Chicago teachers union warns of hundreds of layoffs

More than 1,000 Chicago teachers and hundreds of other school employees will be getting pink slips Friday, their union says. In a release Thursday, the Chicago Teachers Union said 1,074 teachers, 451 paraprofessional aides and 550 support staff are facing layoffs and will get calls from their principals Friday, WMAQ-TV reported. "The loss of these workers will have a direct impact on the quality of instruction offered in our schools under the imposed 'longer school day,'" CTU President Karen Lewis said. "These cuts are unnecessary and shameful for a system that prides itself on providing a high-quality education for our students." The city has already been through one round of job cuts at the end of last month. At schools being closed, 420 teachers were given layoff notices, and 125 teachers were laid off at schools in turnaround. More than 300 aides and other staffers also lost their jobs.