Waukegan Teachers Strike Continues Into Friday
Updated 10/02/14 - 11:20 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A teachers strike in one of Illinois' largest school districts will continue Friday, after contract talks stalled in north suburban Waukegan.
CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli reports teachers for Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 walked off the job late Wednesday night.
Classes have been canceled for about 17,000 students at 23 elementary, middle, and high schools in Waukegan. The next meeting between teachers' representatives and the school district isn't expected until early next week.
Waukegan Teachers Strike Continues
The teachers union and district representatives met all day Wednesday at Lake County Federation of Teachers Local 504 headquarters. A federal mediator has been working with both sides to hammer out a deal, but so far the district and union have been unable to see eye-to-eye on salary, benefits, and other issues; and late Wednesday night, the 1,200 teachers and support staff at the district announced they were going on strike.
LCFT spokesman Mike McGue said it didn't have to come to this.
"We've been in talks for four months. We've been trying to get proposals from the district. And finally, last night, we got 73 pages of single-spaced, type-written proposals; which is very hard to digest," he said.
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It was the first time in more than 20 years that teachers in Waukegan have gone on strike.
"It's difficult. It's very difficult. The teachers would rather be in the classroom," said Waukegan Teachers' Council President Kathy Schwarz.
The Lake County Federation of Teachers Local 504 said teachers have been working four years without a quality contract.
Teachers planned to picket Thursday morning outside nearly two dozen schools in Waukegan.
The district's main negotiator said he realizes parents are upset that kids are not in school.
"We understand the frustration, and we're trying to work through it, but I think the question has to be asked: Why aren't the teachers teaching the children today?" Tony Ficarelli said.
The district has said property tax revenue has plummeted, leaving a huge hole in the budget. However, teachers said they've been the only ones compromising over the past four years, and they claimed the district is flush with cash.
The teachers were seeking pay raises of at least 7 percent, and said they've done their part to help the district create a reserve fund of more than $30 million.
The district has countered by offering raises of about 1.5 percent.
Schwarz denied the district's claims it can't afford to meet the teachers' demands.
"That is untrue. That is untrue. For the last five years, our teachers have made concessions so that we would help them get to the point where they are right now, with a surplus of money," she said.
Students said they are the only ones who stand to lose, as a result of the impasse between the union and the district.
"My biggest thing is that the district's policy is 'students first,' and both of the sides are saying … the other isn't treating the students fairly, when neither of them are doing anything to help the students," junior Kyra Lyons said. "It's just about money, and what they want. You just want to go to school. You just want to get an education."
"I have so many teachers walk up to me and say, 'I'd much rather be in school teaching my class. Nobody wants to be out of the classroom,'" junior Kenneth Kidwell said.
Nine-year-old Darlene Bahena said she's upset, because she wants to be in school. Her parents were upset too, because they both work, and have no obvious daycare options for Darlene and her two younger brothers.
As a result, they took their kids to the library, which is offering programming for Waukegan students during the strike.
The district said it was working with community groups to provide safe and affordable child care options for parents.
Parent Lestine Robinson is frustrated at the standoff.
"I personally feel it's unfair to the parents, unfair to our children. They need their education," she says.
But parent Naomi Ross says her sympathies are with the teachers.
"I think the teachers should get what they're asking for, due to the fact they help these kids out in so many ways," she says.
The Waukegan Park District was offering child care from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays for $30 per day during the strike. The Waukegan Public Library and the Boys and Girls Club also were offering programming for kids during the strike.
