Mayor, union president have much to lose (or gain) if walkout happens Monday
By John Byrne, Kristen Mack and Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune reporters
(From Chicago Tribune, September 9th, 2012)
If Chicago teachers go on strike Monday, the walkout would set up a political minefield for both Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, adding the explosive element of a blame game to contract negotiations that already are highly combustible.
For Emanuel, there’s the risk of angering hundreds of thousands of working parents who would suddenly need to find child care, not to mention the relatives who may be pressed into duty. A mayor who is trying to build his reputation as a problem solver leading Chicago into a modern era of streamlined government could see his narrative undercut.
For Lewis, walking out might cement her as a folk hero with the rank-and-file teachers she represents, a leader willing to stand up to a guy she’s long branded a liar and a bully. But reaching a deal that validates a strike and allows her to save face could prove challenging — both sides acknowledge there’s not a pile of cash hidden in a safe somewhere from which to draw large raises.
“It is your responsibility, President Lewis, and your responsibility, Mayor Emanuel, that children are not where they are supposed to be, and that’s in school,” said veteran Ald. Carrie Austin, 34th, when asked about the potential political fallout from a strike. “The blame is on both of them there. It gets laid at both their feet.”
Whether it’s the mayor or the union president who is more light-footed could go a long way toward determining who wins the battle for public opinion should a strike occur. Talks were scheduled to resume Saturday ahead of Monday’s strike date.
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