The Chicago teacher's strike continued on Wednesday, showing few signs that a resolution would soon be reached, according to a Chicago Tribune article. This is the city's first teachers' strike in 25 years and 350,000 children are currently not in school because of it.
Daniel Powers, a psychologist for Chicago Public Schools (CPS), told the news source that the teachers were not there to have fun.
"We would all – if you ask any of us – rather be in the classroom with our students," Powers said, who was marching with about 40 teachers outside CPS headquarters. "We don't like this disruption. But we're not going to work unless we have a fair contract."
According to The New York Times, the standoff was aided by the toxic relationship between Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel and Karen Lewis, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union.
The union represents 30,000 teachers and support staff in the nation's third-largest school district, reported CNN. The strike was called after negotiations failed to reach a contract agreement with school administrators despite eight months of talks. Reports from union members said that on Sunday – the day before the strike began – both sides were close to an agreement on pay but not on teacher evaluations, benefits and other issues.
Chicago police are expecting an increase in trouble, as more kids will be on the streets, according to CNN. Officers were pulled from desk duty to increase a police presence, while churches and other civic organizations opened their doors for students to have somewhere to go.
Large protests such as the one in Chicago can greatly affect more than just the organization making a statement for a cause. A business continuity plan can ensure that businesses of all kinds will be able to account for increases or decreases in customers and other unexpected occurrences in large metropolises.