CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago teachers' rally scheduled today isn't a victory dance yet but there is increased optimism that a week-old strike can be settled.
Negotiators sound more hopeful than they have in weeks, announcing they have achieved a "framework" that could bring 350,000 students back to the classroom by Monday.
But the leader of the teachers' union cautions against assuming the nearly weeklong walkout is over until her members have seen the final offer in writing in a meeting scheduled for tomorrow.
Karen Lewis tells reporters that there is still suspicion among the members.
So the rally shapes up as a show of force for organized labor after a string of setbacks, with participants coming from Wisconsin, Minnesota and perhaps as far away as Boston.
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066-a-06-(David Vitali, president, Chicago School Board, with reporters)-"gonna get there"-Chicago School Board President David Vitali says both sides have worked together to bring the strike to an end. COURTESY: WLS TV ((mandatory on-air credit)) (15 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *066 (09/15/12)>> 00:06 "gonna get there"
068-a-10-(Jesse Sharkey, vice president, Chicago Teachers Union, at news conference)-"strike on Monday"-Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey was careful not to describe the "framework" as a final agreement yet. COURTESY: WLS TV ((mandatory on-air credit)) (15 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *068 (09/15/12)>> 00:10 "strike on Monday"
065-a-10-(David Vitali, president, Chicago School Board, with reporters)-"on Monday morning"-Chicago School Board President David Vitali says details still have to be worked out, but there's an agreement in principle that could end the strike. COURTESY: WLS TV ((mandatory on-air credit)) (15 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *065 (09/15/12)>> 00:10 "on Monday morning"
067-a-06-(Karen Lewis, president, Chicago Teachers Union, at news conference)-"blindly follow people"-Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis says whether or not the agreement will stick depends on a close reading of the details. COURTESY: WLS TV ((mandatory on-air credit)) (15 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *067 (09/15/12)>> 00:06 "blindly follow people"
064-w-28-(John Mone, AP correspondent, with striking teachers)--The end could soon be in sight for the teachers' strike that began this week in Chicago. AP correspondent John Mone has details. (15 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *064 (09/15/12)>> 00:28
264-w-28-(John Mone, AP correspondent, with striking teachers)--The end could soon be in sight for the teachers' strike that began this week in Chicago. AP correspondent John Mone has details. (14 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *264 (09/14/12)>> 00:28
