TEACHERS UNION WILL JOIN MAY DAY RALLY

Chicago Teachers Union members will join dozens of labor and immigrants’ rights organizations in a May Day march and rally downtown next week, renewing their call for more education funding.

The union initially floated the idea of a one- day strike on May 1 to protest declining financial conditions at Chicago Public Schools, which is facing a $ 129 million budget gap and could lop as many as three weeks off the end of this school year.

But this month, members opted against striking unless the district imposes more than the four unpaid furlough days that already have been ordered for teachers.

Still, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board voted Wednesday for an injunction requested by the district that blocks the union from promoting any potential work stoppage, or encouraging members to use personal or sick days to take part in May 1 activities.

“CPS will fight for its students, even when that means we must take action to prevent Union bosses from violating the law,” CPS CEO Forrest Claypool said in a statement. “No one — including [ Gov. Bruce Rauner] and the union bosses — can break the law as they pursue their own political agendas at the expense of our students.”

On its website, the union says it “vigorously defends the right of any member” to use personal or unpaid days to join the rally, while advising that “using a sick day for a non- designated purpose can be grounds for discipline.”

Rallies at various schools on May 1 for International Workers Day are planned in the morning, followed by an 11 a. m. “March for Youth Justice” at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, and a 1 p. m. “Rally for Immigration Justice” at Union Park. A downtown march is scheduled for 2 p. m., with a CTU rally at Daley Plaza at 4 p. m.