Chicago Teachers Union Authorizes 1-Day Walkout: Reports

Chicago, IL -- Chicago Public Schools issued a statement to the Chicago Teachers Union’s one-day walkout on April 1, saying:

"We're particularly disappointed that the CTU leadership has given Governor Rauner more ammunition in his misguided attempt to bankrupt and take over Chicago Public Schools. Our children need their teachers in the classroom, while leaders from CPS and CTU remain at the negotiating table. We have already reached a tentative contract agreement with CTU leadership once and there is no reason to believe we cannot again. We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that happens."

Earlier Wednesday, CPS CEO Forrest Claypool addressed the possibility of the one day strike, telling news media, “Our priority will be to keep students safe, fed and engaged on April 1."

CTU’s 27,000 teachers and support staff say they will walk off the job for one day, where they will demonstrate in front of their respective schools and later that evening at CPS headquarters downtown.

CTU President Karen Lewis also apparently had sharp words for Gov. Bruce Rauner, stating,"We need Gov. Rauner to get off his anti-union turnaround agenda and get a budget done. That's what we need."

Also, in a development late Wednesday, another union, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, is joining CTU in its fight.

The city’s public school system is facing a $1.1 billion structural budget deficit, caused largely by escalating annual pension payments, Reuters said.

The Chicago Teachers Union voted to authorize a one-day walkout on April 1, according to news reports.

The CTU’s 800 House of Delegates voted Wednesday to authorize a job action on April 1. Teachers are being asked to demonstrate in front of their schools at 6:30 a.m., and again that same evening in front of Chicago Public Schools headquarters downtown.

CPS officials say any job action by teachers before May would be illegal because state law requires the pre-strike phase called fact finding to end, ABC 7 Chicago is reporting..

The teachers union and CPS have been negotiating for a new contract since January. At issue are increased teacher contributions to their pension funds and budget cuts, including three unpaid furlough days that CPS argues would save the school system $30 million.

The first unpaid furlough day falls on Friday, the beginning of Easter weekend, when many suburban districts and parochial schools are scheduled to start spring break.

If the teachers walk out on April 1, they won’t be paid unless they provide a doctor’s note or proof of emergency.

The CTU plans to hold a press conference Wednesday evening. CPS is expected to issue a statement in response.