Baltimore activists weighing in on Chicago teacher strike

BALTIMORE - The teachers strike in Chicago enters its seventh day today. It has kept some 350,000 students out of class.

It's the first teachers strike in Chicago in 25 years. The two sides will gather at 3 pm today.

A Chicago judge has scheduled a hearing on a possible injunction to end the Chicago teachers strike for Wednesday at 10:30 am.

Chicago City attorneys filed a brief saying the strike is illegal. The union is scheduled to meet today to decide whether to end the walkout.

If union delegates call off the strike students could be back in class by Wednesday. Labor and education experts have called it a good deal for the union. It includes pay raises in a bad economy and an appeals process for new teacher evaluations.

Larry Dinardo, lawyer for Chicago Public Schools said that their goal was to do everything they can to get the children back in school.

Jackson Potter , Chicago Teachers Union said "It was very simple.  They need time to go back to their members.  They need to think clearly about what this represents. We've gone without pay for five days.  That's an important decision that wasn't made lightly. And when they come back, they want to do it with a clear conscience."

How are Baltimore activists getting involved?

This morning Baltimore community activists are supporting Chicago teachers.

Tuesday afternoon a group of activists will be at the corner of Coldspring Lane and Falls Road in front of Western High School to show support for Chicago teachers.

They are coming together for a picket line and press conference on the issue. They want to support Chicago teachers who are defying big business and their mayor and who are making so many sacrifices for student, teachers, workers and communities everywhere.