Chicago Public Schools is continuing with remote learning on Friday, as pressure mounts to make a deal with the Chicago Teachers Union so that elementary schools can open Monday and preparations for a potential teachers strike become increasingly serious.
District leaders still hope to reach a deal in time to welcome back kindergarten through eighth grade students on Monday, CEO Janice Jackson said Thursday afternoon on WBEZ’s “Reset” program.
More than 3,000 prekindergarten and special education students returned to schools the week of Jan. 11, but in-person classes were called off Wednesday and Thursday in light of a CTU resolution to only work remotely.
In an 8 p.m. Thursday announcement to families, CPS blamed the union for the continued remote learning.
“Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) leadership continues to direct their members to remain home. Therefore, we must ask parents to continue keeping your children home as we are unable to guarantee adequate staffing levels to cover in-person learning,” the announcement states. “… We will continue to work tirelessly to reach an agreement and will provide additional updates. Thank you for your patience.”
The union is collectively refusing to work in person and has authorized its governing body to set a strike date if CPS broadly retaliates. With 86% of CTU’s 25,000 members participating, about 71% voted in favor of the action, which took effect Wednesday.
While most went along with it, among all elementary, prekindergarten and special education teachers required to work in person Wednesday, 1,922 of 12,292 did so, less than 16%. Elementary teachers taking part in the remote work action this week say they have been able to access their online instruction platforms, but dozens of special education and pre-K educators have had their access revoked after repeatedly failing to swipe in at their school.
In a Q&A provided to members, union officials answered questions about the response to members who continue to work in person during the remote work action.
“In a collective action we prefer that all members remain united. However, some administrators are trying to divide members and force them into the schools,” the Q&A states. “A collective action is not a strike. If the Union finds it necessary to call a strike, then all members are required to stop work and attendance will be taken on picket lines. If a member crosses a picket line or works remotely during a strike, then the Union will take action against that member at a later time.”
In bold, the document emphasizes that all members should refrain from going into school buildings during a strike, with no exceptions, and that CTU “will be setting up picket lines at every worksite.”
“If the Mayor and CPS decide to not let us keep teaching either by locking us out or by issuing discipline to our members who are working remotely, our action then becomes a strike,” according to the Q&A. “This would be a ULP (Unfair Labor Practice) strike. Because it is not a contract strike, the requirements for 75 percent of the members to vote yes did not apply.”
In a members-only meeting Thursday evening, CTU President Jesse Sharkey indicated leaders believe that could start happening on Monday and need to start thinking about the logistics of a strike in the time of the coronavirus.
Acknowledging reasons members might be nervous about going on strike during a pandemic, the union Q&A said united action is necessary to win protections.
On WBEZ, Jackson said she’s heard from many CTU members who want to work and believe children should be in school. A strike “would only further disrupt their educational experience,” she said.
“We are prepared to compromise and give up on things that we were dug in on,” Jackson said, insisting that any compromise include an in-person option. Talks between the two parties are down to a few issues, and CPS is waiting on CTU to respond to proposals they put forth this week, she said.
“It is in no one’s best interest to see teachers go on strike,” Jackson said. “Students lose out.”
Sharkey said progress at the bargaining table was a direct result of members taking a stand, and that the remote work action was having real effects. “The boss gets the point,” he said. Members are continuing their remote work action while negotiations go on, with the parties still in disagreement over items such as the health metrics used to guide decisions and the plan for educator vaccinations.
The union is trying to include amnesty for members in any safe return agreement with CPS, seeking to ensure the district drops any disciplinary proceedings against employees they have locked out and makes up for any pay deducted.
The union has been surveying members about docked pay, in preparation to file a grievance on behalf of those who have been told that their time will not be approved after attempting to work remotely despite orders to return.
hleone@chicagotribune.com
