Democracy Now On the Chicago Teachers' Strike

The CTU's contract proposal has sat on the mayor's desk since MAY.

This mayor forced this strike by refusing to negotiate all summer.

A 16% pay raise does nothing to help what the schools really need. Those school needs are what teachers strike for.

Class size until the BOARD decides to spend more money on teaching staff in Dist 299, and LESS money on a city hall patronage army, 120+ earning six figure salaries. This mayor chooses to keep that patronage army paid.

The public should demand to know why.

Every 6-figure bureaucrat's salary can pay for at least three new teachers. At LEAST.

CHOP THE TOP, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

Keep your campaign promise: Dissolve the current school board, hold elections to create an elected school board, like other cities have across the nation.

Keep your campaign promise to be the "Transparency Mayor." Release the unabridged school budget that Chicagoans have never seen. Conduct an Independent Inspector General audit of the complete school budget, contracts, services and central office impact on schools.