Chicago teachers’ union sets the stage for Wednesday walkout

The Chicago Teachers Union could refuse to work in person as of Wednesday, raising the prospect of a crippling standoff over omicron fears as schools across the country delay openings, consider remote options and mandate testing amid a record-breaking surge of coronavirus infections.

Schools in Chicago reopened as planned Monday, but the union scheduled a Tuesday vote in which its 25,000 members will decide whether to support a plan that favors virtual work over the classroom as of Wednesday.

WBEZ Chicago reports that the public school board must sanction remote learning, and Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez has said he stands “firmly behind the decision to protect our student’s physical and mental health and promote their academic progress by keeping CPS schools safely open for in-person learning.”… (Excerpts from the Washington Times)