90% of Chicago Teachers Vote to Strike If Contract Negotiations Break Down
Via the Washington Post: as of June 11, 2012, ninety percent of the 26,000-plus teachers in the city of Chicago voted to strike if contract negotiations with the city fall apart. At issue are longer school days minus any corresponding increases in pay, and other disputes over class size, restoration of school libraries, art and music classes, and an end to chronic underfunding. A four percent pay raise was rescinded by Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the name of budget cuts.
A fact-finding report from a neutral party is expected in July. The teacher vote now would simply authorize a fall strike if no satisfactory agreement can be made. (These discussions are occurring even as I blog this.)
What the Washington Post story neglects to mention is that the backdrop to parent and teacher unrest is, among other things, the damaging and destabilizing closure of seven schools and “turnaround” planned for ten more. In February of 2012, parents and teachers demonstrated their anger at the Chicago School Board’s decision.
A large number, if not all, of the schools scheduled for closure will re-open and become charter schools. The
A fact-finding report from a neutral party is expected in July. The teacher vote now would simply authorize a fall strike if no satisfactory agreement can be made. (These discussions are occurring even as I blog this.)
What the Washington Post story neglects to mention is that the backdrop to parent and teacher unrest is, among other things, the damaging and destabilizing closure of seven schools and “turnaround” planned for ten more. In February of 2012, parents and teachers demonstrated their anger at the Chicago School Board’s decision.
A large number, if not all, of the schools scheduled for closure will re-open and become charter schools. The