Chicago Teachers Union rushes to end charter school strike as new struggles develop
After only two days, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is rushing to end the strike by 34 teachers at Urban Prep Academies in Chicago, announcing Wednesday that they had reached a tentative agreement with the network of charter schools. The tentative agreement (TA) is said to be for three years, with a reopening of the deal next summer, while the date when teachers will vote on the agreement has not been reported. Basic facts about the TA have also not been made public, with the
Chicago Tribune noting, “Neither side has provided details on what the tentative contract provides in pay and benefits.”
The move to end remote learning throughout the state is part of a national campaign to declare an end to the pandemic and send children and workers back to unsafe schools and workplaces to increase the wealth of the superrich.
Chicago Public Schools, teachers union reopen high schools in spite of growth of deadly new COVID-19 variant
On Sunday, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) announced that a tentative agreement with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) was ratified by by union members by an 83 to 17 percent margin, paving the way for Chicago high schools to reopen for in-person classes today.
The reopening comes amid a resurgence of COVID-19 nationally and internationally, fueled by new variants, such as the B.1.1.7 variant, which is infecting young people at higher levels.
The current rolling average positivity rate in Chicago is 5.6 percent, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). In February, when the CTU and CPS agreed to reopen classes up to the eighth grade, the rolling average positivity rate in Chicago was around 3.6 percent.
Chicago Teachers Union holds remote work stunt action as COVID-19 cases continue to rise
T
he Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee fights to unite educators, parents, students and the broader working class in order to close all schools and nonessential workplaces. We call on all Chicago educators, parents and students to join our committee today!
The leadership of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) called for high school educators to work remotely on Wednesday in order to pressure Chicago Public Schools (CPS) into finalizing an agreement on a reopening plan. Far from putting a stop to the dangerous reopening of high schools, the CTU is trying to position its demands as the means to convince reluctant parents, currently the majority, to send their children back to school buildings.
Chicago Public Schools, teachers union prepare to reopen high schools
As COVID-19 cases rise in the Midwest, with the most alarming spike in Michigan, the seven-day average COVID-19 positivity rate in the city of Chicago has once again climbed to 5.4 percent. Genetic testing indicates the latest surge is being driven by the B.1.1.7 variant, which is estimated to be 50 percent more transmissible than the wild-type of the virus. As a result of the surge in cases, hospital admissions in the state of Illinois began to tick up last week.
On Thursday, Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Alison Arwady said, “We cannot be letting down our guard yet. At an individual level, it is high risk right now to be out and about and gathering in Chicago. Why are these cases on the rise? Honestly, they’re on the rise because people are feeling like we’re done with COVID and they are just staying home a lot less.”