#ctustrike

Last week, thousands of educators, students, labor and community allies participated in the Chicago Teachers Union’s April 1st strike by holding protests and rallies across the city.  While CTU has been contending with stalled contract negotiations and budget cuts, their officials framed the strike broadly as a “Day of Action” for public sector workers to demand the state raise revenue to adequately fund schools and social services from ‘progressive’ sources – namely, the rich, who they argue do not pay their fair share of taxes in Illinois. The mass political action played out through demonstrations at public schools, fast food restaurants, universities, and jails by groups impacted by the budget impasse and a tax structure that they feel neglects working families and people of color. The day concluded with a downtown rally and march that included a variety of groups protesting Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Governor Bruce Rauner’s policies.

For details on the day’s various actions, visit this link from our sister magazine, Catalyst Chicago, who live-blogged the strike at:

Chicago School Strike- created in support and unity of my colleagues in Chicago #aft #btu #Chicagoschoolstrike #CTU #CTUstrike,

Here’s one in the spirit of unity for my Chicago colleagues that taking a stand and fighting to get a fair contract and more support for their schools and students. Show your support! Sign the petition here at this link: Stand with Chicago Teachers- Sign this petition!

Keep abreast of the developments via the CTU at this link: Updates via the Chicago Teachers Union page and the CTU Facebook : CTU…