Schools
Chicago Teachers Union Ready to Strike in May
Union rejects fact finder report, beginning a month-long countdown to a possible strike.
CHICAGO, IL - The Chicago Teachers Union could strike as early as May 16 after rejecting an independent report from a fact finder geared to finding a resolution between the union and the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education.
Union President Karen Lewis said the “clock has started” on the possible strike, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
“We have no choice but to prepare ourselves for a possible strike,” Lewis said.
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State law requires a fact-finder report before a teachers strike. But the report, prepared by Steven Bierig, sided with the board on virtually every issue, including the adoption of a four-year contract rather that one for two years, which the union is hoping for.
A mandatory cooling off period prevents a strike from occurring until one month after the report is presented, but union members have already authorized a strike.
Find out what's happening in Chicagofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A pair of teachers at Beasley Academic Center on the South Side earlier this month told Patch they were ready to strike, and listed several reasons.
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