In late September, the Chicago Teachers’ Union announced that they voted in immense numbers to authorize a strike, scheduled for October 17th, 2019. The CTU disclosed that over 94% of members had voted in favor of a strike. Though it has been widely mentioned and discussed in the Whitney Young community, it does not guarantee that a strike will be happening. Authorizing and planning a strike would cause for 25,000 members to walk off the job, as well as the close to 400,000 students attending a Chicago Public School will be stuck out of their place of education, leaving many students and families stranded. The CTU plans to strike with two other unions as well, one representing school custodians and security guards, and another representing Chicago Park District workers, if they must strike. The primary purpose for the strike is to pressure the city on signing a new contract, which would provide schools with smaller class sizes, pay and benefits for teachers, as well as staffing shortages. I proposed a question to three teachers asking ‘Do you think it is in Chicago Public School’s best favor to go on strike? Why or why not?’ “I think that we need to do whatever we can to get the resources we need for the children,” stated Ms. Lent, a Social Science teacher here at Whitney Young. English teacher Mr. Rehak added, “I am hoping that the city and the unions can get together and satisfy all of the issues. I’m honestly hoping that we don’t go on strike, but I’m not afraid to strike,  but I think it would be unsafe for the city to shut down, for the sake of the children and the teachers.” Similarly, Mr. Soto, part of the administration team at Whitney Young included, “I believe that the strategy of using strike as leverage should be used very sparingly, it’s been used 3 contracts in a row. it’s unfair to the students, families and teachers.” The decision of the strike is still amidst us, but it’s important for us as students and members of the school community to stand with our teachers before, during, and after the strike.