Chicago Teachers Union strike preparation goes into high gear with one week of negotiations left... union members warned to expect a long strike
Chicago Teachers Union officers stand on stage for a press conference following the vote of the September 28, 2016 meeting of the House of Delegates to set an October 11 strike date. Substance photo by Jean Schwab.Chicago Teachers Union members are being warned both formally and informally to expect a long strike if the Chicago Board of Education doesn't stop stonewalling against the union and forces the second strike in four years when the deadline for a strike is reached on October 11, 2016, the day after the Columbus Day holiday. Following a 95 percent strike authorization referendum (September 21 - 23) and a nearly unanimous vote setting a strike date at the House of Delegates (September 28), the union's delegates and members have been preparing for school picket lines, community outreach, and even work to persuade members of other unions to join CTU picket lines despite some sellout union leaders in other union locals (most notably Local 73 of SEIU).
