Waukegan teacher strike continues amid contract talks

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) -- It's been more than one week since teachers in north suburban Waukegan hit the picket line.

Contract talks are ongoing and both sides are said to be making progress, though parents and teachers say they're eager for class to resume.

Anton Johnson, 8, spent the day with his mom again after a teachers strike means another day of no school for the third grader who enjoys math and his favorite teacher.

"My teacher is Ms. Mendez I miss her because she teaches stuff that I'm good at," Johnson said.

There were still no classes Friday for 17,000 Waukegan elementary and high school students, leaving parents scrambling for child care and activities for their kids.

"Them not being in school is just, I have to take them back and forth to his sister's, and he's bored," said parent Lisa Johnson.

The strike, which began Oct. 2, is now in its seventh day. Roughly 1,200 educators remain on the picket lines as the teachers union and Waukegan Community School District 60 continue negotiations.

"We don't know if we're going to get paid for the hours that we worked two weeks ago," said Carol Linderman, a fifth grade teacher. "It's very frustrating because we have to feed our children."

In a show of solidarity, leadership from the American Federation of Teachers showed their support for striking teachers Friday morning.

Meanwhile, Waukegan High School senior Riley Wood is not only concerned he may not be able to graduate from the alternative program he's in, but also about other kids staying safe.

"That's kind of bad for them too, you know, they're out here on the streets, ain't got nowhere to go," Wood said.

Officials say both sides have been meeting. And while just a handful of proposals remain on the table, salary and healthcare benefits remain unresolved.

"Currently, representatives from the Board of Education and from the teachers' union are meeting in negotiations, they've been able to reach several accords, but there's still some issues that are outstanding," said Nicholas Alajakis, Waukegan Community School District 60. "But the goal from both sides is to be able to return students to the classroom as soon as possible."

It is still unclear if the negotiations will continue into the weekend.