War on Students: Chicago Teachers Union to Strike

[Geee]

Front Page Magazine:

This week, Democrats are holding their convention in Charlotte. During that convention, there is little doubt they will be extolling the virtues of organized labor, especially government employees, with teachers likely getting top billing. Next week, the teachers in President Obama’s home city of Chicago have scheduled a reality check regarding such virtues: last Thursday, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) announced they will go on strike beginning September 10th. “We have said from the beginning, we’re tired of being bullied, belittled and betrayed,” CTU President Karen Lewis told reporters.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, approximately 700 CTU delegates “thundered ‘aye’” last Thursday after Lewis put forward a motion to set the Sept. 10th strike date. When Lewis asked for “nay” votes the hall reportedly fell silent. Chicago Public School (CPS) officials responded by outlining consequences of the first teachers’ strike in 25 years, noting that 350,000 students would be denied an education, 11,000 athletes would be denied a chance to play varsity sports, and the transcripts and recommendations of 20,000 senior student would be “put on hold.”

As a result of the strike threat, CPS has come up with a contingency plan called “Children First.” The program will be put in place as “precaution,” according to CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard. It entails keeping 145 of the city’s schools open for half days–from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., according to a statement released Thursday. The Chicago Board of Education also authorized spending $25 million to keep those schools open, staffed by principals, assistant principals, central office employees, parent volunteers and other non-union staff. ”Too much is at stake for our kids both inside and outside the classroom and that’s why we’re focused on reaching a fair contract for our teachers that keeps our kids in the classroom where they belong,” Brizard said.