Time to start paying attention: Strike vote for Chicago Public Schools teachers begins today
Jesse Sharkey was second-in-command when he helped lead Chicago teachers off the job seven years ago. The first teachers strike in a quarter century lasted seven days and was widely viewed as a union win, with the city making more concessions than it agreed to in contract talks. The victory emboldened teachers and other union workers near and far to stage strikes of their own.
Chicago Teachers Union leaders are now asking their members: Can we do it again?
Based on outreach to members, union officials believe they have the numbers. Though union leaders maintain they don’t want to strike, they have framed it as a possible necessity in the pursuit of educational justice.
“Do I think there will be a strike?" Sharkey said on a recent episode of the union’s new podcast, “CTU Speaks!” “I think if the board doesn’t change course, then we’re going to have to stand up ... or else we’re just going to be flattened.”
Read more: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-chicago-public-schools-teachers-strike-outlook-20190924-jbwoiawmzzb6tia4ewj63iqh5e-story.html