Thousands of teachers go on strike; classes canceled
Striking teachers marched in picket lines outside hundreds of Chicago schools on Thursday after their union and city officials failed to reach a contract deal, canceling classes for more than 300,000 students for the duration of a walkout that seemed likely to head into a second day.
The strike in the nation’s third-largest school district came after the Chicago Teachers Union confirmed Wednesday night that its 25,000 members would not return to their classrooms. It follows months of negotiations between the union and Chicago Public Schools that failed to resolve disputes over pay and benefits, class size and teacher preparation time.
Picketing teachers said Thursday the walkout was about getting more resources and smaller class sizes for students in the cash-strapped district, not about putting more money in their pockets. Outside Smyth Elementary, a predominantly black and lowincome school, art teacher John Houlihan said, “We’re not fighting for paychecks and health care; it’s the kids.”
“It’s ridiculous to say that you can put these kids who are dealing with profound poverty and profound homelessness in classes of 30- 40 kids,” said Houlihan, who picketed with about 20 other teachers and staff as drivers passed by, honking their horns. “That’s not manageable and it is not an environment for learning.”
The strike is Chicago’s first major walkout by teachers since 2012.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she was disappointed by the union’s decision to strike.
“We are offering a historic package on the core issues — salary, staffing and class size,” she said.