Chicago Teachers Union Has The Vote To Authorize A Strike [UPDATE]

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 11, 2012 1:40PM

Last week the Chicago Teachers Union said they would count the votes in their strike authorization balloting until there was a clear decision. According to multiple media reports, that decision is now as clear as a bouillion.

clear">NBC 5 was the first to report that CTU had the necessary votes to authorize a strike on Friday. The Sun-Times, citing sources, reports the same this morning.

Under the education reform law passed by the Illinois General Assembly last year, 75 percent of the teachers union's total membership must vote for to authorize a strike in order for one to occur; not voting would be tantamount to a "no" vote. NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern reported more than 90 percent of the union voted to authorize a strike, with 100 percent of some schools casting ballots.

CTU spokeswoman Stephanie Gadlin would not comment on the reports, saying that every vote still needed to be counted. But an official announcement could be announced as early as today. If the union has voted to authorize a strike, that still doesn't mean a strike will happen. CTU has repeatedly said they hope to use a strike authorization vote to influence movement with Chicago Public Schools in negotiations for a new contract. Ultimately, it's up to CTU's Board of Delegates to set a strike date, which could occur as early as Aug. 17.

Last week CTU filed a complaint with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board accusing CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard of trying to influence a strike authorization vote with an email he sent out on the eve of the vote last week.

[Update 1:16 p.m.]: The Chicago Teachers Union has confirmed they have indeed voted to authorize a strike. CTU spokeswoman Stephanie Gadlin confirmed that 90 percent of ballots cast were in support of a strike authorization, the largest such mandate in the union's history. However, Gadlin said “the union has made no determination on whether a strike will be needed.”