CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
The Chicago Teachers Union votes before and after school Wednesday on whether or not they'll strike if negotiations with the school district break down.
Officials said they're voting now because they think they have a better chance of getting the 75 percent support they need before teachers go on summer vacation.
But an independent fact-finder still has to report, and school board officials said the vote is too soon.
CTU President Karen Lewis told FOX Chicago News she believes that fact-finder will not be able to tell teachers very much about their actual contract, so they aren't holding their breath on that front.
But she did say that she believes a fair contract will be reached eventually, and that teachers' concerns reach farther than just pay raises. Lewis said classroom conditions are deteriorating fast, and job security is a huge concern.
"We have seen misinformation and we've seen documents given to teachers without factual information like CPS will increase class size and CPS will remove collaboration for teachers," Brizard told FOX Chicago News.
"But we're doing the opposite and maintaining class size and providing more time for teachers to talk to each other; yet we're seeing different things going to the teachers," Brizard said. "They're being asked to make decisions not based on factual or complete information."
Brizard cautioned teachers to really be sure of their decision before voting Wednesday, because he fears they do not have all the information they need to make the most informed choice.
"They get one vote, they don't get to vote again, so you're making decisions on what you have perhaps heard from one side and my goal yesterday was to give factual information," Brizard said. "We know we cannot be successful without them (teachers), we want to see them get a raise, but the question is how much."
Brizard told FOX Chicago he truly believes teachers and the School Board can meet in the middle.
"We have demonstrated that twice with SCIU and United Local One and we were not on the same page, but we came together because we are willing to make this happen," Brizard said. "We are asking for the same thing and maybe two is not the right number and twenty nine is not the right number, but we can't afford over 30 percent as a system. I would love to see teachers get 30 percent but I just cant afford to give that."
Union officials are calling for a 24 percent pay raise in the first year of the new contract, and 5 percent in the second year - as well as smaller class sizes.
If the union wins the strike authorization, nothing happens right away. The independent fact-finders give their proposal on July 16.
Both sides have 15 days to review it. But even if it is rejected the same day, there is a 30 day "cooling off period," so the earliest a strike could be called would be Aug. 17.
