ABC: Chicago Schools back in session

Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Service Employees International Unoin (SEIU) members returned to work Friday after a 15-day strike by both unions, the longest in Chicago Public Schools since 1987, the Chicago ABC affiliate reports.

The final sticking point seems to have been on the issue of make up days and pay, with CTU arguing for all days lost to the strike to be made up and paid. Eventually the two sides agreed on 5 days.

The contract, also, includes language mandating the hiring of new nurses and social workers guaranteeing that each school will have at least one of their own by 2023.

Money was also set aside to form a committee to enforce class size limits.

ABC did not mention, however, if language was included to add Library and Media Specialists, BookRiot reports that the number of librarians in Chicago Public Schools  has fallen to a mere 104, down from 454 in 2013... CPS has 600 schools meaning in most schools teachers are forced to cover library duties, for which they are untrained, while also performing their regular teaching duties.