The Chicago teachers went out on strike today after the City refused to put in writing lower class sizes and assurances of hiring adequate support staff for the schools.
The teachers have asked for a 15% raise for three years and the City proposed a 16% raise for five years, or 3.2% per year. Moreover, the union is demanding that every school have a full time nurse, a social worker, and a librarian. Finally, the 25,000 teachers and 8,000 support staff are asking for affordable housing.
The Chicago school system is nearly broke and it will be interesting to see what the City finally agrees to once the teachers contract is settled.