Chicago Teachers Union, District Argue Over Safety & Vaccines | NewsNOW from FOX

On Sunday evening, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said that Chicago Public Schools have not yet reached an agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union on whether and how to open schools this week. That means that students will not be back in classrooms on Monday.

"We are continuing to bargain," said CTU President Jesse Sharkey on Sunday night. "I think if they get creative and are willing to make compromises... but we are not seeing the compromises."

The union argued that the city needs to be more proactive about getting teachers vaccinated against COVID-19, and that at this point, the district is only getting about a thousand shots a week. One member said on Sunday night that teachers are running around the city hunting for vaccinations like a "bizarre Hunger Games."

Both sides said on Sunday that they were willing to negotiate late into the night to get an agreement.

Lightfoot said that it is clear that students will not be returning to classrooms on Monday, February 1. She said though that all teachers are expected to show up for in-person work on Monday though. Those who do not, and who do not have excuse notes, will be disciplined. She said that as of Sunday afternoon, pre-K through 8th grade students should plan to return to school on Tuesday.

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