Your colleagues are on strike. Here’s why.

I am writing to let you know that your fellow SEIU Local 73 members are at the center of a huge fight in Chicago and it’s heating up!

Chicago Public Schools support workers (special education classroom assistants, bus aides, security officers, janitors and more) went on strike October 17 for the good jobs Chicago needs.

This strike is historic. It is the first in decades. These courageous workers are fighting for the dignity and respect they deserve as they care for Chicago’s most vulnerable students and for keeping our schools safe and clean. We know when we fight, we win.

In past years, our city chipped away at funding for schools, parks and the things that make our communities great because our politicians said we couldn’t afford to do better.

We know that’s not true. With booming finance, real estate and insurance industries, Chicago can afford to do much more for those of us who live and work here.

That’s why 7,500 Local 73 members and 35,000 teachers and other workers represented by the Chicago Teachers Union are walking picket lines, holding rallies and actions. The action these brave workers are taking is about more than just Chicago. In a state as rich as ours, no matter where we live or the color of our skin, people should be able to make a decent living and save for the future, give our kids a great start in life and live in a good neighborhood.

There’s been an incredible outpouring of support for the action strikers are taking especially from other workers who are struggling to make ends meet, certain elected leaders and from people of faith and religious leaders across the city.

In the coming days, I hope you’ll join me in standing with our union family to demand Chicago invest in our schools and communities by providing good, family-sustaining jobs.

P.S. Take a look at the article I wrote for the Sun-Times about the importance of this strike.