Chicago Teachers Union Announces Plan to Strike on Oct. 11

The Chicago Teachers Union’s governing body announced plans to strike on October 11, after meeting Wednesday in a special session to determine the next steps following a nearly unanimous vote to authorize a strike this month. 

The union said Monday 95 percent of members voted in favor of a strike amid an ongoing contract battle with Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Board of Education.

“This should come as no surprise to the Board, the mayor or parents because educators have been angry about the school-based cuts that have hurt special education students, reduced librarians, counselors, social workers and teachers’ aides, and eliminated thousands of teaching positions,” the union said in a statement.

The union must issue a 10-day strike notice to the Chicago Board of Education, making October 11 the first possible date for a teachers’ strike. 

The contract battle has been going on for months.

Among other things, the CTU is upset about CPS’ plan to phase in a 7 percent pension payment for teachers. That payment was previously covered by the city.

The CTU claims the Chicago Board of Education has rejected nearly all of the union’s contract proposals after working all of last year without a contract.

Teachers overwhelmingly approved a strike during the union's last vote in December.

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