Jewish Leaders and Organizations Announce Support for CTU and SEIU Local 73
October 15, 2019
Dear Chicago,
With the possibility of a teachers’ strike, we, as Jewish organizations and members of the greater Chicago Jewish community, extend our support to Chicago Teachers Union and SEIU Local 73 and their fight for the schools Chicago students deserve.
Currently, CTU and SEIU Local 73 are in contract negotiations with Chicago’s Board of Education and Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Mayor Lightfoot campaigned on equitable education policies for Chicago Public Schools, such as an investment in schools and wraparound services, but has so far failed to deliver on these promises.
The topics of education and social justice are key to Jewish values. Therefore, we stand with teachers and school staff and urge Mayor Lightfoot to follow through on her promises to Chicago’s students. For too long, the fight for equitable education in Chicago has been on the defensive, but in 2019 there is a chance for real concrete gains. #FairContractNow #PutItInWriting
Signed,
Bonimot Tzedek-Chicago
Carol Muskin of Jewish Voice for Peace-Chicago
IfNotNow Chicago
Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
The Jewish Labor Committee of Chicago
NeverAgain Chicago
Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein
Rabbi David Eber of Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation
Chief Rabbi Capers Shmuel Funnye of Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken E.H.C.
Rabbi Maralee Gordon
Rabbi Lauren Henderson of Mishkan Chicago
Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann of Mishkan Chicago
Rabbi Brant Rosen of Tzedek Chicago
Rabbi Rachel Weiss of Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation
The Chicago Workmen’s Circle
