CHICAGO _ Ahead of bargaining resuming Thursday morning, a source in Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration said they're optimistic both sides can reach a deal quickly once they get down to negotiating.
The administration source said Lightfoot plans to stay firm on issues like pay and benefits, where the city feels it's made a strong offer.
The Lightfoot administration source also expressed frustration with CTU leaders for planning to march around downtown and tape "Chicago Tonight." "The leadership is only going to bargain with us for a few hours today. The ball is in their court and they haven't responded to our proposals on staffing and class size. They aren't taking this seriously," the source said.
The union, which has been fighting to gain more influence over the direction of the school system, has rejected the city's offer of 16% base-pay raises over five years, asking instead for 15% over three years.
Union officials have said they want a short strike.
"Our problem is not at the negotiating table," said CTU Vice President Stacy Davis Gates, speaking on the picket lines outside National Teachers Academy. "What I have learned in negotiations is that CPS does not have a strong muscle for collaboration and transformation, and as a result, actions like these help to speed up the process."
But while state law mostly restricts teachers to striking over pay and compensation issues, union leaders have highlighted demands related to staffing, class sizes and prep time. They want nurses, social workers and librarians in every school, and more special education classroom assistants and case managers _ and they want all those items in their contract.
Lightfoot and CPS CEO Janice Jackson visited a "contingency site" on the West Side Thursday morning where students can go during the strike.
While there, Lightfoot said she hopes the strike won't last long and reiterated her argument that she's given the union strong offers on compensation. She said they've made "significant progress" on class sizes and staffing that can be the framework for a deal but added, "we can't bargain by ourselves."
"We could get a deal done today if there's a seriousness of purpose and a willingness on the other side we could get a deal done today," Lightfoot said. "Today."
Lightfoot also said the salary offer won't be sweetened.
"We're not moving any further on money because we can't," Lightfoot said.
