CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- While the Chicago Teachers Union is preparing for a possible strike after rejecting a contract proposal, Mayor Lori Lightfoot urges there is no reason for it to happen.
"We have 30 days to get the job done," Lightfoot said at a press conference on the West Side.
After millions of cuts in the last few years and austerity measures from the city, the CTU rejected an independent fact-finder's report that was aiming to find common ground for a new contract, which proposed a 16 percent raise over five years with a total increase of $351 million in teacher salary raises. It also included no healthcare contribution increases for the first two years of the contract and increases of only a percent in total in the final three years.
Under the proposal presented by the fact finder and recommended by the district, the average teacher would see their salary rise 24 percent, including the scheduled salary increases that teachers receive based on years of service.
But that is not good enough, according to the CTU.
"Our committment to bolstering these resources is firm and we should not hold up a strong contract when we have already solidified the supports and shown we are serious about addressing the issues that matter most to our schools," Jackson said.
The rejection today hints that a possible strike for Sept. 26 is on the way, but Lightfoot hopes to see progress before next month.
“With our shared focus on ensuring every student has an equal opportunity to learn and thrive, the city is committed to working alongside teachers to strengthen our schools and hopes to finalize an agreement on a contract that fairly and generously compensates their service before the start of the school year," she said in a statement.