Chess coach kicked out of Chicago Teachers Union, worried about job, because he ignored one-day strike

CTU member at an
Occupy Chicago rally

What happens to a Chicago Public Schools teacher who brings his students to greatness?

If you are Joseph Ocol, a chess coach at Earle School in crime-plagued Englewood, you get kicked out of the Chicago Teachers Union. And since CPS is a union-shop operation, Ocol is worried that the hardened leftists who run the union may have cost him his job.

In April CTU held a one day strike, which was probably illegal, but the now-championship chess coach stood by his students.

From CBS Chicago:

Ocol skipped to coach his chess team. Soon after, his Englewood girls won the national championship. It's been noted on the Congressional Record and by the mayor and city council

"It's all a matter of the principles we take in our lives,: Ocol says. "There's a chance I could lose my job."

While not commenting on internal processes, CTU said in a statement: "Mr. Ocol has been informed of his member privileges and is talking to us through media, which is unfortunate. All members are well aware of what happens to strike breakers and are informed by their own peers of the process for both suspension and reinstatement. CTU is a democratically led member-organization."

CPS officials had a different opinion. They praised Ocol: "This is exactly the kind of professionalism that the Chicago Teachers Union should be holding up as a shining example of what it means to be committed to students. Instead, the opposite happened – and he was unjustly punished for his dedication to the people who matter most – his students. We hope he remains a teacher for years to come."

My recommendation to Ocol is to start sending out résumés. And he he prefers to work with impoverished students, that isn't a problem as there are many poverty-stricken school districts in Chicago's suburbs.

As I write this post the CTU leftists are marching--likely without a permit--in downtown Chicago. They want a tax hike to bail out their pension fund. If you see a union thug in one of those bright red shirts, tell that person you support the kids--and Ocol.