Chicago Teachers Union to Strike After Rejecting Contract Offer

The Chicago Teachers Union has voted to reject the final contract offer from Chicago Public Schools and will go on strike Thursday, the organization announced Wednesday. 

The CTU's House of Delegates voted to reject the CPS proposal during a meeting on Wednesday, paving the way for the organization's second strike in seven years as more than 25,000 teachers and staff members prepare to walk off the job. 

"We went through, point by point, what's on the table so far and our delegates overwhelmingly, unanimously, reaffirmed that tomorrow will be the first day of a strike, because we have not achieved what we need to bring justice and high-quality schools to the children and teachers of Chicago," CTU President Jesse Sharkey said. 

Prior to the final vote, CPS had canceled all classes and activities for Thursday in anticipation of CTU moving forward with a strike. 

"I was disappointed by the CTU's decision to begin a work stoppage and force a cancellation of classes," Mayor Lori Lightfoot said. "That's because I feel like we rolled up our sleeves and negotiated in good faith for a long period of time." 

Sharkey said that his negotiators were not satisfied with CPS' final contract offer, and they voted to reject the offer on Wednesday. 

"The mayor wants a five-year contract. Many marriages don't last five years and I don't like this contract enough to marry it," Sharkey said. 

Lightfoot defended the contract offer made by CPS on Wednesday, calling it an "historic" pact that would have addressed the teachers' primary concerns. 

"We offered an historic package on CTU's core issues like compensation, staffing, and class size," she said. "We reiterated our proposals were rooted in our admiration of the job that staffers and teachers do every day." 

Negotiations between the two sides ended early Wednesday as both CPS officials and CTU representatives prepared for a strike vote, but Lightfoot hopes that both sides will return to the negotiating table soon. 

"We will remain at the table, and we hope that CTU will as well," she said. "I hope this work stoppage will end soon. This has to be about our children." 

Sharkey echoed similar sentiments in his speech, saying that he hopes the work stoppage will not be a prolonged one. 

"We want to make this a short strike," he said. "We want to make this a strike that wins improvements for our schools, wins the dignity and respect for our teachers... so the ball's in her court on that now." 

Teachers are planning to picket schools in the district at 6:30 a.m. Thursday, according to banners displayed after the CTU's meeting. 

from NBC New York - Top Stories https://ift.tt/2IYOaUb