Chicagoland teachers gird for more strikes
With only a month of classes, teachers in three districts across the Chicago area have gone on strike. Two more may be on the way.
With only a month of classes, teachers in three districts across the Chicago area have gone on strike. Two more may be on the way.
It’s been almost two weeks since teachers ended their seven-day strike. On the first week back after the strike at Blaine Elementary School in the city’s Lakeview neighborhood there’s lots of enthusiasm but also, relief.
Students at CPS will have a little less vacation this year, now that they have to make up the seven days missed while teachers were on strike.
The union has pointed out back-patting ads by Emanuel and op-eds as friction points post-strike.
The governing body of the Chicago Teachers Union, its House of Delegates, has voted to end the first teachers strike since 1987. It lasted seven days. Union president Karen Lewis said “We said that we couldn’t solve all the problems of the world with one contract… it was time to end the strike.” Mayor Emanuel says the settlement was “an honest compromise.“
With information from CPS and the CTU, here’s a rundown of the possible new teachers contract.
Across Chicago, teachers are wading through the 180-page contract proposal as the strike continues into its second week. Union delegates are scheduled to take another vote on Tuesday, but the city is seeking legal action to force teachers back into classrooms.
There appears to be movement on at least one of two major issues that have kept 350,000 students out of school this week, and their teachers on the picket line.