UNO Charter School teachers, network avert strike

FOX 32 NEWS - Union UNO Charter School teachers reached a deal to avoid a strike Tuesday night after prolonged contract talks.

The union provided an update around 3 a.m. Wednesday outside a Humboldt Park elementary school, saying an agreement was reached.

The union and district management have been negotiating for the past 8 months.

The strike would have impacted about 8,000 students.

Earlier this month, 95 percent of the union members voted in favor of a strike.

The charter school management wants to cut teacher pay by more than $500,000 a year by denying cost of living increases for two years, and improving teachers’ schedules.

The union wanted a 32-student classroom cap, shorter hours and no increase in pension or health insurance contributions.

The teachers union says they have great schools and they don’t want the quality to be lost.