The Chicago Public Schools Strike

There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime. 

- Calvin Coolidge

 Yesterday, Chicago Public Schools teachers went on strike after negotiations with the City of Chicago collapsed over a new collective bargaining agreement. Here are some facts:

From 2008-2009, the average salary of a CPS teacher was 74389 dollars. For CPS administrators, it was 120659 dollars.

Source: Chicago Public Schools

In 2012, the operational budget for Chicago Public Schools was 5.1 billion dollars. 2.71 billion dollars went to CPS employee salaries. Another 870 million dollars went towards CPS employee benefits (roughly 23000 per capita).

Source: Chicago Public Schools

In 2012, the City of Chicago's operational budget (which does not include Chicago Public Schools) was 3.1 billion dollars, which is 480 million dollars less than the salaries and benefits of CPS employees.

Source: City of Chicago

The graduation rate for high school students within CPS schools is projected to be 60.6%. The nationwide average in 2009 (the latest for which information is available) was 75.5%.

Source: Chicago Public Schools, Washington Post

There's not much more to say. CPS teachers are the highest paid in the nation (or the 2nd highest, if you believe the Chicago Teachers Union) and produce some of the worst results for kids. Their strike is not only cowardly, but a public menace.

For the sake of the students, I hope Mayor Emanuel resolves this strike as soon as possible. For the sake of the city, I hope the Chicago Teachers Union is dissolved while every public school teacher in Chicago can be directly accountable to the mayor's office.