Chicago teacher strike to continue into Friday

 Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey (center, right) and Vice President Stacy Davis Gates (center, left) march with members of the CTU and SEIU Local 73 through the Loop after a rally, three days before the unions could walk off the job on strike, Monday afternoon, Oct. 14, 2019. (Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

CHICAGO (AP) — More than 300,000 Chicago students will miss another day of classes as contract talks between striking teachers and the school district remain at an impasse.

Chicago Public Schools announced Thursday night the cancellation of Friday classes. Chicago Teachers Union vice president Stacy Davis Gates tweeted the strike will continue into Friday.

The union has rejected an offer of a 16% base pay raise over five years and is asking for a 15% hike over three years. The union has also highlighted demands for enlarging support staff such as nurses, special education assistants and librarians in every school.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says the district has offered the teachers a “very fair and generous” compensation package. Lightfoot says a bigger compensation package won’t be offered because the city can’t afford it.

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