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| Looking to build up friends |
The
union has its gripes with the Chicago Public Schools (what else is new), and
the hope is that a one-day lack of teachers in the schools somehow scares the
board of education into taking their concerns more seriously.
THE
IDEA BEING that a one-day work stoppage could avert a lengthier strike at some
point in the future.
Yet
I must admit to being skeptical – in part because I realize the Chicago Public
Schools are run by people who have their own stubborn streak and if there was
an easy solution toward achieving a new contract for the public school teachers
it would have been negotiated a long time ago.
But
also, I can’t help but note the large amount of activity planned for Friday
that seems not all that concerned with public education.
The
‘Day of Action’ is intended to be a whole day on Friday of activities meant to
show the teachers’ union solidarity with other organized labor interests. As in
the teachers union wants to be sure that if there is a future strike, they will
have the backing of labor unions in other industries.
LOOKING
AT THE tentative schedule the union put together (it could always change and
Friday could turn out to be completely different), there will be teachers in
places ranging from the Nabisco cookie manufacturing plant at 73rd
Street and Kedzie Avenue to the Cook County Jail (as part of a stunt meant to
encourage increased education funding to avoid children growing up into
inmates).
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| From a visit to the Cook County Jail ... |
Where
officials there have planned their own protest events to show support for the
Chicago Public Schools teachers. Which is relevant because many of the students
at the Northwest Side public college came out of the Chicago Public Schools.
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| ... to a solidarity visit to a McDonalds, ... |
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| ... teachers could wind up their Day of Action downtown |
THERE’S
A GOOD chance that if you’re out and about throughout the city on Friday, you’re
going to run into a teacher or two (dozen or so). They want to build up support
for the strike they’re likely going to take on in coming months.
The
one that will cause classes to be cancelled for more than just a day like they
will be on Friday.
Because
the simple fact is this – parents may be able to express a symbolic support for
the teachers union when the issues are all theoretical.
But
the moment it turns into those parents having to arrange for special day-care
to watch their kids while at work because classes are cancelled, it becomes a
massive inconvenience.
AND
YES, THERE will be some (many, actually) parents who will just as soon blame
the teachers for not showing up for work.
This
pre-strike, so to speak, is meant to build up enough good will with so many
interests that they will have their friends all geared up for the good fight
that could come.
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| Ultimately, it's all up to Rahm |
And
who knows? Perhaps the sight of an afternoon rally from the University of
Illinois at Chicago campus to the Thompson Center state government building
(where they’ll ride the subway to get from college to the government building)
will be enough of an intimidating spectacle.
One
that would actually persuade the Chicago Public Schools officials (and Mayor
Rahm Emanuel, their spiritual leader) to make the kind of concessions that
would actually urge the union not to walk off the job sometime later this year.
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