The Chicago Teachers Union, after a summer of threats and miscellaneous protest actions, announced a date for their strike of September 10 this Thursday. CTU released a copy of their resolution on the website:
The strike is necessary to achieve a labor contract with acceptable wages, benefits and job protections; and for all other purposes for which a strike is authorized under law. The strike is also necessary to protest unfair labor practices committed by CPS against our membership.
The move is the latest in a series of threats the union has leveled against the Mayor. The Chicago Sun-Times reported on CTU president Karen Lewis’s reaction:
Lewis said Chicago Public School officials have not budged from the “last, best” salary and wage offer they placed in May before a fact finder who ultimately declared the relationship between the two sides “toxic.’’At that time, the CPS was offering four years of two percent raises and the halt of all “step and lane’’ salary bumps for seniority and credentials.Teachers have derided the offer as “insulting,’’ contending it does not reflect the 4 percent negotiated raise they were denied this past school year and the 10 extra days they are being required to work this school year.
In the meantime, Mayor Rahm Emanuel plans to skirt out of town to speak at the upcoming DNC Convention.
It is remarkable that the DNC would choose to highlight Mayor Emanuel’s record: a wartorn city, teachers on strike, and the bold agenda to spend $91M on protected bike lanes for the 1 percent of Chicagoans that bike to work.
Revealing priorities at the DNC.
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