Editorial: Give the teachers a raise

Eastern was founded as a teaching school, and as such, we at The Daily Eastern News believe Eastern’s teaching program produces great future educators.

But one market for those future educators to look toward for jobs, Chicago, is up in conflict over teachers’ salaries.

Considering Eastern’s output and success with providing the state with teachers, we believe Chicago’s teachers need to be given the raise they are asking for.

The Chicago Teachers’ Union is asking for a 15 percent base-pay raise over three years, countering the city’s proposed 16 percent raise over the next five years, according to the Chicago Tribune.

On top of that, the union is demanding that nurses, social workers and librarians be in every school, as well as more special education classroom assistants and case managers.

We believe these demands from the teachers’ union are reasonable and should be met as best as possible. Considering Chicago is such a big, diverse city, a better variety of staff, and more staff in general, is common sense to be able to effectively manage and teach the youth.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, after teachers marched through downtown Chicago, the Chicago Teachers’ Union president said no deal was likely to get done Thursday.

The union president, Jesse Sharkey, shouted to supporters that the teachers are too often ignored, overlooked and scorned.

Considering teachers are the key to our future generations’ success, making sure they are able to work in good conditions and be taken care of should be a top priority.

As far as Eastern is concerned, this battle between the Chicago Teachers’ Union and the city has implications for Eastern students looking to go in to the education field.

Because of Chicago’s sheer size, a lot of possible teaching jobs could arise in the city.

With the possibility of such a big avenue for jobs, graduating Eastern students may look to the city for a job, and no one would want to go to a place where the teachers do not feel appreciated.

The implications of this deal are important not only for future students, but they are important for the future educators’ themselves.

We cannot forget the current students, though.

One parent, according to the Chicago Tribune, said she wants her kids to be able to get their education now, and without the teachers in the classrooms, the strike affects more than just the teachers.

Going off that, the Tribune reported, after 6 p.m. Thursday, that the teachers will continue striking Friday, and Chicago Public Schools canceled classes for Friday.

While the possibility of weeks, or even months, of classes being canceled is unlikely, the days of classes that are canceled are a sign that the teachers want their demands met.

With these implications on the table, CPS needs to give the teachers what they want, in the best manner possible so the students are able to still get their education, and the teachers are able to feel worth something while they work.