Whitney Young teachers have been wearing red every Friday since school started in order to show solidarity with  the Chicago Teachers Union. The teachers are contemplating striking over the lack of resources for many schools, such as social workers and nurses. The other major problems the teachers might strike over is the lack of pay increases over time, as well as the overcrowding of classrooms by about seven students.

Ryan Gartland, Whitney Young teacher and member of the Chicago Teachers Union, doesn’t believe the strike is “guaranteed to happen. We are trying to prevent teachers from leaving and we’re also trying to attract the best teachers.”

The pay freeze in Chicago Public Schools makes it difficult to attract good teachers. Suburban schools can offer much more money to new teachers than CPS can, making it fairly common for teachers to choose jobs at suburban schools over CPS schools.

“A teacher is one of the most important things in the world and if you’re not paid enough, people won’t be encouraged to become one,” says Declan Hickey, ‘21.

Some think the strike is imminent while others haven’t heard of it. That being said, opinions on whether or not the teachers should strike range widely..

Ari Karafiol, ‘20 notes “The Chicago Teachers Union has been getting screwed over and getting the short end of the stick for decades, so when people say to stick it out, it doesn’t acknowledge the history of it so I say strike now.”

Teachers and educational support personnel will vote to strike on September 24, 25, and 26.

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