
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) visits with striking Chicago teachers at Oscar DePriest Elementary School on October 22, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)
'Everyone in America Should Support You,' Says Elizabeth Warren at Rally With Striking Chicago Teachers
"I'm here to stand with every one of the people who stand for our children every day."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, rallied with striking Chicago public school teachers on Tuesday to show support for the union's effort to win fair wages and benefits and to provide better classroom conditions for the city's children.
"I'm here to stand with Chicago teachers. I'm here to stand with Chicago nurses. I'm here to stand with Chicago's librarians," Warren told the crowd gathered outside Oscar DePriest Elementary School on Chicago's West Side.
"I'm here to stand with every one of the people who stand for our children every day," continued the Massachusetts senator. "Everyone in America should support you in this strike."
Watch:
The 25,000-member Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) went on strike last Thursday to demand a contract that guarantees "learning and working conditions that respect educators and provide Chicago's students with the schools they deserve."
More than 7,000 teacher aides, security guards, and custodians represented by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 joined CTU's strike.
As Common Dreams reported, Chicago's Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday urged teachers to end their strike and "return to work while bargaining continues."
Teachers immediately rejected the request and accused Lightfoot of reneging on her campaign promise to improve school conditions.
"The mayor ran on an education platform--our education platform--to improve our schools and the quality of life for students, parents, educators, and school communities," CTU tweeted. "Everything she has done as of late has been anything but an improvement, and has only made the situation worse."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, rallied with striking Chicago public school teachers on Tuesday to show support for the union's effort to win fair wages and benefits and to provide better classroom conditions for the city's children.
"I'm here to stand with Chicago teachers. I'm here to stand with Chicago nurses. I'm here to stand with Chicago's librarians," Warren told the crowd gathered outside Oscar DePriest Elementary School on Chicago's West Side.
"I'm here to stand with every one of the people who stand for our children every day," continued the Massachusetts senator. "Everyone in America should support you in this strike."
Watch:
The 25,000-member Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) went on strike last Thursday to demand a contract that guarantees "learning and working conditions that respect educators and provide Chicago's students with the schools they deserve."
More than 7,000 teacher aides, security guards, and custodians represented by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 joined CTU's strike.
As Common Dreams reported, Chicago's Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday urged teachers to end their strike and "return to work while bargaining continues."
Teachers immediately rejected the request and accused Lightfoot of reneging on her campaign promise to improve school conditions.
"The mayor ran on an education platform--our education platform--to improve our schools and the quality of life for students, parents, educators, and school communities," CTU tweeted. "Everything she has done as of late has been anything but an improvement, and has only made the situation worse."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, rallied with striking Chicago public school teachers on Tuesday to show support for the union's effort to win fair wages and benefits and to provide better classroom conditions for the city's children.
"I'm here to stand with Chicago teachers. I'm here to stand with Chicago nurses. I'm here to stand with Chicago's librarians," Warren told the crowd gathered outside Oscar DePriest Elementary School on Chicago's West Side.
"I'm here to stand with every one of the people who stand for our children every day," continued the Massachusetts senator. "Everyone in America should support you in this strike."
Watch:
The 25,000-member Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) went on strike last Thursday to demand a contract that guarantees "learning and working conditions that respect educators and provide Chicago's students with the schools they deserve."
More than 7,000 teacher aides, security guards, and custodians represented by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 joined CTU's strike.
As Common Dreams reported, Chicago's Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday urged teachers to end their strike and "return to work while bargaining continues."
Teachers immediately rejected the request and accused Lightfoot of reneging on her campaign promise to improve school conditions.
"The mayor ran on an education platform--our education platform--to improve our schools and the quality of life for students, parents, educators, and school communities," CTU tweeted. "Everything she has done as of late has been anything but an improvement, and has only made the situation worse."

