User:TASwanson/sandbox

Norman G. Swensen is the founder and President Emeritus of Cook County College Teachers Union (CCCTU), AFT-IFT Local 1600. He was president of CCCTU from the union's founding in 1965 to his retirement in 2004. Drawing inspiration from the organizing movements in New York City Swensen was the organizer of the faculty at the City Colleges of Chicago in 1965. When the administration of the City Colleges of Chicago refused to recognize the union, the CCCTU faculty went on strike, an action that was illegal in Illinois at that time. CCCTU members would strike again in 1967. When ordered back to work by a court injunction, the striking faculty refused to end their strike. In 1967, Swensen and members of CCCTU came an agreement with the City Colleges of Chicago administration ending the strike and establishing the first contract of its kind for unionized community college faculty. In 1971, Swensen was found guilty of violating the court in injunction and sentenced to 30 days in jail.