Chicago Teachers Vote To Go Remote, Classes Canceled Wednesday

CHICAGO — Classes and instruction at city public schools on Wednesday were canceled after Chicago Teachers Union members voted late Tuesday to stop teaching in person.

CTU members voted in favor of protesting working conditions amid a spike in coronavirus cases with a "work action" that could last until Jan. 18, according to a message sent from the union to members and obtained by Patch.

On Twitter, CTU leaders said 73 percent of their membership voted in support of a districtwide move to remote learning. "The action will end when one of the following conditions is met: The current surge in cases substantially subsides, or the mayor's team at CPS signs an agreement establishing conditions for return that are voted on and approved by ... the CTU House of Delegates," CTU officials posted on Twitter.

The message obtained by Patch instructed CTU members "Not to report" to buildings Wednesday. Instead, teachers were told to attempt to log on to their Google Classroom platform and "take a picture of yourself ready to work."

"We are invoking our right to safe working conditions! This is not a refusal to work or a strike," the message said.

CPS officials disagree. Public schools leaders issued a statement before the vote that tagged the union's effort to move to remote learning without district permission an "illegal work action" that would "cause profound harm to children's learning and health and be another damaging blow to the well-being of our students and their families."

"Despite six months of active, good-faith discussions with the CTU, despite the fact that more than 90 percent of our staff is vaccinated, despite proven and implemented COVID-19 safety measures, and despite little evidence of in-school transmission, our teachers are not willing to report to work," CPS officials said in a statement after the union vote. "We are deeply concerned about this decision but even more concerned about its impact on the health, safety, and well-being of our students and families."

At a City Hall news conference about two hours before CTU ballots were counted, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said teachers who do not show up for work Wednesday will be placed on a "no pay status."

CPS officials said state law prohibits a districtwide shift to remote learning without consultation with the city public health department. Chicago's top doctor, Dr. Allison Arwady, has said it is safe to continue in-person instruction at city schools.

"To be clear, what CTU is seeking cannot be counted as an instructional day under state law and guidance," CPS officials said in a statement. "This is a work stoppage. Any CTU member who does not report to their school tomorrow will not be compensated."

Arwady said she was disappointed that there is even an argument about shutting down in-person instruction throughout the school district right now.

"When I think about a city that is open right now; in what world would we think to close something as essential [as] in-person education when we have seen the negative effects of that when our bars remain open?" she said. "No public health leaders — in the world at this point — think that that makes sense. ... The science says schools would be the last place to close."

Earlier in the day, CEO Pedro Martinez announced that if teachers agreed with union leadership, school buildings will be open Wednesday but all instruction will be canceled.

"I want to be fair to parents and I hate being put in this position, but if they do take a vote to do a walk out tomorrow, I have to cancel classes. I have to be responsible," Martinez said.

Martinez said he asked CTU leadership to delay the scheduled vote. The union refused.

CPS officials have proposed setting metrics that would determine when individual classes and schools would transition to remote learning, distributing 200,000 KN95 masks to staff, boosting contact tracing, giving principals discretion to set up health and temperature screenings, and establishing a "tactical" team to meet with CTU daily about coronavirus concerns at schools.

In a Twitter post, CTU officials said they received the school system's proposal eight minutes before Tuesday's news conference.

"We will have a plan specifically for parents that will come out tomorrow in a very timely fashion about what the path forward is. I am still committed, though, to coming up with an agreement with the CTU," Martinez said at a Tuesday morning news conference.

The CPS statement highlighted "key facts," including:

• A districtwide "unwarranted mass school closure could fuel community spread of coronavirus."
• Families would be left scrambling for child care, possibly putting students in spaces that are less safe due to lacking coronavirus safety measures.
• The Chicago medical community "has not recommended a move to shut down schools."

Rather than a complete switch to remote learning that CTU members voted for Tuesday night, district officials have proposed responding to coronavirus cases on a school-by-school basis.

Late Tuesday, CPS officials said they plan to share a new plan to continue student learning with parents on Wednesday.

Here's what to expect Wednesday:

• All schools are closed for instruction. All classes are canceled. Principals will be on site but all athletic events and activities are canceled.
• All Non-CTU members are required to report to work including facilities staff, security guards, bus Aides, SECAs, crossing guards, and Nutrition Support Services employees.
• Safe Haven Sites listed here are available for child care from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is available on-site. A parent or guardian must be present with the child at the time of registration.
• Food Service will be available from 9 a.m. until noon at all schools for students who arrive at school and are in need of a meal.
• COVID-19 testing will continue as scheduled.
• Vaccinations events will continue as scheduled.