Fresh Hopes for End to Chicago Teacher Strike by Weekend
Source: NYT
The head of the teachers’ union here said on Thursday that she was hopeful that a deal could be reached to end the teachers’ strike in time for the city’s 350,000 public school children to return to class on Monday.
When asked whether a deal could be brokered in time for a resumption of school next week, Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, said: “I’m praying, praying, praying. I’m on my knees for that. Please, yes, I’m hoping for Monday.”
Despite the apparent progress, teachers were out picketing again on Thursday morning, and the union has not called off a large protest rally scheduled for Saturday. The strike began on Monday, after school had been in session for one week.
Ms. Lewis said that even if the union and the Chicago Board of Education were able to reach a deal Thursday, that she would then need to get approval from the union’s other leaders, which might not occur until sometime Friday.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/14/education/chicago-teachers-strike-fourth-day.html