First Charter Chain Strike Today in Chicago - 500 at 15 UNO/Acero

Chicago educators at Acero charter schools go on strike, a first for the independently operated campuses - Chicago Tribune

The leadership of the CTU came under some criticism for organizing charter school teachers into the CTU because it was viewed as helping keep charters alive rather than trying to drive a stake in the heart of the movement. They certainly seem to be having more succcess than the UFT has been having.

Here is this morning's report from the CTU:

Dear Norman,

It's official: over 500 CTU members at 15 UNO/Acero charter schools are on strike—the first strike of a charter operator in U.S. history.

Our educators are fighting for more resources for our students, and better working conditions for our educators. Management instead has refused any wage increase for our underpaid paraprofessionals, insisted on class sizes of 32—four more than the target for CPS classrooms, refused to increase short-staffed special education positions, refused our efforts to bring nurses into each school, refused to provide wrap-around services for students, and even refused to include sanctuary school language in our contract for our overwhelmingly Latinx students.

CTU members at UNO/Acero work hundreds of hours more than CTU members in district schools, for an average of $13,000 per year less. Paraprofessionals—the backbone of our school communities—earn even less. Management's take of public dollars went up more than $10 million this year—while spending $1 million LESS on classroom resources.

We're fighting to end the bad practices of the charter industry and win the schools our students deserve—and you can help! Scroll down for a list of schools with addresses, and join strikers on those picket lines starting at 6:30 AM, Tuesday, December 4.

Today, Tuesday at 1:30 PM, we'll picket and rally at Acero headquarters, 209 W Jackson Blvd. in downtown Chicago. We'll be back on the picket lines Wednesday—and for as long as it takes to win the contract and resources our students and educators deserve.

Watch our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds for more information upcoming actions, next steps and how you can get involved. Learn more about management's failures at the bargaining table—and what we're fighting for for our students. Our educators' working conditions are our students' learning conditions—and we're fighting to improve them both. Join us!

School	Address	Neighborhood
BrightonPark	4420 S. Fairfield, Chicago	BrightonPark
Clemente	2050 N. Natchez, Chicago	Galewood
Cruz	7416 N. Ridge, Chicago	RogersPark
Fuentes	2845 W. Barry, Chicago	Avondale
Santiago	2510 W. Cortez, Chicago	HumboldtPark
Idar	5050 S. Homan, Chicago	GagePark
Soto	5025 S. St. Louis, Chicago	GagePark
Tamayo	5135 S. California, Chicago	GagePark
LasCasas	1641 W. 16th St., Chicago	Pilsen
Marquez	2916 W. 47th St, Chicago	BrightonPark
Zizumbo (VMC)	4248 W. 47thSt, Chicago	ArcherHeights
Garcia (VMC)	4248 W. 47thSt, Chicago	ArcherHeights
Paz	2651 W. 23rd St, Chicago	LittleVillage
Torres (VMC)	4248 W. 47thSt, Chicago	ArcherHeights
Cisneros	2744 W. Pershing Rd, Chicago	BrightonPark