|
 Olivia Waldron has experienced how
being on the Chicago Teachers Union picket line isn’t always in the best
interests of students, parents or teachers.
“In 2012, we had a seven-day strike. I remember at that time, I didn’t totally
understand what exactly we were striking for but showed up on the picket line
anyway. I was feeling so unsure about it all, and I felt horrible not being in
the classroom for my students.”
Then in 2019 she felt even worse when she saw her son’s start at a Chicago
Public School interrupted by another strike.
“It went on for 11 [school] days. School needs are so different across the city,
so it was really hard for me to go on strike because I work at a school that
serves low-income students and the teachers at my school were, for the most
part, set with everything we needed.”
[to top of second column] |
The Chicago Teachers Union has been the prime
example of abusing strike powers. The 2019 strike cost students 11
days of classes. It was projected to cost residents an average of
$80 a year in higher property taxes. The 2012 strike forced Chicago
to close 50 schools and lay off thousands of teachers to help
satisfy the expensive contract that followed.
Allowing teachers unions to hold students and homeowners hostage is
not the norm.
Teacher strikes are illegal in eight of the 10 largest school
districts in the nation. Chicago is one of the two districts where
strikes are allowed. |
