Teachers in Chicago vote to authorize strike
Public school teachers in Chicago have voted to authorize a strike.
The Chicago Teachers Union, which represents teachers in the nation's third-largest district, says 90.6 percent of teachers cast ballots, and 95.6 percent of those voted in favor of a strike. If a strike happens, it would be the teachers' third work stoppage by since Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel took office in 2011.
The governing body of the teachers union is scheduled to meet Wednesday to decide whether to issue a 10-day strike notice. If that happens, the first possible date for a teachers’ strike would be Oct. 11.
The union says its members have been angry about program cuts that have hurt special education students, reduced the number of librarians, counselors, social workers and teachers’ aides, and eliminated thousands of teaching positions.
WLS-TV reports that teachers also are upset over the school district's request in contract negotiations that teachers pay a greater share of their pension costs.
Video from WLS-TV:
About the Author
Mike Kennedy
Senior Editor
Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.