Lightfoot has denounced the union’s actions as an “unlawful, unilateral strike.” The union has countered that their actions don’t amount to a work stoppage because they are willing to teach remotely.

18 unless a safety agreement with CPS is reached or the omicron-fueled COVID-19 surge subsides. The CTU resolution, endorsed by 73% of voting members, seeks to have classes remain remote until Jan. The union, using the hashtag #LoriLockout, tweeted Wednesday that it’s been “inundated with calls and emails this morning from educators” who say they’ve been unable to log into their CPS accounts to teach remotely, as was the CTU’s stated intention.ĬPS has not confirmed the lockouts but many teachers and other school employees have taken to social media to report they’ve been denied access to the CPS computer networks. Kim / Chicago Tribune)ĭistrict officials had canceled Wednesday classes after the union endorsed the work action Tuesday to refuse to work in person and instead teach remotely during a city spike in infections. Teacher Stuart Abram holds a sign in support of the Chicago Teachers Union before a CTU caravan Wednesday, the first day that classes were canceled amid the dispute over COVID-19 safety measures.

They’re asking the state to order CPS “to honor the statutory right of employees to refrain from working in dangerous conditions and to allow employees to work remotely.”

not to report to work as directed but to work remotely instead from January 5 until the earlier of January 18 or when CPS meets certain health metrics,” CPS lawyers said in the filing.ĬTU lawyers separately filed charges alleging CPS violated the law by not negotiating an agreement with CPS about school reopenings after the one they signed in February 2021 expired. “On Tuesday, January 4, 2022, the CTU illegally directed its members. In the battle over reopening CPS, lawyers for CPS are asking the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board to issue a cease-and-desist order against CTU and hear the case on an expedited basis. We will continue working with CTU to resolve this situation and will provide you with ongoing updates as the week continues.”Īs CPS and the union continued their fight Thursday, Illinois reported another record-shattering day for new COVID-19 infections, with 44,089 new confirmed and probable cases reported statewide, with a record 7,098 people hospitalized with the virus overnight Wednesday. “CPS staff who do not show up to work will not be paid until they honor their commitment to the District and our students and report for work in-person at our schools,” the statement read.Ī later statement from CPS said its schools “are the best, safest place for students to be during this pandemic, and we are working tirelessly to get everyone back in class every day. Nearly 13% of the 21,600 CTU teachers and 15% of the 4,200 substitute teachers showed up for work Thursday, an increase from Wednesday’s staffing levels, according to district data.ĬPS said in its statement that those who reported to buildings got paid, and the district encouraged CTU “to end this illegal work stoppage.”

That apparently has turned out not to be the case. While some CPS buildings - including Pulaski International School in Bucktown, Davis Dual Language Academy in Brighton Park and Oriole Park Elementary in Norwood Park - had already announced earlier Thursday that Friday classes were canceled, district officials had said they believed some schools would have adequate staffing to conduct in-person learning. The latest escalation in the conflict over adequate COVID-19 safety measures in schools comes as CPS saw a new record number of coronavirus cases Tuesday - the last day of classes before the lack of agreement with CTU again shut down schools districtwide. That came as CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union filed unfair labor charges against each other, with each side asking state officials to end the current dispute over in-person learning in their favor. Chicago Public Schools has canceled Friday classes as an ongoing standoff with the teachers union spills into a third day of educational disruption.ĬPS CEO Pedro Martinez announced late Thursday that buildings will remain closed Friday, except for an unspecified small number of schools that will welcome students for activities but not classroom learning.

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