Teachers in Chicago announced Sunday (Sept. 9) night that they will go on strike after being unable to reach an agreement over salaries and benefits. This is the first time that a strike has occurred in 25 years, leaving many parents of an estimated 400,000 students, wondering where their children will go while the teacher’s union and the school district hash out their differences.
“We have failed to reach an agreement that will prevent a labor strike,” announced Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teacher’s Union. “This is a difficult decision, and one we hoped we could’ve avoided. Throughout these negotiations, we’ve remained hopeful but determined. We must do things different in this city if we are to provide students the education they so rightfully deserve.”
14 schools have remained open to house students for half of the day, but parents are encouraged to make other arrangements during the strike. Students attending charter schools are still required to go to school.
The largest driving force behind the strike is job security and holding on to health benefits. Up to 6,000 teachers are in fear or losing their jobs thanks to a newly introduced evaluation system hinged on standardized testing scores. Based on test results, teachers can be fired. “This is no way to measure the effectiveness of an educator,” Lewis added. “Further, there are too many factors beyond our control which impact how well some students perform on standardized test such as poverty, exposure to violence, homelessness, hunger and other social issues beyond our control.”
Salaries are another topic driving the disagreement, but both sides are close to reaching a compensation agreement. With an average teacher salary of $74, 839, officials are offering a deal that would increase pay by 16 percent, over the next four years.
Chicago mayor, Rahm Emanuel, is unhappy that each party could not reach common ground. “I am disappointed that we have come to this point given that all the other parties acknowledged how close we are, because this is a strike of choice,” he said. “And because of how close we are, it is a strike that is unnecessary.
“The kids in Chicago belong in the classroom. Our kids do not deserve this.”
With all the free time on their hands, the fear is that students attending public schools will use the break time to get into trouble. As gun violence remains a pivotal issue that has reached epidemic proportions in Chicago, there is a fear that more crimes may occur, a sentiment felt by mother of two, Shatara Scaggs. “If the kids are not in school, they’re out getting into some kind of trouble … when they should be in school, learning. I think they should be in school getting an education. I don’t think the teachers should be on strike.”
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Photo: NBC News
