable CTU's financial mismanagement, undemocratic practices and autocratic leadership. We must welcome diverse perspectives within our membership and lead with love and unity.

Here are ten election takeaways for CTU leadership:

1. REAL set the tone with Johnson endorsement

Paul Vallas sought to sow the seeds of discontent within our membership. REAL demonstrated that members can confront CTU's autocracy and still fight the forces of privatization, racism and charter schools. REAL declared to CORE leadership - “you can not paint members with legitimate discontent as Vallas pawns!”

2. Hold CTU leadership accountable

Opposition caucuses and independent members must check CTU's propensity for corrupt and undemocratic practices. Members forced leadership to get proper House of Delegates approval for a second round ($2.5 million) of dues money for the campaign. Members forced CTU leadership to focus their political strategy on member activism rather than paid strategists and financial contributions.

3. Member engagement was the winner

CTU is most powerful when our members are engaged. Membership united for Brandon Johnson, despite CORE’s lack of leadership to facilitate healing and unity. We ALL won because members made clear to CTU leadership - you can only be successful if we have unity.

4. Chuy Garcia was a hero

Brandon Johnson does not win without Chuy Garcia's endorsement. Chuy blazed the trail for a people’s mayor in 1983 with Harold Washington and in 2015 as CTU’s endorsed candidate. During the 2023 campaign CTU attacked Chuy, but Chuy focused on our collective struggle and endorsed Johnson in the run-off.

5. Reconciliation in 10th ward

Chicago's progressives need healing and CORE must lead. This starts by making amends with Alderman Sue Garza. CTU and its affiliates spent $92,000 on Oscar Sanchez' 3rd place finish. Meanwhile, CTU’s closest ally (SEIU) spent $122,500 for Sue’s endorsed candidate, Ana Guajardo. The outcome was a win for Peter Chico, a Vallas ally.

Sue Garza is a hero, the first CTU member elected to Alderman. She is the fulfillment of former CTU President Karen Lewis’ vision. CORE leadership must stop fighting our own CTU and SEIU allies.

6. Member First's political statement

Members First filed an unfair labor practice charge the Friday prior to the election. The action aided Vallas and made the election closer. The ULP should have been filed after the election. For a caucus who hates when CORE "makes everything political," they played the political game well - if they intended to elect Vallas. Their action harmed our membership and validity of the ULP. The ULP legitimately seeks adherence to the union's democratic practices and transparency from CORE leadership.

7. CTU finances need to be questioned.

The 2022 NLRB filing listed a $100,000 payment to Joseph McDermott. Let me clarify, I never received a dime during that fiscal year. I alerted CTU leadership of this error in November. They hired their lead attorney to investigate. Five months later, and multiple emails, there’s still no explanation.

CTU now has $2.5 million less to spend on member representation. That magnifies all fraudulent accounting errors. We need a complete audit of all CTU spending.

8. Unpaid water bills

Brandon’s communication strategy was brilliant, pivoting from a $6,000 water bill as the same problems of the common Chicagoan. “I too am on a payment plan,” was his refrain. Brandon’s predicament was different from the average Chicago family, who earns $78,000. Brandon makes a combined $180,000 for two part time jobs. Chicago families may struggle, but the vast majority pay their bills on time. It’s insulting to the working people of the city.

9. Political strategists racism

Brandon Johnson’s political strategy included not answering the question, in what way do you differ from CTU leadership? His refusal reflected a cultish/mafia quality to CTU. “Never criticize the church” and “never discuss family business in public!”

It’s intellectually dishonest to deny the existence of differences. It insults Johnson’s intellect to believe he shouldn’t answer the question. Chicagoans can appreciate philosophical differences among allies. I knew the Mayor-elect personally, and there's an abundance of differences between CTU’s culture and Johnson’s fundamental beliefs.

CTU leadership pivoted the question into an accusation of dog whistle racism. President Davis-Gates claimed, on WVON, the question suggests that a Black man can't think for himself and must be controlled by another entity. Davis Gates suggests that anyone who asks such a question has racist motives.

I admire Davis Gates’ brilliance. Her focused pursuit of power is unparalleled. She sees four steps ahead when the rest of us see only what’s in front of us. As an inspirational speaker she stirs the souls of the devoted. She articulates issues of racism that identify and polarize the protagonists who wish to harm our movement.

Davis Gates, along with CORE, are well trained in weaponizing racism, sexism, and oppression to discredit any perspectives not in line with them. Along with Vice President Potter they’ve labeled opposing voices: fascists; class enemies; reactionaries; Illinois Policy Institute collaborators; racists; misogynists. Their tactics are trite and diminish legitimate causes. Members of good conscience must step up against their disingenuous and hyperbolic tropes of members who don’t conform with them.

10. Repeat it until it becomes the truth

A brilliant CORE strategy is to repeat a mischaracterization until it becomes the truth. CORE mastered this during the last election by repeatedly calling Members First the "bosses caucus." There was never any evidence of actual collusion or direct payments for MF’s efforts. This was so effective that many believed Mayor Lightfoot secretly donated $10,000’s to Members First.

Johnson applied this tactic skillfully by labelling Vallas as a Republican. It didn’t matter that every established machine Democrat endorsed Vallas. I'm sure many view them as Republicans as well. The tactic carried Johnson all the way to a 52%-48% victory.

Defaming an opponent works in a general election, but not in a union election. Our union will never succeed divided at 52-48. Our tactics must represent the best of our siblinghood, respectful discourse and debate makes us stronger. Intellectual dishonesty and polarized insults hurt our unity and weaken our power.

If we want a stronger, safer, and better Union - CTU leadership needs to self-reflect and change their approach.