Strike enters second week

With the Chicago Teachers Union deciding to continue its strike into a second week, things have heated up even past last week's boiling point. Mayor Rahm Emanuel filed an injunction against the teachers in Cook County Court this morning, arguing that the teachers walked out on "non-strikable issues"—meaning not based on salary complaints—and ordering them back to work. But this morning, Cook County Judge Peter Flynn declined to consider the injunction until Wednesday, which also happens to be the prospective first day of school, should the union accept the contract tomorrow.

I expected to find exasperation and frustration on Twitter this morning, but instead mostly found users continuing their support of the teachers, and condemning Rahm's tactics (generally, if your rep is as a bully, suing teachers isn't going to soothe that at all). If you're feeling like you want to talk through the issues surrounding the strike, education org Raise Your Hand Coalition is holding a roundtable for parents tomorrow night at 8pm. It's even at a bar, Gannon's Pub, 4264 N Lincoln Ave, since we know you need a drink.

Rahm's legal injunction against #ctustrike is entirely unprecedented since its the result of a law passed in 2011 to stop #ctustrike

— Mike Elk (@MikeElk) September 17, 2012

Rahm Emanuel, Clinton aide, Obama aide, DNC speaker, sicks lawyers on teachers to bust a legitimate strike. @thenation @wegoted #CTUstrike

— John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) September 17, 2012

 

Can we please go back to school sometime this week. Ugh #CTUstrike screwing up my senior yearrrr.

— Ashley Keltz (@Ashley_Keltz) September 17, 2012

 

The #CTUstrike IS a 'strike of choice'. It's a choice to choose kids, labor rights, anddignity over fear, desperation, and manipulation.

— Hope (@nwbtcw) September 17, 2012

 

RT @purrplecatmama: 160 Chicago Public Schools have no libraries.Rahm's kids go to private school with 7 art teachers. #CTUstrike

— RayBeckerman (@RayBeckerman) September 17, 2012

 

Even though I lean to the anti-strike camp, as a lifelong existentialist I find the idea of "non-strikable issues" laughable. #CTUstrike

— Dan Sutter (@sutterdan) September 17, 2012

 

Does anyone need any further explanation of the problem with teachers' unions than their greed and power struggle in Chicago? #CTUStrike

— novaculus (@novaculus) September 17, 2012

 

How Rahm is "handling" the CTU strike makes me understand why every cartoon depicts him with lizard skin. #likeaBossk #shouldhavevotedChico

— Nathan Cotter (@NathanCotter) September 17, 2012

 

Delegates of @ctulocal1 are modeling good behavior for their students: reading and understanding something before they sign it. #ctustrike

— Carli (@gardengn0me) September 17, 2012

 

I'd like to thank the Chicago Teachers Union for making all my bright red Chicago Bulls t-shirts relevant during the off-season. #CTUStrike

— Dan Sully Sullivan (@dansullyrules) September 17, 2012