City Colleges of Chicago teachers and staff traded classrooms for picket lines to announce a planned strike date.
Ahead of a City Colleges Board of Trustees meeting at Herald Washington College Thursday, protest chants competed against the rain and construction.
"What do we want?" "A fair contract!" "When do we want it?" "NOW!"
The Cook County College Teachers Union (CCCTU), Local 1600 leaders said a strike will happen on Oct. 19 without an agreement.
The announcement comes a week after 96% of faculty and staff voted to authorize a strike.
"That is not a small group of frustrated people, that is a workforce speaking with one voice," said CCCTU, Local 1600 President Tony Johnston.
Among other changes, the union is demanding human control over AI, free developmental education, smaller class sizes, fair treatment for part-time staff, fair scheduling, expanded paid time off and wages that keep pace with the high cost of living.
"Don't believe them when they say 'tighten your belt,'" State Rep. Lilian Jimenez told the crowd, "We have tightened our belts long enough."
Bargaining continues with a federal mediator, however, the union says they remain stalled on several major issues.
Union leaders are also looking into the possibility of an unfair labor practice strike, alleging City Colleges directed union flyers to come down.
CCCTU, Local 1600 represents more than 4,000 members at 13 community colleges in the area. The group serves more than 73,000 students.
