CTU Schedules Strike Authorization Vote For Next Week
(CBS) -- The Chicago Teachers Union has scheduled a strike authorization vote for three days next week.
The announcement came after a delegates meeting Wednesday afternoon. CTU members will be able to cast ballots on December 9, 10 and 11.
In order to authorize a strike, at least 75 percent of CTU members must vote in favor of going on strike. Last month, CTU said 97 percent of its members taking in part in a mock vote supported going on strike.
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"How long does it take to settle a contract?" said CTU President Karen Lewis. "Clearly what they're wanting to do is just stall, stall, stall."
Lewis says they hope to avoid a strike but they have to take action because they've been negotiating with the Board of Education for over a year.
Even if the teachers do authorize the strike, it wouldn't legally be able to his the picket lines for several more months.
Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman Emily Bittner released a statement saying, "CPS is looking for solutions to our $1.1 billion budget crisis, and a strike isn't the answer. We're negotiating in good faith with CTU leadership to reach a fair, multi-year agreement that protects teachers, their jobs and our classrooms – and we encourage CTU to join with us in Springfield to fight for equal funding for Chicago children."
