Thousands rally downtown for Chicago Teachers Union
Chicago Teachers Union members and supporters marched Feb. 4, 2016, in the Loop to show opposition to the district's decision to slash school budgets and stop paying the bulk of teachers' pension contributions.
rongs of protesters organized by the Chicago Teachers Union clogged Loop streets during Thursday's evening rush hour to voice opposition to the district's move to slash budgets and stop paying much of teachers' pension contributions.
The show of force by the union's rank and file comes three days after a 40-person bargaining team unanimously voted down a four-year contract offer from Chicago Public Schools.
Christa Lohman, a member of the CTU's "Big Bargaining Team," said the district's offer was vague and included language teachers thought was aimed at forcing them into accepting a deal.
"No economic layoffs sounds fabulous," Lohman said during a march to City Hall as news helicopters hovered overhead. "But we've been around awhile. After 15 years, you start to think that never happens."
As protesters surrounded Bank of America's local headquarters and blocked traffic, CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey said the bargaining team's rejection of the city's offer was "a sign we have a serious democratic process."
"The leadership recognizes that there was a serious attempt on the part of the district to offer some things that we're interested in," Sharkey said. "And what we heard loud and clear from our rank and file is that we don't trust the district enough just to have assurances and promises. There can't be big loopholes in that."
In addition to barring economic layoffs, the offer from CPS provided some moderate pay increases and put a cap on the number of privately run charter schools. Union leaders Thousands rally downtown for Chicago Teachers Union - Chicago Tribune:
