Chicago teachers strike could enter a second day
CHICAGO — Contract talks between Chicago’s school board and its teachers unionwere locked in negotiations Monday night, making it increasingly likely that the city’s first teachers strike in a quarter-century would go into a second day.
While thousands of teachers marched and picketed in front of public schools across the city, negotiators met in a bid to reach agreements on issues that have bogged downcontract talks for months — teacher compensation, a rehire pool for laid-off teachers and job evaluations.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Monday met with displaced students at a church on the city’s south side, one of 59 faith-based organizations that are serving as “safe havens” for students during the strike.
Emanuel sought to reassure parents that the school system was working to return kids to the classroom.
He characterized the strike as “one of choice” and said it could have been avoided.
“It’s the wrong choice for our children,” Emanuel said.
The Chicago teachers strike has national implications for Emanuel, whose education reform agenda is being closely watched. A prolonged work stoppage could have ramifications in the presidential election, as both the Obama and Romney camps said they were aware of the dispute and sought to assign blame.
Parents didn’tknowwhat to expect when they dropped off their children at one of the city’s 144 schools that remained open as part of the district’s contingency plan.
Some had to cross raucous picket lines where teachers were chanting or banging drums.
Vicente Perez said that is what he encountered when he tried to drop off his fourth- and sixth-grade boys at schoolMonday.
“I don’twant to go there,” said his youngest son, Kahlil, 9, prompting Perez to reconsider.
Perez called his wife on his cellphone and decided to either take the kids to a church or keep them home.
At a magnet schoolonthe city’s north side, John Harvey said he was nervous about dropping off his 7-year-old, Aiden, amid all the commotion.
“I don’t know how they feel about us bringing our children,” said Harvey. “We’re a little at odds now.”