Dozens of actions across Chicago for Chicago Teachers Union's 'Day of Action' on April 1...
The Chicago Teachers Union and its allies announced a large number of different actions to take place across the city on April 1, 2016, the "Day of Action" approved as a one-day strike by the CTU House of Delegates. At the same time, teachers, parents and children across the city are planning what to do on April 1, as it becomes clear that all of the city's schools will be shut down, and that the Board of Education's (joined by the Chicago Tribune's) call for "good teachers" to SCAB has failed. Teachers and others across Chicago have been writing letters to the editor of the newspapers and elsewhere, although most are being ignored.
The one-day strike will cause the postponement of many extra curricular and after school activities. A performance of the school play at Whitney Young High School, one of the best public high schools in the USA, has been re-scheduled because of the April 1 strike. Information from other schools is coming in faster than it can be reported.
According to a CTU press release issued on March 28, 2016:
Chicago Teachers Union releases tentative details of the April 1 Day of Action protests; thousands of Chicagoans are organizing for mass demonstrations against Gov. Rauner's failed fiscal policies
NEWS PLANNING RELEASE. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Stephanie Gadlin
March 28, 2016 312/329-6250 (office)
StephanieGadlin@ctulocal1.com. Website: www.ctunet.com
CHICAGO-Today, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) released a few details of its proposed citywide "Day of Action" for Friday, April 1, when thousands of workers, students, parents and activists will take to the streets to call for an end to the budget stalemate in Springfield and bring attention to poverty and racial justice issues that are crippling Chicago. The Union has called for a one-day strike of its members. This schedule is subject to change and is being provided for planning purposes.
April 1, 2016 - Day of Action/Shut It Down Chicago
Time... 6:30 am to 9: 00 am
CTU pickets at every school with teachers, paraprofessionals and clinicians to call for progressive revenue solutions to fund Chicago Public Schools.
1) Members from Roosevelt High School & Fight for $15 will gather in front of a nearby McDonald's to demand a living wages for fast food workers.
2) Saucedo Elementary School with partner with Enlace for possible march to Cook County Jail demanding the funding of schools not jails.
3) Harlan High School educators to protest cuts to student-based budgeting cuts; will expand the call for Bank of America to return toxic swap money to CPS; and will gather with Fight for $15 in front of a nearby McDonald's.
4) Other campuses will focus on special education cuts; ballooning class sizes and deteriorating conditions in school buildings. TBD
10:00 am to 1:30 pm... Teach-in with AFT President Randi Weingarten. NEIU, 5500 N. St. Louis. Funeral march illustrating the death of higher education in Illinois; demonstrators will have symbolic coffins for healthcare, K-12 education
10:00 am to 12:00 pm... Chicago State University students and BYP100 youth activists to lead a teach-in on campus about racial justice; police violence; other concerns about Black futures
10:00 am... Nabisco Plant, 7300 S. Kedzie. Workers will speak against the destruction of 600 strong union jobs at Nabisco. BCTGM Local 300 and WWJ/UE.
11:00 am to 1:30pm... All Campus Rally: Chicago State University - 9501 S. King Dr, Exact location in front of Student Union Center; Protest budget cuts; loss of MAP grants; threats to shutter CSU
12:00 pm... CTU pickets; other non-violent actions; citywide TBD
2:00 pm... Youth March from 136 N. Western to call for the closing youth prisons; and other issues
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm... City Hall Demonstration - TBD
3: 00 pm... Alliance for Human Services will do an action at IDHS, 401 S. Clinton to demand full funding for human services. Demonstrators will march to banks and then to the Thompson Center.
2:30 pm to 3:30 pm... University of Illinois at Chicago - Rally To Support Higher Education and party on the Blue Line to the Thompson Center Rally - Location: Quad
4:00 pm... Thompson Center Convergence: The CTU and all allies will meet to rally for revenue and to send a strong message to the governor, mayor, other elected officials and the wealthy.
4:00 to 4:40 pm Fighting For Our Futures Rally
4:40 to 6:30 pm Rush Hour "Shut It Down" March
The Chicago Teachers Union represents nearly 27,000 teachers and educational support personnel working in the Chicago Public Schools, and by extension, the more than 400,000 students and families they serve. The CTU is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Federation of Teachers and is the third largest teachers local in the United States and the largest local union in Illinois. For more information please visit CTU's website at www.ctunet.com.
