April 02--Chicago Public Schools has filed a charge against the teachers union with a state labor board over Friday's one-day strike.
In a filing to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, CPS repeats its long-held argument that Friday's walkout by the Chicago Teachers Union is illegal because it doesn't follow the state law governing teacher strikes.
The district sees damages "incurred by CPS as a consequence of the CTU's illegal acts" and an order prohibiting any future strikes from occurring outside the state law.
CPS CEO Forrest Claypool said at a news conference that the district wants a "permanent, pre-emptive injunction" against similar strikes in the future.
Claypool said it was important to "know with certainty that CTU leadership can't, at their own whim, say 'We're going to shut down the schools' without following the law."
"We have to know going forward that yes, this is not acceptable, it is not legal, cease and desist."
In a statement, CTU attorney Robert Bloch said the district's move was "too little, too late."
State law requires a number of steps before Chicago teachers can strike, including the completion of a final phase of contract negotiations called "fact-finding" that involves a representative from both sides and a neutral party.
CPS and the union are now in that phase, which will be completed in mid-May.
The CTU has argued that its walkout Friday is legal because the district engaged in an unfair labor practice by cutting off raises promised in the last contract, which expired June 30, for experience and educational attainment.
jjperez@tribpub.com
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