The Chicago Public School Board announced on July 18 a plan to lay off over 2,100 of its workers. Half of those losing their jobs will be teachers. This assault comes after recent calls for massive layoffs by CPS. In June, the board announced the planned slashing of 850 jobs along with the closing of 50 schools in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods.
The planned closings revealed in June sparked demonstrations, marches and walkouts by students, parents and community members. Last September, the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike for over a week, bringing thousands of people into the streets in the interest of protecting jobs and the quality of education for students.
The city is again trying to divert anger about school closings and layoffs by blaming budgetary issues for the devastation that will be brought to workers and oppressed communities in Chicago. But the truth is that millionaire Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his Wall Street constituents have only two goals in mind: crushing the union and privatizing the Chicago school system in the interests of big business.
The CTU has filed federal lawsuits to fight the closings, but the people cannot count on the government to defend hard-won public resources from the assault of private capital. We must take to the streets to fight for jobs and education, because it is only through struggle that progress can be made.
If communities unite and stand up against the corporate fat cats and their political puppets like Emanuel, we can win. Through continual struggle and organization, the people can build a movement for a system that guarantees a free, quality education for all.
