Scenes from Chicago Teachers Union rally in Daley Plaza
On Labor Day, the Chicago Teachers Union held its protest in preparation for a strike that is set to begin on Sept. 10, unless negotiations with Chicago Public Schools result in a contract.The protest served two functions: first, as a sort of threat display designed to demonstrate to CPS officials and Mayor Rahm Emanuel that...
On Labor Day, the Chicago Teachers Union held its protest in preparation for a strike that is set to begin on Sept. 10, unless negotiations with Chicago Public Schools result in a contract.The protest served two functions: first, as a sort of threat display designed to demonstrate to CPS officials and Mayor Rahm Emanuel that CTU is ready to sustain a lengthy strike; and second, to reinforce the union’s message among its rank-and-file membership
While it would be a mistake to assume that what was on display at Daley Plaza reflected the opinions of all teachers in the Chicago district, it was interesting to observe the crowd that was attracted to the union’s rally.
Government employee unions have a clear ideological agenda, and there is a lot of overlap between their worldview and that of the “Occupy Wall Street” protestors:
For those of us who don’t speak Spanish, the sign reads “We are the 99%.”
The rally was a magnet for a wide range of radical and Marxist groups.
This fellow was hawking copies of “Socialist Action.”
Meanwhile, another passed out the “Worker’s Vanguard.”
There was also the “People’s Tribune.”
Now, for the most part the CTU controlled the message at the event. Most of the signs and buttons were printed beforehand.