Strike authorization vote invalid, says Chicago Board of Education
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Board of Education wants a state body to invalidate a recent vote by the teachers union to authorize a strike.
The Chicago Tribune reports Friday that the board views the strike authorization by the union as "inherently flawed."
Chicago Teachers Union members voted overwhelmingly last week to authorize their leaders to call a strike. That vote gives union leaders leverage in ongoing talks with Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration over a new contract.
The Tribune says the school board has sent a memo to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board arguing that the union cannot hold such a vote until contract talks go through additional stages.
But union attorney Robert Bloch disagrees. He calls the memo to the state body a "Hail Mary pass" to thwart the union.