How Chicago’s Unionized Teachers Fought for Safety and Won

FEATURING LIZA FEATHERSTONE - The Chicago Teachers Union signed off on a plan to resume classes this week after a 4-day standoff with the school district and Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The nation’s third largest school district will resume in-person classes after the union won pledges of enhanced safety measures as the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus rages through the city.

The high-stakes standoff began last week as schools were set to reopen after the winter break but the teachers union voted to return to remote schooling in light of surging Covid cases. In response, the school district simply canceled classes, leading the union to dub the move #LoriLockout.

Read Liza's new piece on Jacobin called Children Belong in School. That’s Why We Support the Chicago Teachers Union.