The strike will begin at midnight Sunday if an agreement is not reached
Workers around Chicagoland have been telling the teachers how much their struggle means to them, not only as a defense of public education, but as an inspiration to other hard-pressed working class people. A lot of workers are saying, “We should be doing what the teachers are doing.”
“While it was encouraging to see Board President David Vitale at the table yesterday, both sides remain far apart on core issues such as job security, compensation and how to give our students a better day. We recognize the tight budget constraints and have always been willing to work with the District to see how we can best utilize the budget and compensate our members and ensure our schools are well-resourced.
The CTU also termed the Board’s $25 million strike contingency plan to have parents drop off children at various schools and churches a “train wreck”. According to Gadlin,
“It’s the equivalent of opening a fire station without firefighters and giving a bunch of lawyers, accountants and clerical workers a few fire hoses and rubber boots. According to a ‘how-to-be-a teacher guide’ distributed to holding center workers, CPS tells them to provide eighth graders with the same activities as third graders.”
The Board did not explain how these half-day holding centers would help parents with full-time jobs.
Gadlin suggested to parents,”...to consider utilizing the same plans they had for their children over the summer or they employ on weekends and during the holidays. For those who feel they have no choice but to send their student to a CPS holding center, we ask them to make sure they know who is staffing those facilities and what activities will actually take place.”
The CTU has called on its members and supporters to join in a mass rally in front of the Chicago Board of Education on Monday September 10 at 3:30. The Board offices are at 125 South Clark Street. Wear red if you can.