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Chicago mayor asks court to end teachers' strike
Source: Agencies |
September 18, 2012, Tuesday
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CHICAGO'S mayor turned to the courts yesterday to try to end a teachers' strike in the United States' third-largest school district that entered its second week.
The strike has been uncomfortable for the US administration with the presidential election approaching, as Mayor Rahm Emanuel is a former chief of staff to President Barack Obama and Democratic presidential candidates like Obama traditionally get union support.
The strike is the first for the city's teachers in 25 years and has kept 350,000 students out of class.
Emanuel asked a state court yesterday to force Chicago school teachers back to work. Emanuel spokeswoman Sarah Hamilton said city attorneys asked the circuit court to force Chicago Teachers Union members off the picket line and back into classrooms.
The union and school leaders had seemed headed toward a resolution at the end of last week, but teachers decided on Sunday to remain on strike, saying they needed more time to review a complicated proposal.
Central to the bitter debate are two issues that have national ramifications: teacher evaluations and job security.
Emanuel said the strike was illegal because it endangers the health and safety of students and concerned issues - evaluations and layoffs - that state law says cannot be grounds for a work stoppage.
With an average salary of US$76,000, Chicago teachers are among the highest-paid in the US, and the contract outline calls for annual raises.
The strike has been uncomfortable for the US administration with the presidential election approaching, as Mayor Rahm Emanuel is a former chief of staff to President Barack Obama and Democratic presidential candidates like Obama traditionally get union support.
The strike is the first for the city's teachers in 25 years and has kept 350,000 students out of class.
Emanuel asked a state court yesterday to force Chicago school teachers back to work. Emanuel spokeswoman Sarah Hamilton said city attorneys asked the circuit court to force Chicago Teachers Union members off the picket line and back into classrooms.
The union and school leaders had seemed headed toward a resolution at the end of last week, but teachers decided on Sunday to remain on strike, saying they needed more time to review a complicated proposal.
Central to the bitter debate are two issues that have national ramifications: teacher evaluations and job security.
Emanuel said the strike was illegal because it endangers the health and safety of students and concerned issues - evaluations and layoffs - that state law says cannot be grounds for a work stoppage.
With an average salary of US$76,000, Chicago teachers are among the highest-paid in the US, and the contract outline calls for annual raises.
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