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No Classes in Chicago Public Schools as Teachers Strike Looms

Reuters

   CHICAGO - The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) finalized its decision
   Wednesday to go on strike against the city's school district, the
   third-largest in the United States, after protracted labor negotiations
   did not produce a deal before their deadline.

   Earlier in the day, the district canceled classes for Thursday for its
   361,000 students.

   School buildings will be open for students who need a place to go,
   officials said. Schools will serve breakfast and lunch, but all
   after-school activities, including sports, tutoring and field trips,
   are canceled.

   Late Wednesday afternoon, CTU's delegates overwhelmingly reaffirmed
   their decision earlier this month to go a strike Thursday if the union
   was unable to come to a contract agreement with Chicago Public Schools
   (CPS), said teachers union president Jesse Sharkey.

   "We have not achieved what we need to bring justice and high-quality
   schools to the children and teachers of Chicago," he said.

   In addition to wage increases, the teachers union is demanding more
   funding to ease overcrowded classrooms and hire more support staff, two
   perennial issues plaguing the school district.

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