100 signatures reached
To: CTU delegates
Reconsider a CTU Bernie Endorsement!
With the March 17th Illinois Primary looming, we think it is time to reconsider a presidential endorsement. Polling released in IL indicate that it is a two-person race for the March 17 election: Senator Bernie Sanders and the Billionaire former mayor of NYC Mike Bloomberg. https://www.google.com/amp/s/chicago.suntimes.com/platform/amp/politics/2020/2/20/21146183/sanders-bloomberg-leading-illinois-primary-poll-says Bernie has been a long time supporter of CTU, and visited us before our strike to show his solidarity. In the February 2020 House of Delegates Meeting, we voted to stay neutral for the time, and keep the endorsement consideration open.
We understand that with Super Tuesday on March 3rd, we'll have had a diverse range of states cast their ballots and it will be clear who remains viable. Michael Bloomberg is another story.
He believes that teachers unions are like the NRA and he was at the helm of NYC schools when the number of charters more than doubled. Bloomberg is NO friend to public education. With him as president, we know there could continue to be devastating national impacts to our schools. Bloomberg is a billionaire with unlimited resources and a history of supporting racist, right wing policies.
Bloomberg is trying to buy the presidency. He bought seats at the last debate. He is buying an unprecedented number of television and radio ads. Bloomberg literally bought significant airtime on the major networks during prime time to campaign two days before Super Tuesday. Clearly, Bloomberg's candidacy appears to be Sander’s greatest threat.
We must stop this. We are hereby requesting the CTU Leadership schedule a special meeting for March 6th to deliberate about the possible CTU Presidential endorsement. (Our constitutional language states, 'With the consent of the e-board, the President may call a special meeting of the House of Delegates. He/she must do upon written petition of no less than 10% of the members of the House, provided that such a petition should specify the purpose of the meeting, and no business other than that specified in the call may be transacted at that meeting except by unanimous consent.'
We understand that with Super Tuesday on March 3rd, we'll have had a diverse range of states cast their ballots and it will be clear who remains viable. Michael Bloomberg is another story.
He believes that teachers unions are like the NRA and he was at the helm of NYC schools when the number of charters more than doubled. Bloomberg is NO friend to public education. With him as president, we know there could continue to be devastating national impacts to our schools. Bloomberg is a billionaire with unlimited resources and a history of supporting racist, right wing policies.
Bloomberg is trying to buy the presidency. He bought seats at the last debate. He is buying an unprecedented number of television and radio ads. Bloomberg literally bought significant airtime on the major networks during prime time to campaign two days before Super Tuesday. Clearly, Bloomberg's candidacy appears to be Sander’s greatest threat.
We must stop this. We are hereby requesting the CTU Leadership schedule a special meeting for March 6th to deliberate about the possible CTU Presidential endorsement. (Our constitutional language states, 'With the consent of the e-board, the President may call a special meeting of the House of Delegates. He/she must do upon written petition of no less than 10% of the members of the House, provided that such a petition should specify the purpose of the meeting, and no business other than that specified in the call may be transacted at that meeting except by unanimous consent.'
Why is this important?
We believe this is an essential move to protect our national public schools.