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Posted: Mon 1:22 PM, Sep 10, 2012
Reporter: Associated Press Email

Thousands of Chicago teachers strike

CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is urging negotiators to come up with a new contract for the city's teachers quickly for the sake of the children.

During a news conference today, Emanuel said negotiations resumed a little before noon.

Emanuel defended the Chicago Public Schools' contract offer to teachers. He says negotiators were close to agreement, but the Chicago Teachers Union chose to go on strike despite that. He called the strike "totally avoidable."

Thousands of teachers walked off the job today in Chicago's first schools strike in 25 years.

Emanuel says one of the unresolved issues is disagreement over the teacher evaluation system. But the mayor says that system was designed by teachers for teachers.

A striking teacher who was picketing outside an elementary school said he had hoped the walkout would be averted.

"We all want to get back to teaching," Michael Williams said.

But he said wages and classroom conditions need to be improved.

Officials are trying to figure out how to keep 400,000 schoolchildren safe and occupied during the strike. About 140 schools were open for the first half of the day so children who rely on free meals could eat breakfast and lunch.

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KKCO firmly believes in freedom of speech for all and we are happy to provide this forum for the community to share opinions and facts. We ask that commenters keep it clean, keep it truthful, stay on topic and be responsible. Comments left here do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of KKCO 11News.
  • by Szabla Location: Location on Sep 10, 2012 at 06:37 PM
    This is a state issue. I just am waiting to see if the teachers are going to do a recall election similar to Wisconsin’s latest recall.
  • by don Location: Location on Sep 10, 2012 at 04:04 PM
    Does this sound familiar?Selfish greedy teachers UNIONS.Using our children to get more compensation.All at taxpayer's and childrens exspense.I hope Romney does to teacher UNIONS like Reagan did to air traffic controllers.Then teachers might,might learn some RESPECT.Maybe?cut EPA,NEA not military

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