When the Chicago Teacher’s Union contract expired this past summer, the city and union agreed to use mediation to help them reach a new contract. The two sides have been in mediation for some time concerning the issues, but the dispute is growing tense. According to union staff coordinator Jackson Potter, “The law stipulates that mediation should go on for a reasonable period but doesn’t specify how long.” The previous contract mediation session in 2012 lasted approximately two months.

If mediation proves unsuccessful, the parties will go into a fact finding phase that would include a third-party mediator or arbitrator analyzing proposals and counter proposals. The third party would be chosen by the two sides. The goal would be to have a neutral party compile evidence that could be used to reach a compromise.

If that lasts more than 75 days and sides cannot come to a compromise, the mediator will have 15 days to submit a report that includes his or her recommendations. If either side refuses the recommendations, there is no resolution.

Following the refusal of the recommendations, there is a 30 day “cooling off” period and the union is given the option to strike. To do so they must provide a 10 day notice before beginning the strike. There needs to be at least 75% of the union in agreement in order to initiate a strike.

In the meantime, the union has organized at least one rally for support and is engaged in an aggressive social media campaign in an effort to gather support for its demands.