Acero charter school teachers plan to go on strike Dec. 4

Teachers from Acero charter schools announced Wednesday they would go on strike starting Dec. 4.

The educators, part of the Chicago Teachers Union, made the announcement in the wake of a Monday bargaining session they called “frustrating and fruitless.”

In a news release, the teachers also said they want pay equal to teachers at district-run schools, smaller classes, more special education funding, more control over curriculum and more Latinos on their teaching staff.

“We’re fighting to change that status quo, through our right to bargain collectively, withhold our work and demand that education dollars actually make it into our school communities instead of being stolen away by top managers,” said CTU Vice President Stacy Davis Gates at a Wednesday press conference.

Teachers from Acero’s 15 school locations plan to strike. According to the release, 8,000 students attend Acero schools.

“We’ve held three negotiating sessions since our strike vote, and we’ve seen no progress,” special education paraprofessional Andy Crooks said at the conference. “Acero has told us at the bargaining table that it’s about their bottom line and not our students—and that is unacceptable.”

Of the more than 500 Acero teachers, 98 percent voted to authorize the strike last month. The next day, teachers at four Chicago International Charter School locations also threatened a strike.

The negotiations began in May, according to a letter Acero sent to parents last month.

“While we are disappointed at the strike announcement, we are not entirely surprised. Based on statements the CTU has made, there is a real focus on making an example of charter schools,” said an Acero representative. “Regardless, we are deeply committed to these negotiations for these students and our schools. We won’t leave the bargaining table until this is resolved.”