The Chicago School Board voted Tuesday to authorize a plan that paves the way for firing 2,700 teachers and increasing class sizes to as many as 35 students per classroom. The vote was criticized by Chicago Teachers Union officials as irresponsible and harmful to students.
The vote was to authorize borrowing $800 million to make up for a major budget deficit.
One week after aldermen urged the City of Chicago to extend the blue cart recycling program piloted in select neighborhoods to the entire city, the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the city is considering privatizing the entire recycling pickup service.
Lou Phillips, Business Manager of Laborers Local 1001, rejected the idea and told the Sun-Times the lessons of the parking meter privatization should serve as a warning for the city. "It could be a problem. Look at the parking meters and everything else that's been privatized," he said.
Taking the work away from the Department of Streets and Sanitation would mean less work for city workers who have already felt the brunt of layoffs and furloughs. In the last decade, Mayor Daley has reduced the city workforce by 15%.
Unemployment still a problem? Ask Jerome
According to figures reported today, Illinois' unemployment rate dropped in May to 10.8%. But before breaking out the champagne, ask Jerome if he's celebrating.
Jerome is an unemployed carpenter who called Jobs with Justice seeking help finding a job. His story is too common these days. And while he's on the street looking for work, the Senate failed to pass a jobs bill to help the millions of unemployed people like Jerome and the hundreds of thousands whose jobs are in jeopardy because of budget deficits around the country.
