CTU’s ten-day strike notice. « Fred Klonsky

CTU’s ten-day strike notice. « Fred Klonsky:

CTU’s ten-day strike notice.

by Fred Klonsky

When the House of Delegates of the Chicago Teachers Union met yesterday at Lane Tech, they voted to file a ten-day strike notice. CTU President Karen Lewis told the reporters in the parking lot next to Lane that the leadership was given authority to choose the date of a strike if one become necessary.
The vote has three meanings:

• It is a legal requirement.
• It puts pressure on the board, CEO JC Brizard and, of course, Rahm Emanuel.
• It says that the interim agreement, signed several weeks ago on the longer school day, is not working as promised.

Frankly, when I read the interim agreement I took note that it did not specifically say that the teachers that were to be rehired were to be music, art or PE teachers. It seemed to me then that the agreement required and would be a sign of honest intent on the part of the board and the Mayor.
If the longer day was to be a better day, than CPS has had ample time to demonstrate that with the opening of