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IPFS News Link • Education: Government Schools

Biden School Reopening Faces Uphill Battle As Teachers Threaten Strike Over In-Person Classes

• Zero Hedge

In Chicago, the nation's third-largest school district has until Saturday to vote on a collective union action on whether to effectively go on strike and refuse to return to classrooms on Monday - and would instead continuing to reach remotely. Over 80% of Chicago Teachers Union delegates support the resolution against the district's reopening plan, which requires elementary school teachers to begin working in person Monday for the first time since March. Approximately 70,000 students in kindergarten through eighth grade are preparing to return to school, while the union estimates around 10,000 educators are affected.

If the school district starts locking out staff who refuse to teach in-person classes, as they already have, the resolution authorizes a strike until a deal can be reached. That means all CPS staff, including high school teachers who have not been called back yet, would not log into their virtual classroom.

"Our members are resolved to continue working, teaching their students and doing so safely," CTU President Sharkey said in a statement. "Only the mayor can force a strike, and if it comes to that, that's her choice. We choose safety." -WBEZ