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