Chicago Teachers Union Votes to Suspend Strike, School Resumes Today
Delegates of the Chicago Teachers Union have voted to suspended the strike that has lasted seven school days.
It's back to school.
Chicago Teachers Union delegates voted to suspend their strike and resume classes starting Wednesday. A final contract agreement between Chicago Public Schools and the union will still have to be officially approved by the union.
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Parents and teachers from across Beverly, Mount Greenwood and Morgan Park have been picketing over the course of the strike. Many voiced concerns over class size, a lack of learning resources and the rise of charter schools.
"I believe the teachers are fighting for a better education for our students," said Eileen Marciano, a mother of two students at Cassell Elementary School on the first day of the strike.
Teachers and delegates will review the contract and vote before it is approved. The strike could be resumed if teachers refuse the terms of the contract.
The current proposal includes the following points, according to CPS and the CTU:
- There will be one single calendar across all of CPS with a 180 day school year.
- The Elementary school day will be seven hours, and high school students will go for seven and a half hours.
- Student performance and test scores will be phased in to teacher evaluations, eventually working up to 30 percent.
- Raises will be 3 percent this year, and two percent for the next two. The step system will still be in place.
- School administration will have the final hiring power. Teachers with positive ratings from closed schools will have the chance to move to a new school with their students.
- No limits on class size.
- Sick days can no longer be banked.
