The Chicago Teachers Union is well aware that a legal challenge could be mounted in the wake of their strike authorization vote.
But President Karen Lewis said she's not worried.
"If the Board of Education wants to waste time and taxpayer money doing that, that is a question you all need to ask them," she told reporters during a press conference Monday. "I think that is a waste of time and energy, but they're going to do what they're going to do."
The union said there's no question its membership exceeded the 75 percent threshold required to authorize a strike.
On Wednesday, the first day of voting, 73 percent of CTU's membership had approved a strike. By Friday, the margin had shifted to 90 percent.
Critics point out that ministers who oversaw the process have received CTU grant money.
"There's questions around that process and oversight, making sure that it is an honorable, legitimate process," said Rebeca Huffman with Democrats for Education.
But the Rev. John Thomas said the voting process was done completely above the board.
"I can testify that it was done extremely well, very responsible. The counters were very diligent," he said.
