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Chicago Teachers’ Strike: Citywide Scramble Begins as Classes Come to Halt Chicago Teachers’ Strike: Citywide Scramble as Classes Come to Halt
(about 4 hours later)
CHICAGO — Tens of thousands of public school teachers took to picket lines on Thursday morning as a strike in the nation’s third-largest school district canceled classes across the city, sent parents racing to find child care and left Chicago’s new mayor, Lori Lightfoot, grappling with her most significant crisis to date.CHICAGO — Tens of thousands of public school teachers took to picket lines on Thursday morning as a strike in the nation’s third-largest school district canceled classes across the city, sent parents racing to find child care and left Chicago’s new mayor, Lori Lightfoot, grappling with her most significant crisis to date.
City officials said schools would remain open to students, who would be fed three meals and supervised by nonunion workers like principals. But some parents were skeptical of that option, signing up for last-minute camps at community centers and local parks. Others said they would have to stay home from work or hire babysitters. School bus service was suspended starting Thursday. City officials said schools remained open to students, who would be fed three meals and were being supervised by nonunion workers like principals. But some parents were skeptical of that option, signing up for last-minute camps at community centers and local parks. Others said they were staying home from work or hiring babysitters. School bus service was suspended.
The standoff between city officials and more than 20,000 Chicago teachers and thousands more school support workers had been brewing for months, but many residents believed a strike would be averted. Now, with one landing weeks into the school year, they were worried about what it might mean for their families — for college applications, for sports seasons, for daily routines. Outside schools across the city, clusters of teachers and supporters — many of them dressed in red — held signs and handed out apple cider and coffee, waving to passing cars and answering questions for parents who walked up.
It was uncertain how long the walkout would last. Jesse Sharkey, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union, said on Wednesday evening that he hoped for a short strike and saw a path for an agreement, but that next steps were up to Ms. Lightfoot. “We want to be in our classrooms with our babies, but we need to get them the class sizes and counselors and support that they need,” said Shemeka Elam, a third-grade teacher who stood outside Anna R. Langford Community Academy on the city’s South Side. Many passing cars honked in support as they passed Ms. Elam and other teachers beside the school.
“The ball’s in her court,” Mr. Sharkey said at an emotional news conference in which teachers described the challenges of large class sizes and scant support staff. “We’ve got a ways to go,” Mr. Sharkey added. The standoff between city officials and more than 20,000 Chicago teachers and thousands more school support workers had been brewing for months, but many residents had believed a strike would be averted. Now, with one landing weeks into the school year, they were worried about what it might mean for their families — for college applications, for sports seasons, for daily routines.
On the city’s Far North Side, Eric Ndedi, the father of two boys — age 14 and 9 — said he had kept his children home with their mother even though school buildings were open.
“It’s more safe than going when there is no teacher,” said Mr. Ndedi, 42, a ride-hailing driver who said he had been accustomed to teacher strikes while growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but had not previously experienced one in the United States. “It’s better to stay at home.”
Mr. Ndedi, who moved to Chicago three years ago, said he did not know enough to say who was to blame for the strike, but that “it’s totally not good.” He said he expected his sons to spend the day watching television, and hoped they would be back in class on Friday.
It was uncertain how long the walkout would last. Jesse Sharkey, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union, has said that he hoped for a short strike and saw a path for an agreement, but that next steps were up to Ms. Lightfoot.
Outside Peirce International Studies School on the North Side on Thursday morning, Mr. Sharkey said, “It’s up to the mayor to get a fast contract settlement, she has the power to do that. But we are going to hold fast to a just contract settlement.”
The strike in Chicago follows a wave of teacher protests and work stoppages nationwide, including in conservative states like West Virginia and Oklahoma, as well as in large, liberal cities including Los Angeles and Denver.The strike in Chicago follows a wave of teacher protests and work stoppages nationwide, including in conservative states like West Virginia and Oklahoma, as well as in large, liberal cities including Los Angeles and Denver.
Across the country, teacher unions have demanded bigger budgets not just for salaries, but also for classroom supplies, smaller class sizes and additional support personnel, such as nurses and guidance counselors — the issues at the heart of the current conflict in Chicago. Across the country, teacher unions have demanded bigger budgets not just for salaries, but also for classroom supplies, smaller class sizes and additional support personnel, such as nurses and guidance counselors — the issues at the heart of the current conflict in Chicago. Along the protest lines on Thursday, teachers stressed that their biggest complaints were not about their own salaries, but concerns about equity for all of the city’s public school students, including those on the West and South Sides, parts of the city that have often been overlooked and where schools have been closed in recent years.
Ms. Lightfoot said that there had been progress in recent days in negotiations on the issues of staffing and class size, but that other topics kept the two sides apart.Ms. Lightfoot said that there had been progress in recent days in negotiations on the issues of staffing and class size, but that other topics kept the two sides apart.
“They gave us a number of issues in the last 24 hours that we could not bridge those divides — and some of which, we’re just not going to be able to get there,” said Ms. Lightfoot, who took office this year after an overwhelming electoral victory and pledged to improve life in neighborhoods on the city’s South and West Sides. “They gave us a number of issues in the last 24 hours that we could not bridge those divides — and some of which, we’re just not going to be able to get there,” said Ms. Lightfoot, who took office this year after an overwhelming electoral victory and pledged to improve life in neighborhoods on the city’s South and West Sides. About 47 percent of the Chicago public school system’s students are Hispanic, 37 percent are African-American and 10 percent are white. Some 76 percent are economically disadvantaged.
Ms. Lightfoot, who said she would be going door to door on Thursday in parts of the city to check on students, said, “this work stoppage will put a significant strain on working families.”Ms. Lightfoot, who said she would be going door to door on Thursday in parts of the city to check on students, said, “this work stoppage will put a significant strain on working families.”
The strike is the first for Chicago’s school system since 2012, when teachers walked out for seven days.The strike is the first for Chicago’s school system since 2012, when teachers walked out for seven days.
The city said it had offered teachers a 16 percent raise over five years, while union leaders called for increases of 15 percent over a shorter three-year term. But union leaders also wanted written into their contracts the promise of smaller classes, more paid time to prepare lessons and the hiring of more school nurses, social workers, librarians and counselors. Other demands include affordable housing provisions and protections for immigrant students.The city said it had offered teachers a 16 percent raise over five years, while union leaders called for increases of 15 percent over a shorter three-year term. But union leaders also wanted written into their contracts the promise of smaller classes, more paid time to prepare lessons and the hiring of more school nurses, social workers, librarians and counselors. Other demands include affordable housing provisions and protections for immigrant students.
Mental health supports are crucial in a city where some public students are traumatized by exposure to gun violence, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the Chicago teachers’ parent union.Mental health supports are crucial in a city where some public students are traumatized by exposure to gun violence, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the Chicago teachers’ parent union.
She accused Ms. Lightfoot of “dangling money” in front of teachers for salaries instead of supporting broader investments in schools.She accused Ms. Lightfoot of “dangling money” in front of teachers for salaries instead of supporting broader investments in schools.
“Why do we have to make an argument for a nurse in school every day?” Ms. Weingarten asked before the strike. She said she believed most of the money the union was asking for could be available without new taxes.“Why do we have to make an argument for a nurse in school every day?” Ms. Weingarten asked before the strike. She said she believed most of the money the union was asking for could be available without new taxes.
Dana Goldstein contributed reporting from New York.
Kerry Kasper contributed reporting from Chicago, and Dana Goldstein from New York.