Classes canceled in Chicago due to conflict with teachers union over Covid

As Covid-19 surges to record levels in the region, school officials in Chicago canceled classes Wednesday after teachers threatened to stay home as a safety measure, according to The New York Times.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot decided to close schools for the day in the country’s third-largest district rather than reinstate distance learning, which she said was unnecessarily disruptive for families and staff. School campuses remained open for child care.

The union said a majority of its members voted on Tuesday to not report to work in person due to the spread of Covid-19 and what they deemed unsafe working conditions, including a shortage of tests and large numbers of students who are unvaccinated.