Labor Board Sides With Union Over Longer School Day
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A state labor board has unanimously sided with the Chicago Teachers Union as it tries to stop Mayor Rahm Emanuel's push for a longer school day.
The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board voted unanimously Thursday to seek an injunction to block the longer school day from taking effect this year.
The labor board now goes to the attorney general's office and has to petition a judge, who could grant the relief.
Officials with the Chicago Public Schools issued a statement saying they're disappointed with the decision and say it's not consistent with either the law or the labor contract.
Mayor Emanuel says he knows he's done the right thing by pushing for a longer school day - and will not retreat.
The mayor was asked about the 5-0 decision in favor of the teachers union and against his push for more time in class.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller Reports
Podcast
"I know, legally, we've done the right thing," he said. "But I know also we've done the right thing by our kids and I'm going to stick with it. Because it's the right thing for our children today as well as tomorrow."
Mayor Emanuel made his comments at an appearance in Pilsen with County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on a city-county collaboration on job training.
Emanuel says without a longer school day, Chicago cannot get where it needs to get, in terms of the economy.
