(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Members of the Chicago Teachers Union staged rallies at Chicago schools on Tuesday as they continue to fight for a new contract they say protects teachers and students.
A walk-in at Minnie Miñoso Academy in Bridgeport kicked off a day of rallies at various schools on a "National Day of Action."
CTU Vice President Jackson Potter said members are calling for a contract that prioritizes disabled students, students of color, and CPS staff.
"[We demand] enough counselors, teacher assistants, tech cos, a nurse in every school every day, These are basic things our students need and deserve," Potter said.
He said demands also include smaller class sizes, adequate prep time for teachers, and the end of racism in the teacher evaluation system.
CTU President Stacey Davis Gates said the contract would “build a forcefield” amid the Trump administrating's attacks on public education.
"In order to protect children in Trump's America, you're going to need a coalition force. We need to work to protect this young person here and young people across the city," Davis Gates said.
The CTU plans to deliver a stack of petitions to the Board of Education demonstrating support for their demands.
“They may run DC, but they don't run Chicago," Chicago Board of Education representative Jitu Brown said.
He said now is the time to organize to ensure the freedoms and safety of CPS students.
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