Labor Beat: Chicago Teachers Stand Strong

On May 23, 2012, Chicago Teachers Union held a massive rally at the Auditorium theater to inform their membership about the coming contract struggle they face. In the climate of school closings, budget cuts, a terrible new proposed contract, and teacher-bashing on the part of Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and Chicago schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizzard, CTU took to the streets to show their numbers and appeal to the public, and within two weeks CTU was voting to authorize a strike.

Meanwhile a few blocks away, Stand Up Chicago, Action Now, and many other community organizations rallied against the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME, the operator of the Chicago Board of Trade) and the $110 million tax break they've been given by Illinois. CME is one of the most profitable companies in the region, and yet now Illinois government is making broad cuts to social programs needed by struggling families. These two marches converged at Jackson and LaSalle in a unified demand for economic justice for Chicago's 99%.

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[lekesha washington]

we support the chicag teachers here in NYC. don't let raml emanuel break your spirit. i wouldn't trust emanuel in a NY minute. i hope the teachers strike as long as possible.

[mike1bigvortex]

Chicago Teachers, We LOVE you here in Massachusetts! Win this fight Chicago and help lead the way for the rest of us!

[angrytiredteachers]

Hang tough Chicago Teachers! In Solidarity, ~Angry Tired Teachers Band

[TheHobbgobblin]

go chicago, if only cleveland could grow some