“The clock has started” for a potential Chicago Teacher’s Union strike. That’s according to union president Karen Lewis.
The countdown to the possible strike began after the union rejected the recommendation of a neutral arbitrator to accept a contract offer from the nation's third-largest school system.
The union says the earliest a strike could begin is May 16, about a month before the last day of school. It says it also could strike in September, when school resumes for about 400-thousand students.
The union staged a one-day walkout at the beginning of this month to protest what it says are proposals that would cut compensation for teachers.
Chicago Public Schools says it is in dire financial shape and cannot afford to sweeten its contract offer.