Acero teachers become first charter school teachers in US history to go on strike

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Teachers, counselors and office workers at Acero charter schools in Chicago went on strike Tuesday, the first such strike by charter school teachers in U.S. history.

The 15 Acero schools were closed Tuesday as 500 of their staff members were on strike, affecting about 7,500 students. After seven months, negotiations broke down overnight shortly after midnight.

Acero schools CEO Richard Rodriguez posted a YouTube video after the bargaining was over expressing his disappointment in the decision.

"The sad fact is that interests from outside our community are using our students and our schools as a means to advance their national anti-charter school platform," Rodriguez said. "They don't want our schools to succeed because it doesn't serve their agenda."

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, disputed Rodriguez's claims.

"He completely disrespects the teachers that he would think these teachers could be used by anybody," she said. "They are fighting for their kids and themselves and they have the vehicle of a union to do that."

Sean Lawler, an Acero charter school teacher striking outside the school operator's Loop offices Tuesday afternoon, agreed that teachers were fighting on students' behalf.

"Who else is going to stand up for these students than the people who work with them every day?" he said.

Teachers and staff at Acero said some of the critical issues they are fighting over include class sizes, an increase in special education staff and greater compensation.

Andy Crooks, a CTU bargaining team member, said best practice is to have 24 students per classroom.

"We have 32. Anything below that is a step in the right direction," he said.

Acero says there is not room in its schools to add classrooms.

While the Chicago Teachers Union is strongly against the expansion of charter schools, Acero teachers joined the CTU a few years ago. Acero teachers said they are fighting for equal compensation to their CPS counterparts, as the pay disparity causes a high teacher turnover rate.

"We work longer days and we work a longer year and we get paid significantly less," said Caroline Rutherford, a CTU bargaining team member.

"Our staff works 20 percent longer over the school year than CPS staff but we get paid an average of 15 percent less," said Acero teacher Martha Baumgarten. "We are asking for equal pay for equal work."

CTU says Acero Charter Schools finally opened up their audited books and exposed that the network made more than $10 million compared to the school year last year.

"It vindicates what we've been saying which is, this is a network in which the CEO of 7,500 students in 15 schools makes more than then CEO of Chicago Public Schools for 350,000 students and 550 schools," said CTU President Jesse Sharkey.

Because more than 90 percent of Acero students are Latino, teachers are asking that all 15 schools be declared sanctuary schools, and that no information is shared with ICE and no one is let inside the schools without a warrant.

"We don't want ICE coming in our schools and taking our kids away. We don't want ICE coming in and separating families," Crooks said.

CEO Rodriguez said Acero schools have prepared for this strike and are keeping parents informed, and are offering resources for parents to drop off their kids. Acero officials say they will remain at the negotiating table.

For a full statement by Acero, click here.

For a statement by the Chicago Teachers Union, click here.