Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) educators at charter schools have voted to authorize a strike as they negotiate a contract with Acero, the largest unionized network of charter schools in Chicago, according to In These Times.
The vote tallied to 98 percent in support of a strike, or 512 out of 536 members at Acero's 15 schools agreeing to hit the picket lines.
Authorizing a vote does not mean necessarily educators will strike.
Contract negotiations are covering a wide range of issues that include more autonomy in the classroom, smaller class sizes and improved family and maternity leave.
The authorization could mean that Chicago becomes the first city where a charter school strike of educators takes place, according to In These Times.
Meanwhile, educators at four unionized Chicago International Charter Schools (CICS) also will vote Friday on whether to authorize a strike as they,too, currently negotiate contracts with 11 charter operators, according to Jacobin Magazine.
"We're fighting for educational justice," CTU member and president of Acero's division of CTU educators Andy Crooks stated during a recent press conference and in a CTU statement.
"Our teachers, paraprofessionals, office coordinators and IT staff work longer hours in a longer school day and year for less than public schools. That's got to change," Crooks said in a statement released on the CTU website.
"Charter operators are failing charter school students," CTU ACTS Division chair Chris Baehrend said in the statement. "We're putting the entire charter industry on notice. Public funds will be used for public services in our schools and if we have to strike to make that happen, we will."
The CTU says it is advocating for sanctuary schools for the Latino population, smaller class sizes, better treatment of paraprofessionals and more focus on needs in special education.
Other demands include: more autonomy in the classroom, improved family leave, updated teach review system and salary tables for paraprofessionals.
"This contract fight is about educational justice — and the educational justice movement rising across this country has come home to Chicago's charter industry," CTU president Jesse Sharkey said in the statement. "The resources that come into charter operators' hands are being funneled into the bosses' boardrooms instead of our students' educations.
"We demand well-resourced schools, and we are prepared to strike to make that happen."
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