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Public Teachers’ Impact on Illinois Taxpayers’ Wallets

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  • Description

    FBN’s Lou Dobbs on why public sector teachers in Chicago went on strike.

  • Duration 7:37
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This transcript is automatically generated

This is in my view.

And strike.

Of choice.

It's the wrong choice for our children.

-- Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel last night after his city's teachers declare their first strike and 25 years.

That left the former White House chief of staff.

Now -- Chicago with a crisis the White House apparently now wants no part -- You can imagine why the strike pitting president Obama's former campaign chairman against -- critical democratic constituency.

The teachers in the president's adopted home -- When asked about the issue Press Secretary -- party is reported said the president simply wants both sides to come together and settle the strike so quickly.

We have got no word from education secretary former head of Chicago's public schools party doesn't get.

You remember he is he's the basketball buddy President Obama he was much.

Ric gale -- he entered well the president's cabinet.

He's also endorsed manuals propose reforms but.

We can't find that you haven't heard about it -- what happens to one of Obama's pals like this what's going.

And why are teachers striking to begin with teachers insist it's not about the money no no no.

This -- gotta be about the kids right.

The teachers are upset about a new teacher valuation process.

That the union says puts just far too much weight on student test scores.

Test scores.

You mean you actually want.

You're actually want.

There to be some sort of empirical metrics by which you -- I -- -- teacher's performance.

It's completely unreasonable.

Well they want new job opportunities to for laid off teachers teachers that is who were laid off from losing jobs they wanna be able to -- -- the job.

And they don't really care where they want a system of -- he raises as while base.

Well on experience.

Gonna have experience -- you're gonna be a teacher by golly gum drops.

This not us.

You don't -- to have to measure again impact our performance.

Teachers rejected also.

A 16%.

Pay hike.

That's not enough how the world are you going to -- make do.

Where -- allows -- 4% increase over four years when millions of people don't have jobs when teachers already earned.

One and a half times what the average worker in Chicago earns these are special people.

Apparently the teachers think they've been disrespect it'd be little for far too law.

Why I don't know why do you feel that way the tradition -- -- already have the highest average salary of any major city.

That's up 76.

Thousand.

Box.

The year no no no no.

And doesn't include benefits health care and pension.

The average Chicago for and we by the way earns 47000.

Dollars.

47000.

Dollars it's not just the exorbitant pay teachers also pay only 3% of their health care costs.

-- get ready for this.

71.

Percent.

Out of -- cents out of every dollar.

Is set aside.

For public education in the state goes to teacher return.

Now this is one of those fortunate times -- -- written percent.

But it actually works out his senses well because 71 cents on the dollar it's also 71% so when -- make a mistake like that.

Which happens so rarely this one happens to work out either way.

Ever -- pensions and Illinois about 41000.

Dollars -- pension.

41000.

Dollars.

An Iraq that we've got ride it out.

41000.

Dollars.

In retirement -- teacher.

Makes almost as much as -- working man or woman in Chicago.

By the way it's -- seventh most expensive.

System in the country.

Makes you -- about those other six that -- By the way they can retire that various ages but as early as age of fifty and at age sixty -- have a pension equal to three fourths of the highest salary so.

This number is going straight up.

And that's one reason that 71% of education dollars spent to.

Are going to the retirement system.

And benefits Chicago's public school system is steeped in -- facing the prospect of a billion dollars deficit at the end of the school year.

Now you can understand why they would not be happy with a 4% raise.

-- had one of the commission schedules while -- in the country.

Working it.

One of the shortest school days that back been a year ago.

Get ready for -- five hours.

And 450.

Minutes.

Students now on school for seven hours each day.

Can you imagine this can you imagine that's because this must explain why.

Chicago students are doing so well because these teachers I mean they've been disrespect.

More about half a Chicago fourth graders more than half.

-- -- -- -- Cannot read at a basic -- I'm not talking about proficient I'm not talking about being special.

They can't -- the basic level.

And teachers have the audacity administrators have the audacity this mayor of Chicago has the audacity.

To -- in absolute terms about what -- doing in Chicago.

Human to talk about the murder rate in the country's murder capital as well and how many young people are dying.

Let's stay with education for just -- that 40% of Chicago students.

40% of their students.

Are dropping out.

This does look like the crisis that Rama Manuel.

Weld said he loved to export.

So could be the President Obama.

Well I mean let's just be honest -- this is this impact.

Not just a strike but is also.

Political theater.

Do you suppose I could be I hate to even suggest such a thing.

Because I would suggest a level of cynicism.

In Chicago.

That -- it would match what Rahm Emanuel once set.

Basically not to ever waste a crisis Wohl in Chicago.

In Cook County this is a crisis.

Could be that the the decisions have already been paid about the kids and the pay levels and -- length of days.

And they're gonna come together but all this is designed to discomfort parents.

To -- the kids.

And to disrupt the system so they'll be thrilled to have any.

Resolution.

One -- will come in the day maybe three maybe a week.

Maybe they can even bring and President Obama.

Maybe they can brought -- Arnie Duncan bring him in and have a last minute resolution.

So this.

All of this goes down so well with the people in Chicago we're gonna have to pay through the nose again.

For benefits and -- that's not being earned by the performance of the teachers in Chicago.

Now that could be.

Because it's all about the kids right.

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