CHICAGO, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- For the first time in more than two decades, the Chicago Teachers Union and its 32,000 members are contemplating a strike prior to upcoming contract talks.
While the exact reason for the strike talk by the Illinois employment group is unclear at this point, the Chicago Tribune said, the dispute comes at a time when most area teachers are unhappy with their employment.
Teachers are said to be displeased with cuts in benefits and jobs, and with school closings, the report said.
"There's a lot of unhappy teachers out there," Chicago teacher Tom Stonis said. "And there's a little buzz going on that if we don't get what we want, we're going to go on strike. But I'm not going to be around next year ... because of the strike possibilities. It's not worth it to me to go out on strike in this district."
The warning of a potential strike from Union President Marilyn Stewart reflects a formerly common practice by union officials in advance of contract negotiations, such as those due when the teachers' current contract runs out June 30.
The news paper said the union began negotiations with the Chicago school system in August, but there appeared to be no publicly announced progress on the union's 100 key proposals.
