Chicago teachers strike timeline
September 16, 2012 9:28PM
Updated: October 18, 2012 6:22AM
TIMELINE OF DEVELOPMENTS
June 11, 2010 — Chicago Teachers Union members overwhelmingly elect Karen Lewis as their president. Lewis ran in a runoff election against incumbent Marilyn Stewart.
Feb. 22, 2011 — Rahm Emanuel elected mayor.
April 18, 2011 — Emanuel chooses Jean-Claude Brizard, formerly Rochester, N.Y. schools superintendent, to head Chicago’s Public Schools.
May 2011 — The Illinois State Legislature passes a law, signed by Gov. Pat Quinn in June 2011, that makes it more difficult for the teachers union to strike.
June 2011 — The Emanuel-appointed school board votes to rescind a 4 percent annual pay raise that teachers had expected in their contract.
August 2011 — Emanuel and Brizard call for a longer school day.
August 14, 2011 — Karen Lewis tells a radio station that CTU members are “very upset” over their rescinded raise and that the likelihood of a strike vote is “very high.”
Nov. 4, 2011 — CTU and the mayor’s office announce an agreement on extending the length of the school day.
June 6, 2012 — CTU members vote overwhelmingly to authorize the union to strike if contract talks break down.
June 30, 2012 — CTU labor agreement expires.
July 16, 2012 — Independent arbitrator Edwin Howard Benn recommends a 35.7 percent teachers raise over four years. Both sides reject the proposal.
Aug. 13, 2012 — The first group of Chicago Public Schools students on year-round academic calendars start their first full school day of the new school year.
Aug. 29, 2012 — The CTU files a 10-day notice with the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board of its intent to strike.
Sept. 9 — CTU announces the union will strike after weeks of unsuccessful negotiations.
Sept. 10 — Teachers start picketing — their first strike in 25 years.
Sept. 14 — CTU and Chicago Public Schools announce they have reached a tentative agreement to present to the union’s House of Delegates.
Sept. 16 — Union delegates vote to continue strike. Emanuel says strike is illegal and he’ll ask a judge to immediately end it.
