Chicago braces for possible teachers strike

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis speaks at a rally in Chicago's Daley Plaza on Monday, Sept. 3, 2012. / AP Photo/Chicago Sun-Times, Brian Jackson

(CBS News) CHICAGO - On Tuesday morning, Chicago Public Schools' chief executive officer Jean-Claude Brizard welcomed students at Roberto Clemente Community Academy High School, as they resume classes - for at least the next four days.

Tuesday marked the first day of school for the majority of public school students, but they may be without teachers in less than a week. As CBS Station WBBM reports, CPS officials and representatives of the Chicago Teachers Union are working to reach a contract deal.

If they do not, beginning next Monday the city's teachers will go on strike, for the first time since 1987, said WBBM correspondent Susanna Song.

Teachers and other union members flooded Daley Plaza and city streets Monday, to demonstrate for a new contract. Some are upset they are not getting their scheduled four percent raise, and are holding out hope for a new contract.

Sources tell CBS Station WBBM that, currently, the district is offering its teachers an 8 percent raise over four years, and wants to form a committee to create a new pay system.

Teachers are also expressing concerns with teacher recall, feeling that if schools consolidate and close - as planned for the year to come - veteran teachers could lose their jobs. Those teachers want a guarantee that they will be the first to be hired back.

Brizard said officials are doing everything they can to avert a strike.

"We really understand the stress on our families and our students, and we have groups of people who are working very, very hard to make sure that next Monday is a full school day," Brizard told WBBM, "so we're negotiating and made some good progress over the weekend. We're scheduled every day this week to find a resolution, so hard-working folks are making sure next Monday is a full school day."

Brizard said officials have already resolved more than 400 issues with the union, and that this weekend they have gotten closer to an agreement.

"Again, we're not there yet, but we have a week, and we've got to make sure it's done before next Monday," he said.

At Monday's rally, union president Karen Lewis told WBBM correspondent Derrick Blakley it is not definite that teachers will walk out next Monday.

"I am extremely optimistic, because I'm seeing movement that they're actually working to take care of some of the issues that are on the table," she said.

If there is a strike, CPS officials are prepared, Brizard said.

"First of all, we cannot replace our teachers. I need my 25,000-plus teachers to be in the classroom next week to teach our kids. Wonderful what's happening in our schools; I want to make sure it continues.

"But if the leadership decides to go on strike, we have prepared about 145 sites to provide breakfast and lunch for our kids and other activities - faith-based organizations, not-for-profits, a lot of folks are getting prepared just in case. But again, my hope is that I never have to execute that plan."

[joeh32]

The posts on here are all against teachers but none against the city of Chicago...hmmmm. The same city that signed off on a 4% raise for teachers last year but took it away. The same city that is now asking teachers to work longer days and more days with an added number of students in their class but not be compensated for the extra time, more days, and larger class size. You can't tell me that if your boss told you that you were going to work longer hours and more days and not receive more money---- you wouldn't complain??? Especially after getting screwed from the last contract?? I'm sure you would just say yes boss and continue to go to work everyday, be happy, love your job, and do what's best for your company............ liars!!! To the person who works 7 days a week and 365 days out of the year... remember you choose that career nobody made you take that job! You have non educators making decisions for education. Would you want a baseball coach coaching your football team? You expect: teachers who are required to live in the city of Chicago with the highest cost of living in Illinois, teachers who are required to continue their education on their own tab, teachers to pay for their college student loans, teachers to pay for their own classroom supplies........ you expect them to work for nothing but then you want to complain that they're not doing their job........ I wonder why!!!!! Most of you couldn't handle being a teacher.... or maybe it was the job that you thought you were too good to do but not having some second thoughts. Go back to school and get your teaching degree instead of being a whiner! Treat your teachers with respect and yes it is better off for the kids. Treat your teachers like crap and yes your kids will suffer.

[aintfakin]

Donnie_G September 4, 2012 1:09 PM EDT
As long as Chicago's priorities are based on outdated loyalties to cronyism and unaffordable union contracts,
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oh I get what you mean
just like those crony contracts in Iraq, including the no bid ones that would have paid for quality teachers in almost every big city school in america.

[mjvwsr]

you mean those contracts obozo has continued to renew?

[tsigili]

The Dems love the unions, so let the education of their kids be sacrificed. Chicago, is a Dem mob city.

[cannuc]

There are and should be only one type of union...currently there are two. One Is an employer based on taxes. (property taxes) The other is based on upon comsumer demand/satisfaction...Municipal unions are nothing but a parasitic host that must be weaned off the public teat. lifetime retirement benefits for any public sector union member means that 30 or more homes must be taxed in perpetuity for the benefit of a few.

[cubscout09]

We spend 1-2% of our GNP on Education. I think that we are getting exactly what we are paying for.

[cherrybrown]

Sad sad sad. I can only imagine how much they are paid and what their benies are.

Really in this economy this is a good idea?

Let them walk, fire them all and hire in people who appreciate good wages, benefits and job security.

[Chicagoman14]

Can someone please tell me how these teacher union leaders and teachers can cry out that this is for the betterment of the kids? That single statement makes me sick every time I hear it. The teacher's salary issue has been around since before I was born (1961). They would have to know that going in to this vocation that it isn't for the pay.

I work every day - 7 days a week 365 days a year. Vacations in this economy are few and far between. Summers off... just a week would be nice. 7 to 3 work days and then grade papers...I am not feeling the pressure...

My kid comes home and says things like "my teacher really didn't act like they wanted to be there today", "it's just a job to them" or "I asked for help, but they said they were too busy".

Please Ms. Lewis, don't insult us parents! It is not about the kids, it's about the money. It's not about the kids - it is about job security. This strike on Monday will destroy the CPS. Families are already gearing up to send their kids to private schools or suburban schools - the ones that can afford it will do so. The ones that can't will do anything to make it work. Your attendance will decrease and you will have a bunch of teachers milking off the system (union) in empty classrooms.

I see that you are having a few problems with Mr. Emanuel. Well, hope you learn something from that because when you strike you are going to have a problem with a great deal of parents with children in your system and WE do not drink your Kool Aid!

[SummersideKate]

Edit to the previous post: the oldest was in high school by the time we moved away; the youngest still in elementary.

[SummersideKate]

My kids attended elementary school in the Chicago suburbs from the mid 1980's to the mid 1990's. Same old same old. The teachers' strikes are a regular occurrence. The worst of them kept the kids out of school for approximately 40 days and caused them to lose their spring break and half of Christmas vacation to make up for time lost at the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, my mother-in-law, a teacher with many years of experience in Ohio and California schools, could only get a job as a teacher's aide despite taking extra classes and re-certifying. She eventually became the principal of a private school. Perhaps by now the strikes have simply become a case of everyone except parents and students enjoying a good fight?