The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Chicago Teachers Union is leaning against striking before the end of this school year due to a lack of teacher support.
“I get a sense that our members would not be looking at a strike in May,” the union’s vice president, Jesse Sharkey, said. If a strike were to start before the end of the school year and last all summer, teachers would lose their last paycheck of the school year and possibly their health insurance until the strike is lifted.
Union members also say parents may not back the strike plans, because the union already had a one-day strike in April and there was a district furlough day in March that kept students out of school.
Furthermore, the union may be able to get favorable legislation passed through the state government during the summer.
If an agreement between the union and Chicago Public Schools isn’t reached by the start of the next school year, a strike may be likely after teachers get their first paycheck in September.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was pleased the union seemed to be backing down from a strike. “I don’t think we should be talking about a strike,” he said. “We should be talking about finishing the year and building on the educational success of our teachers and our students.” He said that, instead of striking, the union should go to the state legislature and get more school funding. “Use your political energy to get the ball over the goal line here so we can actually get funding for education of children coming from homes of poverty and we do not allow Illinois to continue to penalize school districts and children that have a preponderance of poverty.”
The union will formally decide on Wednesday whether it will set a strike date.
Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
