Chicago Teachers Union Officially Goes On Strike, 300,000 Students Displaced

Chicago Public Schools teachers walked off the job Thursday, demanding an array of ancillary services totaling billions of dollars be made part of their union contract.

Some 25,000 members of the Chicago Teachers Union began picketing at schools across the city following months of negotiations, leaving many of the city's 300,000 schoolchildren without a place to go for the day.

“My teachers are striking so everyone has equal resources,” Lane Tech senior Jude Greiner told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I hope the city understands. My school is very lucky, but every school needs a nurse and proper resources for their children.”

The union's House of Delegates on Wednesday rejected the city's latest offer, which included a 16% pay raise over five years. The union was seeking 15% over three years. The union also has demands related to class size, staffing and prep time. It also is seeking nurses, social workers and librarians in every school as well as more special education classroom assistants and case managers.

Teacher strikes in the Carolinas in May sought similar demands. Support staffing is an important part of the strike for many teachers given the violence and high crime rate that dominates many neighborhoods across the city.

“Our students suffer from trauma. They suffer from so many things they need help coping with,” School social worker Emily Penn said.

The Chicago Teachers Union outlined the full list of demands on its official website. In response, the Chicago Board of Education released a 71-page document listing the counteroffers to the CTU’s demands.

Negotiations were set to resume Thursday morning.

School buildings were open with staff providing breakfast and lunch to students. Staff will also be providing activities to help occupy students’ time while at school buildings. Chicago Public Libraries and 18 other “Safe Haven” sites will also house students displaced by the strike.

A mass rally was planned for Thursday afternoon.