Chicago Teachers Strike

Chicago public school teachers, the highest-paid teachers in the nation, are still on strike.

From the Associated Press:

For the first time in a quarter century, Chicago teachers walked out of the classroom Monday, taking a bitter contract dispute over evaluations and job security to the streets of the nation's third-largest city -- and to a national audience -- less than a week after most schools opened for fall.

The walkout forced hundreds of thousands of parents to scramble for a place to send idle children and created an unwelcome political distraction for Mayor Rahm Emanuel. In a year when labor unions have been losing ground nationwide, the implications were sure to extend far beyond Chicago, particularly for districts engaged in similar debates.

The two sides resumed negotiations Monday but failed to reach a settlement, meaning the strike will extend into at least a second day.

...The union had vowed to strike Monday if there was no agreement on a new contract, even though the district had offered a 16 percent raise over four years and the two sides had essentially agreed on a longer school day. With an average annual salary of $76,000, Chicago teachers are among the highest-paid in the nation, according to the National Council on Teacher Quality.

I thought Obama's statement on the striking teachers in his hometown was interesting.

Oh, wait. Obama made no public comment about the strike.

What a leader!

Illinois desperately needs a Scott Walker. More specifically, Illinois needs voters to elect a Scott Walker.

How long will the teachers strike, displaying a most unattractive hissy fit?

Who will blink? Who knows?

Whatever happens, this strike puts Obama in a very uncomfortable position.

It's a political problem for Obama the candidate. Obama can't offend unions, but he can't abandon Rahm Emanuel and his current cabinet members with ties to Chicago's public schools.

What's Obama to do?

Wisconsin voters did what Illinois voters won't do.

We defeated union muscle and did the responsible thing. We reelected Scott Walker. He offered fair, realistic solutions to Wisconsin's fiscal mess and we supported him.

Success! Yes we can!

Illinois - No you won't.