More than 40 members of the Chicago Teachers Union at two Instituto charter schools went on strike Tuesday after the union said it failed to reach a new agreement with the school’s operator.
“We want to have the administration respect not just us but also the students that are here,” said science teacher Louis Lucas.
Teachers hit the picket lines in front of Instituto Health Science Career Academy and said they’ve been working without a contract for two years.
“We’ve lost a lot of people and they have not been replaced that’s one of our basic issues, which is people leave,” said Lucas. “They leave because our salaries aren’t competitive with the rest of the city.”
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The union said it’s been bargaining with Instituto on several key issues, including competitive wages, staffing levels, educators’ rights, and sanctuary protections for immigrant students and employees.
“They have not come to the table with many great offers,” said math teacher Jennifer Grandfield. “They’re not meeting us halfway and its two years into our contract.”
Instituto released a statement to NBC 5 calling the decision to strike by CTU disappointing.
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“We are deeply disappointed with the union’s decision to strike, especially after we acquiesced to their most ‘critical demands:’ compensation, retirement and healthcare in line with other charter schools and maintaining the status quo on union rights and the parties’ grievance and discipline procedures,” said Instituto Chief Operating Officer Carlos Jaramillo. “Indeed, the Parties reached seven tentative agreements on highly desired proposals by the union over the last four days of bargaining – yet the Union falsely claims no progress has been made.”
According to Instituto, the tentative agreements include changes related to discipline, grievances, STLS support, and sanctuary protections for students and employees.
“We are here today because all CTU wants is more power to further their own political agenda—irrespective of whether teachers want them to push for a specific proposal. However, politics does not trump the best interest of our students. Our students do not deserve to be pawns in CTU’s political agenda. Education is a right and strikers should leave our students out of their politics,” said Jaramillo.
Teachers disputed that characterization, telling NBC Chicago their interests are focused squarely on the future of their students.
“They deserve so much more than what’s currently happening,” said Granfield. “We’re going to be out here until they get what they need.”
While some students still showed up to school Tuesday morning, as the days go on they’re just hoping for a resolution to get their teachers back in the classrooms.
“They’re fighting for their rights right here at the school because not only are they fighting for their rights, but for our rights too,” said freshman Marie Claro.
The sides continue to negotiate, but if an agreement is not reached, teachers plan to be back out on the picket lines Wednesday morning.
