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Chicago Education Workers’ Strike Wins Gains for Community, Students

Striking teachers, school staff, and supporters march through downtown Chicago on the ninth day of the Chicago Teachers Union strike on October 25, 2019. (Photo by Max Herman/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

By Gregory William

On November 1, over 30,000 teachers and school workers returned to work after an 11-day strike that won them important concessions from the City of Chicago and the Chicago Public Schools. This strike was carried out by the 25,000 member Chicago Teachers Union and 7,500 education workers from the Service Employees Union (SEIU) Local 73. The solidarity between the two unions shows the way forward for the working class: when we unite, we are stronger. Though SEIU Local 73 settled three days before CTU (winning up to 40% wage increases among other gains), they didn’t leave the teachers’ picket lines until CTU settled.

The unions put forward big, political demands that go beyond education. For example, these unions have taken a leading role in the fight for affordable housing in the city of Chicago. Commentators have noted that it is unconventional for unions to fight for this kind of policy change during contract negotiations, but union members around the country may be taking note. These Chicago union workers understand that the issues affecting the working class cannot be separated from one another. We cannot address problems in education if we do not solve the affordable housing crisis. Chicago unions are keeping the pressure on the city to respect the basic rights of its residents to housing, health, and dignity.

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Charter School Workers Strike, Get New Contract

In December, teachers and other employees in Chicago’s Acero charter school network went on strike for five days. Acero encompasses 15 campuses across the city. The workers are members of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU).
Over the five days, hundreds of teachers and other Acero workers took to the streets along with parents, students, and other allies. The strikers demanded a contract that would guarantee better conditions for teachers and students.

On December 14, the union vote for the new contract took place across all 15 schools. Union members voted overwhelmingly for the new contract (98%).
The contract provides for smaller class sizes, a reduced school year and equal pay with district [non-charter] teachers.

Significantly, the new contract also includes sanctuary school language, which bans Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from school property, denies ICE access to student records without a legal mandate, and more.

The wave of teacher strikes that spread through many states (and Puerto Rico) earlier in 2018 affected mainly public schools. The strike in Chicago, however, is the first example of a charter school worker strike in the country. This should send a message not just to charter school executives in Chicago, but to charter school employees all over the U.S. that they can organize just like public school employees, and with the support of students, parents, and other community members, they can win.