EP K-8 Teachers To Stage Solidarity Rally on Monday

On the eve of Chicago public school teachers’ walkout, the Evergreen Park teachers union left a fiery message of union solidarity on its own Facebook page from ATF president David Gray:

"Never let our adversaries marginalize us or what we will do. We have to stand up to those who put us down and present our agenda loud and clear. The real credit will always go to those who are in the arena and fight the fight!"

The Evergreen Park Federation of Teachers, Local 943, is staging a solidarity rally on the lawn of at 4:15 p.m. today (Monday) before another round of bargaining sessions.

The union, whose members are from , are in the middle of their own contract fight. Evergreen Park's K-8 teachers rejected the D124 school board’s latest offer and authorized a strike last week by a near unanimous vote.

Teachers claim that what they’re asking for in salary increases will not “touch” the school district’s $16 million in cash reserves.

Bargaining talks were canceled last Friday by the D124 school board so it would have more time to review the union's latest offer.

The teachers union's bargaining team, the D124 school board and a federal mediator are scheduled for another round of contract talks on Monday afternoon. If unable to reach an agreement, the earliest Evergreen Park's elementary teachers could walk is Sept. 21.

Read Evergreen Park Patch's complete strike coverage:

Sign up for Evergreen Park Patch newsletter and breaking news alerts.