Teachers Union Boss To Parents: Think Of Possible Walkout April 1 As 'Extra Holiday'
(CBS) -- Think of it as a holiday. So says the Chicago Teachers Union president, about a planned teacher walkout April 1 that has parents nervous.
CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez reports.
"Look at it as an extra holiday. Just look at it that way. That's the only thing I can tell them to make them feel better," CTU boss Karen Lewis said Monday.
The walkout would be in response to unpaid teacher furloughs announced last week. Lewis had these words for parents: "They shouldn't be nervous, they shouldn't be upset, there should be no anxiety around it. It won't be something that's open-ended."
But will the day off constitute a strike? No response from Chicago Public Schools, but the board has said previously that such action violates state law; the union disagrees.
"Between CPS and CTU, both are basically like divorced parents, and our children are the ones that are going to be suffering for it," parent Raquel Don says.
Lewis says the board has revised its most recent offer, and talks continue. But she said the union must utilize its strengths.
"April First may be one of those dates of strength. So,it's a showdown," she says.
Lewis said April 1st would be a one-day action, but added she can't make promises about a potential strike in May.
"April 1 is a regular school day, and we expect students and teachers to be there as normal. CPS is working to do everything possible to reach a final agreement on a fair contract," a spokesperson for the school system said.
