Chicago teachers want no school on May Day, testing the city’s mayor and school leaders
The union says cancelling classes would let teachers and students join rallies, while district leaders warn the move would disrupt more than 315,000 students.
- Chicago Teachers Union requested canceling classes on May 1 to facilitate May Day demonstrations, but newly-named Chicago Public Schools CEO Macquline King rejected the proposal, citing disruptions to student testing and milestones.
- Union leaders argue May 1 provides a critical opportunity for students to advocate for democracy, framing the demonstration as an essential lesson in civic engagement amid concerns over education policy under the Trump administration.
- The standoff impacts more than 315,000 students, as a district survey shows 113 schools have planned Advanced Placement testing, field trips, and sporting events on May 1 that would be disrupted by a closure.
- This dispute places Mayor Brandon Johnson in a difficult political position; he was elected in 2023 with the teachers union's support and must now balance labor allegiance with district management responsibilities.
- With Chicago transitioning from a mayor-appointed school board to a fully-elected body this November, the ongoing friction highlights high stakes for local officials ahead of the 2027 mayoral reelection bid.
35 Articles
35 Articles
Chicago teachers want no school on May Day, testing the city's mayor and school leaders
A tangled political fight over whether Chicago’s public schools will hold classes on May Day has unraveled in the nation’s third-largest city.
May Day planning revs up, with organizers looking ahead to midterm elections
CHICAGO—With mass rallies nationwide growing by the day and enthusiasm rising, activists and planners for May Day 2026 are already distributing tool kits, giving advice, and urging people nationwide to join the pledge: “No work! No school! No shopping!” Organizers hope to bring much of the economy to a halt. But while the activists pumped people up in a nationwide Zoom call on April 9 and a Chicago Teachers Union press conference the day before,…
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