Chicago gears up for teacher strike

CHICAGO — Chicago parents and community groups are scrambling to prepare for a teachers strike set to begin today, prompting the city to preemptively cancel classes in the nation’s third-largest school district.

The Chicago Teachers Union confirmed Wednesday night that its 25,000 members would not return to their classrooms today after months of negotiation between the union and Chicago Public Schools failed to resolve disputes over pay and benefits, class size and teacher preparation time.

The strike is Chicago’s first major walkout by teachers since 2012, and city officials announced early Wednesday that all classes had been canceled for today in hopes of giving more planning time to students’ families.

During the 2012 strike, the district kept some schools open for half days during a seven-day walkout. District officials said that this time they will keep all buildings open during school hours, staffed by principals and employees who usually work in administrative roles.

Breakfast and lunch will be served, but all after-school activities and school buses will be suspended in the district, which serves more than 300,000 students.

Lightfoot said the city has offered a 16% pay raise over a five-year contract and agreed to put language in the contract that addresses “enforceable targets” on class size and increasing staffing levels for positions such as nurses, librarians and social workers. Union leaders, though, disputed Lightfoot’s characterization of the city offers on several issues, including class sizes.

AP/Chicago Tribune/JOSE M. OSORIO Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot voiced frustration Wednesday about a looming teacher strike, saying “we’ve bent over backwards” to try to appease the Chicago Teachers Union.