Chicago teachers went on an unprecedented strike on Friday that shut down schools and affected 330,000 students. The strike is due to the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools' year-long and messy contract.
Teachers Union Against Fund Cuts
The strike was against Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner over the recent state funds impasse and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel for mismanaging the city's funds. It was the first strike since the teachers held a 7-school-day strike in 2012, US News reported.
Obviously, Rauner and Emanuel were against the strike. Appointed by Mayor Emanuel, city school CEO Forrest Claypool called the protest illegal. The teachers are not allowed to hold a strike until May when contract negotiations are nearly finalized, based on state laws.
"I understand and appreciate the teachers have a challenge with Springfield." Emauel said. "There's a lot of people [who] have a challenge with what's happening in Springfield. But do not take it out on our students."
Chicago Teachers Union Continue To Fight
"We're going to win funding for our schools and we're going to fight until we get it," said Chicago Teachers Union vice president Jesse Sharkley. CBS News reported that Sharkley understands that it would be difficult for the parents once the public school shuts down. However, he knows that it is just minor compared to what the state will experience "if we don't have our public schools."
Randi Weingarten, President of American Federation of Teachers, who was also part of the rally, said that making budgets cuts is a "reckless disregard of children." On the other hand, a statement from Gloria Fallon, a teacher from Beasley Elementary on the city's South Side, says "to flex our muscles and show we're serious."
Other than Chicago, Detroit schools are raking in almost $515 million in debts and will be unable to give salaries to the teachers past April 8. The teachers union in Detroit has already been taking sickouts to protest against the school conditions.
