Teachers go on strike in suburban Chicago school district after contract talks

On Thursday morning, Bob Miller, a president of the Prospect Heights Education Association, the local teachers union, had expressed optimism that officials would, “get our kids back to the classroom, and our families can get back to our normal routines”. A call to the district was not immediately returned Thursday.

Earlier in the day as dozens of striking teachers set up lawn chairs, plastic coolers and a makeshift picnic breakfast before they resumed walking the picket line along Palatine Road, a nearby emergency day care program was nearly at the 50-student capacity.

Neither the District nor KEA would comment on camera after the ruling Friday.

The teachers went on strike at midnight Wednesday, leading the district to cancel school for three days.

Administrators are offering raises of more than 3%.

Both sides have been trying to negotiate a new contract since March and even with the help of a federal mediator Tuesday night, they could not reach an agreement.

The two sides cant agree on a salary and benefits package. “Now, suddenly, they are asking for one again”. The Longview teacher salary schedule is 5 percent higher on average than Kelso’s salary schedule.

“The paramount duty of the state is to provide an education” to children, Koss said.

“There’s the argument of people saying all over, hey, you’re teaching kids illegal activity, because it’s illegal to strike, and it’s not”, he said. The district has millions in reserves, but administrators said the teachers want too much.

The Board says most teachers make between $41,000 and $65,000 a year. They said they didn’t know, but they wanted to continue fighting for the cause.

Both the Teachers Union and the District 23 Board of Education say they are disappointed no resolution has been reached. “My understanding is that’s our right, to strike – I was shocked”, DeBruler said. “I’m lucky. I work from home so it’s not an issue”, Pam Jelaca said.

More than six hours of negotiations broke off at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday when teachers announced their first ever strike, and classes that day were subsequently canceled.