Arthur Goldstein, teacher extraordinaire in Queens, New York City, read Rick Hess’s take on the Chicago strike and offered this comment:
It is good to see the “reformers” up in arms about this [strike] and spouting preposterous nonsense all over the place. They are not used to being confronted with truth. In line with that, Hess states the CTU gained nothing by waiting two days. In fact, he fails to see the most extraordinary thing–the CTU wanted its members to know what they were voting on before simply pushing it through. That is democracy, something precious and rare, and something very much needed by unions.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I agree with Arthur. I was so impressed by the CTU leadership’s desire to make sure each teacher understood the new proposal and had a voice in deciding whether to accept it or not.
Since the “brie-and-Chablis” reformers are used to getting what they want when they throw their money around, they have no use for a democracy.
It’s those union, school, and state rules and regulations. Just pesky inconveniences. Be gone. We know best. (We know how this will end.)
Thankfully Karen and others didn’t allow themselves to be bullied.
Democracy you say? Karen Lewis knows democracy. The reformers only knows “he who controls the gold, makes the rules.”
It’s shameful to expect anyone to sign a contract they don’t understand. Good for the CTU to take the time and make things clear.
From The Chicago Sun-Times:
“Sarah Johnson, a senior at Roosevelt High School, ‘I’m only 17 years old and I know
that I will not sign a contract that I have not fully read yet or I have not even fully
received.'”
Time was not of the immediate and utmost importance in this case. There was no due date. There were no late charges that would kick in. Time was needed to read and understand. Time was needed to let democracy work.