The Chicago Public School Teachers Demand 30% Raise

[Riot]

They have voted to strike if negotiations break down this summer. They have voted to authorize the strike before negotiations, which is a good thing. There is an independent fact-finder that will help both sides come to agreement.

Teachers did not receive the 4% raise they were promised last year (it was revoked) and now they have a 20% increase in their classroom work.

This is why unions were formed - to keep employers from abusing employees by denying raises that were promised, and demanding 1/5 more work for the same pay. They will negotiate, and meet in the middle. Hopefully the city won't "revoke" the raises they agree to. Like they just did last year. That can make employees angry enough to, you know, strike.

The union is proposing smaller class sizes, improved job
security, and a raise to go along with a new curriculum, a new
evaluation system and a 20 percent increase in instructional
time.

Lewis said teachers had been offered a 2 percent annualraise. According to Brizard, teachers have asked for a 30 percent raise over the next two years.

Brizard said that with a projected $3 billion deficit over
the next three years, the school system cannot afford such a
raise, but that teachers will receive a "fair" salary increase.

Brizard said the public schools are not changing its class size
policy, and has offered union members more planning and
professional development time.

The Chicago Public Schools angered Chicago teachers last
year by revoking a scheduled 4 percent pay raise.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel also has antagonized the teachers' union with his
aggressive push for a longer school day and support for
non-union charter schools.