Unionized educators at four Chicago International Charter School campuses went on strike last week, launching the city’s second work stoppage at independently operated campuses.
Educators at Wrightwood Elementary School, Ellison High School, Northtown Academy High School, and ChicagoQuest High School have been bargaining for months with Civitas Education Partners, which manages those campuses. The 175 teachers and paraprofessionals, represented by the Chicago Teachers Union, rejected a recent proposal that union leaders described as inadequate.
CICS said it would keep the four campuses open and on normal schedules for their approximately 2,200 students, but after-school and extracurricular activities would be canceled.
Salaries, health-care costs, and class sizes were among the contested issues.
Hundreds of educators for the Acero charter school network went on strike for four school days last year before settling a contract that secured higher pay and smaller class sizes.
