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Education

Chicago Teachers Strike Suspended, Students to Attend Classes on Wednesday

Sep. 18, 2012 8:00pm Jason Howerton

Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) delegate Lisa Jason celebrates as she leaves the Operating Engineers Union Hall where she and fellow CTU delegates voted to end their strike on September 18, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 26,000 Chicago Public school teachers and support staff walked off the job on September 10 after the union failed to reach an agreement with the city on compensation, benefits and job security. With about 350,000 students, the Chicago school district is the third largest in the United States. Students will return to school tomorrow. (Credit: Getty Images)

Following more than two hours of closed-door talks, the Chicago Teachers Union voted Tuesday to suspend the city’s first teachers strike in a quarter century, bringing the nearly week-and-a-half long struggle to a close, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Roughly 350,000 who have been kept out of school since the strike began will head back to classrooms on Wednesday.

The education crisis led Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel to seek an injuction Monday that would have legally forced teachers to end the strike and get back to teaching students. However, the ruling was delayed until Wednesday by a Chicago judge because of the upcoming Tuesday vote from the union.

“We feel very positive about moving forward,” CTU President Karen Lewis said during a press conference following Tuesday’s meeting, according to Huffington Post. “People were actually elated to take the suspension of the strike vote….We couldn’t solve all the problems in the world with one contract, so people voted to end the strike.”

Lewis said the union is not entirely pleased with agreements on things like teacher evaluations, teacher recalls and wraparound programs, but added that the negotiating phase should be over now.

“I hope [Emanuel] carries out this contract in good faith,” Lewis reportedly said.

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 17: Striking Chicago public school teachers picket outside of George Westinghouse College Prep high school on September 17, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. (Credit: Getty Images)

Following Emanuel’s injunction move, the Chicago Teachers Union released a strongly worded statement calling the mayor a “bully,” calling the action “vindictive” and that it displayed the distrust between city officials and educators.

As Huffington Post points out:

The union’s version of the proposal would represent substantial concessions by Emanuel, who has emphasized the importance of a principal’s right to select teachers. It would also limit students’ standardized test scores to 30 percent of a teacher’s evaluation — the minimum allowed by state law.

And while the strike is hereby suspended, CTU’s 26,000 members still have to review and approve the city’s proposals. Chicago Public Schools declined to comment to several news outlets, Huffington Post reports.

“This settlement is an honest compromise, it means returning our schools to its primary purpose — education for our children,” Emanuel said at a press conference Tuesday. “This contract is a break with past practices and brings a fundamental change that benefits our children.”

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Comments (50)

iamnotu
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 2:13pm
Well no matter what, they won’t have to work any harder to keep their standings in educational ratings, that’s for sure. Oh wait, did I say work? My bad, it’s obvious that 90% of them do nothing at all.
UNION = Government! No work for lots of pay and you can never be fired for it!
MORONS!

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- calebjim
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 8:45pm
  I hope that all of the union lovers are happy. This is what we get when a union is involved. The want to be in charge and the present administration supports this action. He (president) is in his element when there is unrest. He is following the play book of the socialist.
  
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houx
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:38pm
These teachers should be fired because they are in such bad physical shape and so overweight I can’t believe they are good role models. I’d fire all of them just for that. When I went to school teachers dressed and look a lot better. Also I noticed that it is mostly women that are teaching in these schools no wonder the school system is such a failure. Just like the Obama government to many women in top jobs that have no clue what’s going on. Yes I am a teacher and a woman so I know what I am talking about.

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autumnmorning
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 10:53am
Here’s a novel idea, ( but they are probably in there already ) put Camera’s in the class room to also watch the Teacher’s. I bet they would love that, especially the (Slackers ). The ACLU would probably call that ……..

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billmaherscombover
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 9:04am
When they vote on this, will they have to show ID proving they are greedy goons?

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Ted Zeppelin
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 8:07am
.
These pigs were about to be forced back to work (work? what work?) and had they been, it would have been the end of their union. They successfully screwed the taxpayers again which is what all government employee unions do every day.

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- Duddio
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 10:19am
  Not only that, but these are the same ‘pigs’ that will flunk your kid if they miss a week and a half of school…… BUT to fight for better schools, they HAD to strike and put all those students who can’t read or do math further behind in their studies. =/
  
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teddrunk
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:47am
Considering exactly WHO the two sides are, isn’t it more like a Communist China differing with a Communist North Korea?

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HI_Don
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 11:17pm
If Chicago’s Emanuel had any spine, he would lock all the school doors tomorrow morning before these ungrateful pigs showed up for work. Lock them out! Then ask the parents to volunteer to come take over the classrooms for the next six months. The students would actually have a chance to learn to read for once. Bust that union and use the disgruntled and disgusted parents to do it, and turn all the schools into non-union charter schools that answer to job performance. Teaching is supposed to be about the kids. Strike will you? Among the highest paid in the country, among the lowest performing in the country, and promised prosperous raises and benefits in THIS economy and you have the nerve to walk the picket line at the sacrifice of Chicago’s children who are as likely to be shot by gang members on the way to school as they are to have learned anything useful before walking home. Chicago – what Obama has to offer the country and the world as his blemish of pride.

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moronsneednotapply
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 11:03pm
Man I wish I could leave work and pitch a week and a half long fit to get more money.

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- Bluebonnet
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 11:27pm
  They should have ALL been fired. They are low on the scales for being good teachers with so many kids in their schools failing. Decent teachers know how to teach.
  
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Rayblue
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 10:55pm
They had to strike during Fall otherwise they’d turn into pigsickles.

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Brittany-Imbriaarts
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 9:50pm
Lets hear it for settling for Minimum Quality education for the students by greedy Union, Way to Go Chicago in 20 years when these students become mindless Union thugs for the schools we wont have to worry about a mere 50% graduation rate cause it will be far lower. Meanwhile I will be sure to mark Chicago on my list of cities to never live any where near.

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- U_Jackwagon
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 10:04pm
  This reminds me of a black comedienne I heard on TV. She said:
  I was educated in Chicago public schools. The taught us a lot of good things, like how to conjugate the verb ‘to be.’
  I be
  You be
  He be.
  Well, that’s what they be teachin’ us!”
  
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mtsnj
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 9:37pm
a 16% increase/4 years and they are striking? can you say Pigs. “Strike for better schools”?, since when did the physical building create a smarter student.

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OlefromMN
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 9:23pm
A fitting tribute to the Chicago teachers…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll3uipTO-4A

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honkytonkman
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:50pm
I hate to say this but the kids were probably better off at home not being brainwashed with a steady stream of “Chicago values”. What’s the aptitude scores up there anyway ?

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- CatB
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 9:15pm
  I agree .. after what I have seen I would not let any of these THUGS near my children …
  
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Chuck7884
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:40pm
look people you can not hire anyone in Chicago city limits that is not union payed I think New York is the same way.This is by law including charter schools,prep schools in city limits. so get over the fact it a union.

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scdave
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:39pm
The kids learned what the teachers really care about, not them the $$$$$$$$$$.

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- Thatsitivehadenough
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:41pm
  If I had a kid in a school in Chicago, I’d be really worried that they had to go to school with these people. Indoctrination, advanced studies.
  
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- Chuck7884
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:53pm
  I’d be more worried about my kid coming home in one piece I went to school there and High school was a very tough place to go I survived but I rmemeber the kid who sat in front of me a couple of seats up who had a pencil shoved in his back and this was in 1976.the perp got expelled for 3 days and 2 weeks in school detention ( a small room created between the walls of the schools gym seperating the boys from the girls.) gotta love the big city schools!.
  
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nobull14
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:34pm
I am waiting for the day the money to runs out on the teachers union ?. Then we see how the world turn up side down on them lazy do nothing teachers with a graduation rate of 50% in Chicago !!!!!

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- WindyDualism
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:44pm
  78% of 8th graders are illiterate, and the union toads wants more. Why?
  
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- MODEL82A1
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:50pm
  By-and-Large, the teachers are not the problem, per se. It’s the NEA (and their sister unions) that refuse to allow vouchers, teacher testing or merit pay. Most of the boots-on-the-ground teachers (pre-programmed Democrats they may be) show up at work, do their jobs as well as they can and then listen to the media tell them that they are over-worked, under-compensated Victims. They are, after all, pre-programmed Democrats. Independent thought and deduction are not their strong suits.
  
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- WindyDualism
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 9:13pm
  So, said teachers being the boots on the ground only have enough gumption to demand more pay, and just a snappy ‘oh well’ about the stupid kids part? Sad state of affairs. Oops, gimme more? It’s all bout the chillren?
  
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- MODEL82A1
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 10:03pm
  WINDY, the “boots on the ground” teachers don’t have a seat that the table, the UNION does. And, BTW, I’m not excusing any of this, just identifying the Useful Idiots.
  
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- swornsongs
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 3:09am
  Stop exaggerating to make the Chicago teachers look bad. They actually have a 52% graduation rate, now get your facts straight! Geez!!!!
  
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Tom Ballard
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:33pm
Kids should go on strike for decent teachers

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- CatB
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 9:18pm
  I was thinking the same thing .. . my child would not be back at least on Wednesday .. I would tell them ON STRIKE. Then I would home school or find a way to send my child to another school .. I DID with my son!
  
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- chips1
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 9:28pm
  The kids weren’t convicted of a crime and yet they receive 12 years of forced punishment. They need a lawyer.
  
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bikerdogred1
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:26pm
Do the teachers think Rahm,is not going to get them back because they made a fool out of him.You had your moment of glory and just wait for Rahm,is going to have his.If you know him he does not get even,he gets revenge.It’s the type of guy he is.

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- vehoae
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 10:08pm
  For BIKERDOGRED1….
  
  Okay …. but I’m not the only one who sees little or no difference between these tax-guzzling union members and Rahm Emanuel. I get the uncomfortable feeling that many conservatives posting about this Chicago strike for the past week have suddenly had a considerable lapse of memory about Rahm Emanuel. In my perspective, he and the union folks are two “peas in a pod” arguing for a good show. I know how deals are cut when politicians are involved — and many of you know, too. I guarantee you this would not have worked out this slippery and easily had Barak Hussein Obama not been a factor. Bank on it!
  
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flyoverbob
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:21pm
This is a disgrace,these greedy lowlifes knew they could go as long as they wanted.I gurantee they will be paid for this little vacation they just had.Public service,frkn disgrace.

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MODEL82A1
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:21pm
My parents are both retired WI public school teachers. Both retired at 57 within the past 4 years. Together, they collect over $110k/yr AFTER TAXES in pension, Guaranteed to rise at least 3% per annum with almost ZERO out-of pocket health, vision and dental for life. They both chose payouts of joint life with 15 years certain, the lowest current per-month option available. Take a wild guess for whom they will cast their votes in 2012? They ARE better off than 4 years ago. At my childrens’ expense.

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Fatheroftwo
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:19pm
Poor kids!! They probably learned more in the time the teachers were on strike then they ever did when they were in school!!

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progressiveslayer
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:11pm
All unions should be charged with crimes against humanity they’re vile greedy fat cats that care about one thing,power.END ALL UNIONS FOREVER.

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- The-Monk
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:54pm
  Hey Progressiveslayer,
  
  Do you have those links to the USA is a corporation? If so, please post them again here;
  
  http://www.theblaze.com/stories/appeals-judge-allows-obama-admin-to-enforce-indefinite-detention-law/?corder=desc#respond
  
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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:09pm
Yeah, now the lazy, greedy teachers can go teach the stupid kids. Win/Win for Rahm and Chicago.

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Maxim Crux
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:06pm
Fire them all

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Want our country back
Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:05pm
Off topic: did anybody have trouble connecting to GBTV at 5:00. It’s now 8:04 and I still can’t connect to the show…. just curious,

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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:19pm
  No problem connecting. Check your internet.
  
  Report this comment
- PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:21pm
  So, I don’t know what time zone you’re in. I CDT so at about 4:30 the screen went blank and i got an error message and could not get back into the stream until after 5:00. Must have been technical difficulties.
  
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- Want our country back
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:34pm
  Thank you for taking time to reply. I’m on Eastern Daylight Savings, it’s now 8:30 but I still have no connection to GBTV, The internet is fine because I’m able to connect to other sites. I’ll contact them. I couldn’t face watching Bill O’Reilly and was hoping to catch up on todays show…. maybe tomnorrow.
  
  Thanks again.
  
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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 8:55pm
  Check your account. I had my credit card expire and had to update it a while back, even though you may have automatic pay, check your account status. As I said, I just connected fine.
  
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- Want our country back
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 9:22pm
  Thanks Darmok, I had to shut the computer down and re-boot it…. it’s WORKING finally….I’m happy…
  
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- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on September 18, 2012 at 10:25pm
  Ahhh, the old three finger salute.
  
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