Extended Vacation: Chicago's Teacher Union Refuses In-Person Work

Make no mistake, Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) spent their holiday break working long and hard -- to find a way to extend their vacation.

Classes were canceled on Wednesday, the first day back post-holidays, after the CTU voted not to return to in-person work. A whopping 73% of union members voted to stay home, citing COVID-19 concerns for why they are refusing to go back to the classroom.

It's almost is though they know masks aren't working and that the vaccinated are still getting COVID...

“Let us be clear. The educators of this city want to be in their classrooms with their students,” said a statement released by the union. These warriors of education claim they reached their decision “with a heavy heart and a singular focus on student and community safety.”

Now, kids and teachers alike from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will sit home and learn in their pjs -- if and when they want.

Neither the CPS or Chicago Public Health Department supports the union's decision, and they will not count the time away from the classroom as actual school days.

“To be clear, what CTU is seeking cannot be counted as an instructional day under state law and guidance. This is a work stoppage,” said a statement released by the school district.

Pedro Martinez, the Chicago Public Schools CEO, in no way supports the CTU's decision to stay home, telling the media: “There is no evidence that our schools are unsafe.

“The amount of noise that’s out there right now, the amount of misinformation, we have so many people that are afraid, from parents to staff, because of the misinformation,” Martinez added.

“Why on Earth, when we don’t need to pause, would we pause and risk falling back into the same old trap?

Follow along on Twitter: @OhioAF