Nearly 90 Percent Of Chicago Teachers Union Members Vote In Favor Of Going On Strike

(CBS) -- Chicago Teachers Union officials announced that nearly 90 percent of its members voted in favor of going on strike in a vote held last week.

The union says 88 percent of its members voted in favor of striking, more than the 75 percent needed for authorization. Of the 92 percent of members who took part in the vote, 96 percent are in favor of strike.

"Rahm Emanuel really does not need a teacher strike," said CTU vice president Jesse Sharkey at a news conference Monday morning announcing the voting results. "He really doesn't and what we're telling him is if he doesn't listen to us, it's what he'll get."

Sharkey says Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool should cut nonessential testing and paperwork and stop cutting staff.

"There are a grand total of two librarians at historically black high schools in the city of Chicago right now," he said.

Sharkey predicts a strike could come as soon as March.

Claypool says ending negotiations would be premature and that a strike is not the answer. He released a statement saying in part, "....rather than strike, we ask that the Chicago Teachers Union join us to fight for our shared goal of equal education funding from Springfield for Chicago's children. We will continue to negotiate in good faith with the CTU leadership to reach a fair, multi-year agreement that protects teachers, their jobs and ensures our students' success."

CBS 2 spoke with families at Ogden School Monday afternoon.

"Well if the mayor cared anything about the kids he wouldn't ever close 50 schools," said grandparent Eddie Flowers.

"I think they deserve it," said parent Liz Cartright. "I think they deserve it so more power to them.

Even with the strike approval, the union's 27,000 teachers wouldn't be able to walk off the job until a state-mandated "fact-finding" process is completed.

That would take 105 days, and officials with the Chicago Public Schools have said it should not begin until early February, when significant layoffs could begin without more revenue from the state.

A January 21 state ruling will decide if the stalled negotiations can proceed to fact finding. If that produces no agreement a strike could be called as early as May 5.

CPS is facing a budget shortfall of nearly half a billion dollars.

If teachers ultimately decide to walk out, classes would be canceled for more than 400,000 children at more than 600 schools.

Complicating the mix for families: CPS statements that it may have to lay off 5,000 teachers in the weeks ahead because of a state budget impasse holding back millions in funding. Principals district-wide received a notice Monday announcing a web debrief Tuesday concerning the possible layoffs, it promises to outline, "the timeline ahead, and what you can expect from us."

In:
• Chicago Public Schools
• Chicago Teachers Union
• Nancy Harty