Chicago
Chicago Symphony Orchestra strike nears end of first week
By Michael Walters and Kristina Betinis, 15 March 2019
Pensions have emerged as a major issue in the dispute that has pitted musicians at one of the top orchestras in the world against wealthy corporate donors.
“This is not just about Tchaikovsky, it’s about culture as a whole”
Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians strike to defend pensions
By Kristina Betinis, 12 March 2019
CSO players and supporters demand funding for the arts, not wars.
Bernie Sanders adapts to racial politics at Chicago campaign rally
By George Gallanis, 5 March 2019
Sanders’ speech in Chicago used his experiences in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, while a student at the University of Chicago, to make an appeal to identity politics.
Near-record low turnout in first round of Chicago municipal election
By Alexander Fangmann, 2 March 2019
Former federal prosecutor Lori Lightfoot and Democratic Party boss Toni Preckwinkle will face each other in the April 2 run-off.
Widespread popular disgust with Chicago council elections
By Kristina Betinis, 25 February 2019
Fourteen candidates vie for mayor today, while as many as one-third of the city council may be ousted.
Chicago municipal primary elections to take place Tuesday
By Kristina Betinis, 25 February 2019
Widespread disgust with both parties prevails as fourteen candidates vie for mayor and as much as one-third of the city council may be ousted in the third-largest US city.
Chicago Teachers Union shuts down strike at CICS charter schools
By Alexander Fangmann, 20 February 2019
Despite hailing it as yet another “victory,” the union agreed to a deal that leaves conditions and teacher compensation at charter schools well below traditional public schools.
Chicago charter teachers strike enters second week
By Kristina Betinis, 12 February 2019
Charter school teachers are fighting for decent wages and smaller class sizes, but the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is looking to expands its franchise into the charter business.
Chicago Fire Department cites open flame as cause of Little Village fire that killed 10 children
By Benjamin Mateus, 12 February 2019
Nearly five months after the fire, investigators are unable to determine if the cause of the fire was arson or an accident, or even the source of the blaze.
Teachers at four Chicago charter school campuses walk out
By Kristina Betinis, 6 February 2019
In the second-ever strike to hit charter schools, 175 teachers and staff at four Chicago International Charter School campuses walked out Tuesday over pay and conditions.
48-year-old teacher perishes in house fire on Chicago’s southwest side
By Kristina Betinis, 6 February 2019
Kathleen Gomez was mourned by family and friends at her home on Tuesday evening.
City Colleges of Chicago averts staff and faculty strike
By Alexander Fangmann, 31 January 2019
Just days after the setting of a February 4 strike date, the Cook County College Teachers Union and Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that a tentative agreement had been reached.
“The union sold us out”
Chicago UPS drivers angered by Teamsters sellout contract
By George Marlowe, 25 January 2019
UPS drivers and warehouse workers in Chicago are opposed to the pro-company contracts imposed by the Teamsters across the country and are looking to mount a fight.
Chicago police officer sentenced to less than seven years for murder of Laquan McDonald; three officers acquitted in cover-up
By Michael Walters, 21 January 2019
Jason Van Dyke was convicted in October 2018 of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, one for every bullet he unloaded into McDonald’s body.
“We’re the ones doing the work, moving the packages and moving the world”
Rockford, Illinois UPS workers outraged by sellout Teamsters contract
By George Marlowe, 21 January 2019
UPS workers in the economically depressed midwestern city of Rockford, Illinois, have spoken out against the UPS-Teamsters contract.
Longest-serving Chicago alderman charged with attempted extortion
By Kristina Betinis, 7 January 2019
Ed Burke, who has spent more than 50 years in Chicago Democratic Party politics, faces federal corruption charges.
Chicago ZF chassis plant to close, lay off 261 workers
By George Gallanis, 29 December 2018
The UAW has remained silent on the job cuts announced by the German-based auto parts company at its Chicago plant.
Teamsters union releases new sellout contracts for 15,000 Midwest UPS workers
By George Marlowe, 28 December 2018
The planned sellouts in Chicago and across three US states are all the more significant because of the central role played by the Teamsters for a Democratic Union.
Union isolates Cambria hotel workers in Chicago as British Columbia and Los Angeles hotel employees protest
By Michael Walters, 15 December 2018
Hotel workers have been on strike for three months at the Cambria Hotel in Chicago under conditions where the UNITE HERE union has systemically shut down hotel strikes nationally.
Chicago teacher union shuts down charter school strike, holds rally for Democratic candidates
By Kristina Betinis and Alexander Fangmann, 11 December 2018
Union officials showered Democrats with praise while offering no concrete details of the agreement to charter school teachers or when they could vote on the deal.
Another house fire erupts in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood
By Benjamin Mateus and Jessica Goldstein, 10 December 2018
The fire, which displaced several families, came less than four months after a house fire in the same area claimed the lives of ten children.
Chicago charter teacher strike continues, as unions announce backing for Democratic machine politician
By Kristina Betinis, 7 December 2018
Acero teachers determined to improve conditions are being isolated from other schools even as the unions use their strike as the backdrop for their political maneuvers.
“Multiple families have been displaced and the city and government, no one has done a damn thing for them”
Three months after Chicago house fire that killed ten children
By George Gallanis and Benjamin Mateus, 7 December 2018
The cause of the fire in the working class Little Village neighborhood remains unknown as victims of the fire struggle to move on.
Democrats, union tops seek to isolate Chicago charter teachers’ strike
By Kristina Betinis, 6 December 2018
Hours after staging a photo op at a Tuesday teachers’ rally, Chicago mayoral candidate Toni Preckwinkle announced her education platform.
At Chicago Mayoral Forum
Unions promote corporate Democrats to succeed Rahm Emanuel
By Kristina Betinis, 27 November 2018
The Chicago Teachers Union sponsored the first major event of the city’s mayoral election campaign, hosting five right-wing Democratic Party candidates, one of them an open opponent of public education.
Growing interest in socialism at Chicago meeting on 80th anniversary of Fourth International
By the IYSSE at University of Illinois at Chicago, 14 November 2018
David North spoke to youth and workers on the need to assimilate the lessons of the 20th century to build a movement for socialism today.
Chicago charter school teachers vote overwhelmingly to authorize strike
By Kristina Betinis, 5 November 2018
Charter school teachers are determined to improve pay and classroom conditions, but they cannot advance their fight through the Chicago Teachers Union.
Chicago Teamsters local announces end to UPS contract extension
By George Marlowe, 2 November 2018
The union is seeking to reach a concessions contract with management while preventing a rebellion among rank-and-file workers.
Fiat Chrysler workers hit with temporary layoffs across North America
By Jacob Crosse, 1 November 2018
FCA workers in Windsor, Canada, and factories in Illinois and Indiana are on temporary layoff due to falling sales.
Chicago Lyric Opera musicians’ strike ends with concessions deal
By Brian Brown and Jeff Lusanne, 23 October 2018
Chicago’s Lyric Opera attempted to make drastic cuts to its orchestra, and managed to push through several of its demands despite a five-day strike by orchestra musicians.
Chicago cop cleared in the 2012 killing of 15-year-old Dakota Bright
By Benjamin Mateus, 15 October 2018
The decision means that Brandon Ternand will not face any discipline for the murder and will be reinstated to active duty with back pay.
“We are just new slaves”
1,500 Boston hotel workers walk out as UNITE HERE seeks to end Chicago strike
By George Marlowe, 4 October 2018
From the start of the strike in Chicago, the UNITE HERE union has sought to isolate workers by signing piecemeal deals with one hotel chain after another.
Trial underway in Chicago police murder of Laquan McDonald
By Kristina Betinis and George Gallanis, 27 September 2018
The defense team is relying on allegations that McDonald was a “combative” person to convince the jury he posed a threat and deserved to be killed.
“We have to join our struggles together”
Chicago Ford autoworkers support hotel workers on strike
By George Marlowe and Marcus Day, 18 September 2018
Workers at the Chicago Ford Assembly Plant spoke out in support of striking hotel workers and the common struggles all workers face.
“All the hotel workers should go on strike”
Chicago hotel workers continue walkout as workers throughout the US vote to strike
By George Marlowe and George Gallanis, 17 September 2018
Hotel workers in Chicago continue to fight for year-round healthcare and higher wages, even as the union keeps them isolated from hotel workers' struggles across the country.
Residents of Chicago’s Little Village speak out against increasing poverty and unaffordable housing
By our reporters, 17 September 2018
Three weeks after a deadly house fire killed 10 children on Chicago’s west side, residents still have no answers as to its causes, or resources to help them recover.
“This should be a mass movement if we want to get what we want”
Chicago hotel workers’ strike continues for eighth day
By our reporting team, 14 September 2018
WSWS reporters visited and spoke to picketing workers at the JW Marriott Chicago hotel and Palmer House hotel in Chicago’s downtown.
Chicago hotel workers’ strike enters fourth day
By Marcus Day, 10 September 2018
Thousands of hotel workers have struck at 25 locations in and around downtown Chicago since Friday, fighting for better health care and wages.
“Capitalism is not working, and it never has for us”
Striking Chicago hotel workers speak out on fight for wages, health care
By our reporters, 10 September 2018
The WSWS spoke to striking hotel workers on the picket lines in downtown Chicago Saturday.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announces he will not seek reelection
By Kristina Betinis, 7 September 2018
On the eve of the trial of the Chicago cop who killed Laquan McDonald, the mayor, who oversaw a cover-up of the teen’s murder, announced that he would not seek a third term.
“This is a class issue, and it’s a social issue”
Memorial service held for six of ten children killed in Chicago Little Village house fire
By our reporters, 3 September 2018
About 200 people attended the funeral, with many traveling long distances from throughout Chicago and its surrounding suburbs.
Media smears family of victims of Chicago house fire
By George Marlowe, 3 September 2018
The press continues to demonize the victims of the Chicago house fire in the Little Village neighborhood, deflecting blame from the political establishment.
“Everything started failing for us”
An interview with a relative of Chicago house fire victim
By George Gallanis, 31 August 2018
WSWS reporters spoke to the great-aunt of 16-year-old Victor Mendoza, one of 10 children killed in Sunday’s deadly blaze in Little Village.
“The politicians want to sweep this under the rug”
Hundreds gather to commemorate ten children killed in Chicago house fire
By George Marlowe and George Gallanis, 29 August 2018
While hundreds went to a vigil to commemorate and mourn the death of the ten children lost to the house fire Sunday morning, Chicago’s Democratic mayor and city aldermen declined to attend.
Eight children killed in house fire on Chicago’s West Side
By Jessica Goldstein, 27 August 2018
According to the fire department, if working smoke detectors had been in place, the victims would have been woken by the alarms and could have all escaped to safety.
As protests continue, Chicago police release footage of Harith Augustus’ murder
By our reporters, 17 July 2018
The footage was released very quickly, against official protocol, as the city attempts to defuse popular anger over the shooting and police aggression towards protesters.
Protesters clash with Chicago police after police murder of Harith Augustus
By Benjamin Mateus and Kristina Betinis, 16 July 2018
Simmering anger over police violence led to protests after police harassed a local barber and shot him in the back as he tried to flee.
Northwestern University roundtable discusses regime change in Russia
By Marcus Day and Kristina Betinis, 25 May 2018
The Buffet Institute of Global Studies’ main speaker was Strobe Talbott, former deputy secretary of state in the Clinton administration, president of the Brookings Institution and architect of US imperialist strategy.
Three Chicago Transit Authority workers injured in subway electrical explosion
By Michael Walters, 8 May 2018
Despite the seriousness of the incident, few details have been made public by the unions and the CTA or reported on by the press.
CIA expands its Signature School program to University of Illinois Chicago
By George Gallanis and Kristina Betinis, 4 May 2018
The program permits the CIA to have a regular recruiting presence on the university’s Chicago campus.
Black Lives Matter, ACLU stay lawsuits, promote Chicago police “reform”
By Jessica Goldstein and George Marlowe, 25 April 2018
The involvement of BLM in the CPD consent decree is intended to provide further cover for police and the political establishment while giving middle class activists a “piece of the action.”
University of Chicago student with mental illness shot by campus police
By George Marlowe, 6 April 2018
Suffering from a severe mental breakdown, Charles Thomas was shot and wounded by campus police Tuesday night. He now faces criminal charges.
Loyola Chicago adjunct faculty hold one-day strike
By Alexander Fangmann, 5 April 2018
The 350 liberal arts and other faculty were joined by several hundred students, alumni and other supporters.
ICE arrests wrongly convicted Chicago man released after 20 years in prison
By Meenakshi Jagadeesan, 31 March 2018
Ricardo Rodriguez, wrongfully convicted for the 1995 murder of a homeless man, was finally freed after 20 years behind bars, only to be immediately taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“No more wars, no more violence!”
Over 80,000 youth and students in Chicago protest against mass violence
By the International Youth and Students for Social Equality at the University of Illinois at Chicago, 26 March 2018
The March for Our Lives demonstration in Chicago was one of the largest in the city’s history and demonstrates a growing radicalization and movement to the left by youth and students.
Union betrays graduate workers’ strike at University of Illinois
By Jessica Goldstein, 14 March 2018
Having demobilized students and pushed through a sellout deal, the Graduate Employees Organization is promoting impotent appeals to university officials.
“I think they should keep striking”
Chicago Ford workers speak out in support of West Virginia teachers
By George Marlowe and Andy Thompson, 6 March 2018
Chicago autoworkers expressed their support for the West Virginia teachers on strike and denounced the conditions they face.
Chicago public school teachers vote to approve merger with charter teachers union
By Kristina Betinis, 12 February 2018
The merger between the two AFT locals was rejected by nearly one-third of those who voted, based on the Chicago Teachers Union’s complicity with Mayor Emanuel’s school privatization efforts.
Amidst cuts to special education and school closure protests
Chicago Public Schools appoints new CEO
By George Marlowe and Andy Thompson, 2 February 2018
After the resignation of the previous school chief, Chicago Public Schools officials have appointed a new CEO groomed by the political establishment to ramp up the attack on education.
“Management tells the UAW what to do and they say, ‘Okay!’”
Chicago Ford workers speak out on death of Coby Hennings
By Marcus Day, 5 December 2017
Ford Chicago Assembly workers denounced the grueling working conditions of TPTs which had led to the death of 21-year-old Coby Hennings six weeks ago at Woodhaven Stamping near Detroit.
After ultimatum and threats of job loss
Union ends Palatine, Illinois support staff strike without contract
By George Marlowe, 4 November 2017
After the school district of Palatine, Illinois issued an ultimatum to striking support staff, their union sent them back to work without a contract.
With medical and health benefits cut
Palatine, Illinois school district support staff return to picket lines
By George Marlowe, 30 October 2017
Many of the workers make starvation wages as low as $11 an hour, pay high out-of-pocket health care costs and are forced to work a second or third job just to make ends meet.
Court orders striking staff at suburban Chicago school district back to work
By Kristina Betinis, 19 October 2017
The court and the school district are running roughshod over the democratic rights of school workers who are fighting for decent wages and benefits.
Chicago launches new fig leaf police oversight agency
By George Marlowe, 2 October 2017
The Chicago Police Department is one of the most brutal in the country, synonymous with police murder and the use of CIA-style “black sites.”
“Health care is a human right”
IYSSE speaks at health care rally at University of Illinois Chicago
By our reporters, 28 September 2017
While organizers of a rally at UIC promoted Sanders’ single-payer “Medicare for All” bill, the IYSSE outlined the socialist response to health care crisis.
IAM ends Chicago area mechanics strike
By Jessica Goldstein, 18 September 2017
After seven weeks of struggle, IAM Local 701 imposed a sellout deal on striking Chicago area mechanics.
Chicago area auto mechanics reject dealers’ “last, best and final offer”
By Jerry White, 13 September 2017
Chicago area car mechanics, now in the seventh week of their strike, voted down the concessions-laden contract brought back by the International Association of Machinists.
IAM pushes sellout deal on striking Chicago car mechanics
By Jessica Goldstein, 11 September 2017
Mechanics are not paid for the hours worked on the clock, but by the number of hours the automobile manufacturers assign to the parts they work on.
“We don’t know what kind of deal they’ve struck with the breakaway dealerships”
IAM isolates striking Chicago car mechanics, seeks separate agreements
By Jessica Goldstein, 5 September 2017
Striking Chicago-area auto mechanics remain militant during their fifth week of struggle while the union tries to shut down the strike by making deals with independent dealerships.
Oppose the militarist high school graduation policy of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel!
By the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, 5 September 2017
Youth, students, and workers must oppose Mayor Emanuel’s new “Learn. Plan. Succeed.” policy for high school students, designed to force working class and poor students into the military.
Chicago Public Schools lays off nearly 1,000 as budget impasse threatens more
By Alexander Fangmann, 23 August 2017
While CPS blames “enrollment changes, program adjustments and/or changes in students’ academic needs,” demographic changes alone do not account for the continued layoffs.
“We work harder for pennies”
Striking Chicago-area mechanics denounce auto dealerships’ contract offer
By Jessica Goldstein, 7 August 2017
Striking mechanics told the WSWS that after years of concessions they are determined to obtain a real wage increase and better contract terms.
Chicago Transit Authority train operators vote to strike
By Jeff Lusanne, 12 July 2017
In a preliminary poll of train operators, 98 percent voted to strike the against the Chicago Transit Authority after 18 months without a new contract.
Notes on police violence
Latest Chicago police killing shrouded in secrecy
By George Gallanis, 11 July 2017
The still unidentified man shot Sunday is the eighth person killed by the Chicago police this year, coming not even one week since the last fatal shooting.
Notes on police violence
Chicago police fatally shoot 37-year-old man
By George Marlowe, 5 July 2017
Despite promises of reform from Democratic mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago police department continues to kill with impunity, as do police forces across the rest of the country.
Trump administration, Democrats announce local-federal partnership to expand Chicago police force
By Kristina Betinis, 3 July 2017
The greater integration of city and federal policing agencies will do nothing to address the conditions that produce gun violence, rooted in social inequality and mass poverty.
Chicago police officers indicted for covering up murder of Laquan McDonald
By Alexander Fangmann, 29 June 2017
Rather than striking a blow against the Chicago Police Department’s code of silence, the charges against the three officers are an extension of a cover up that extends to Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Caterpillar, Butterball to close factories in Montgomery, Illinois, laying off 1,400 workers
By Marcus Day and George Marlowe, 24 May 2017
The dual factory closures in the far western suburbs of Chicago take place in an area already hard hit by decades of deindustrialization.
Chicago police keep nearly 400,000 on a secret watch list
By George Marlowe, 24 May 2017
Far exceeding previous claims, the Chicago police secretly maintain a vast surveillance net covering nearly 15 percent of the city’s population.
Obama presidential center in Chicago could cost $1.5 billion
By George Marlowe, 19 May 2017
The Obamas are building their shrine to themselves in a highly impoverished area of the city of Chicago as part of their post-presidential mythmaking efforts.
Chicago school district moves to fire activist teacher
By Kristina Betinis, 12 May 2017
The Emanuel administration is aiming to make an example of Chambers to intimidate and silence teachers who oppose education cuts, high-stakes testing and school privatization.
Chicago Teachers Union calls off one-day strike vote
By Kristina Betinis, 11 April 2017
Just hours before a scheduled vote on a one-day walkout union head Karen Lewis announced, “No, we’re not striking.”
East Chicago mayor refuses to reveal plan for lead-poisoned housing complex
By Jessica Goldstein and Benjamin Mateus, 10 April 2017
The US Environmental Protection Agency determined that the relocation of West Calumet residents was unnecessary.
Chicago teachers to vote on one-day strike
By Kristina Betinis, 30 March 2017
As part of the latest round of cuts, the administration of Mayor Rahm Emanuel has threatened to end the school year nearly three weeks early.
Chicago schools and water infrastructure plagued by lead contamination
By our reporter, 16 March 2017
Chicago schools and the city’s water infrastructure contains lead piping that expose the population to the danger of lead poisoning.
Stop censorship at Loyola University-Chicago
Students have the right to form political organizations on campus!
By the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (US), 1 March 2017
The IYSSE calls on Loyola University Chicago to reverse its decision barring the International Socialist Organization from forming a student club.
Chicago: Seven fatal shootings in one day, Trump threatens federal intervention
By Alexander Fangmann, 25 February 2017
Trump wants to unleash is a violent and ruthless crackdown on working class and impoverished communities, along with a clampdown on protests against police violence,
Indiana governor declares disaster in East Chicago over lead contamination
By Jessica Goldstein, 20 February 2017
Although lead contamination in the area has been known of for decades, no substantial efforts were made to address the toxin until recently.
Cook County, Illinois refuses to charge officer involved in fatal shooting of two
By George Marlowe, 13 February 2017
In what amounts to yet another political cover up of police murders in Chicago, prosecutors claimed that the officer acted in self-defense despite witness testimony to the contrary.
Chicago Housing Authority refuses to provide housing assistance while homelessness grows
By Alexander Fangmann, 6 February 2017
A newly released report details how the public housing agency fails to provide housing vouchers or construct new units.
Illinois governor threatens to dispatch National Guard if state workers strike
By George Gallanis, 3 February 2017
Republican governor, Bruce Rauner, has threatened to carry out a Reagan-style strikebreaking operation if 30,000 state workers walk out to oppose his demands for concessions.
Trump threatens to “send in the Feds” to Chicago
By Kristina Betinis, 27 January 2017
Trump’s threats to intervene in Chicago to promote “law and order” reveal his plans for urban areas across the nation.
Hundreds of thousands rally in Chicago to oppose Trump
By our reporters, 24 January 2017
Those who rallied to oppose the politics of the Trump administration were confronted with the Democratic Party’s stock-in-trade of identity politics and militarism.
Chicago police officer charged with first-degree murder for killing unarmed man
By Marcus Day, 21 January 2017
Lowell Houser, a 28-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, was charged with first-degree murder Wednesday for fatally shooting and killing an unarmed man earlier this month.
Justice Department report on Chicago police an exercise in damage control
By George Marlowe, 17 January 2017
A report released by the Obama administration’s Department of Justice last week highlights unconstitutional acts of police brutality by the Chicago Police Department.
Illinois man dies after police shootout on commuter train
By George Marlowe, 12 January 2017
Jamal Parks died from a gunshot wound to the head in Deerfield, Illinois, in the midst of a dangerous police shootout aboard a passenger-filled train.
The Chicago Facebook torture video: A symptom of social decay in capitalist America
By George Gallanis, 12 January 2017
The issues raised by this violent and cruel incident can be properly understood only by placing it within its socio-economic and political context.
Illinois governor vetoes $215 million in pension funding for Chicago teachers
By Alexander Fangmann, 6 December 2016
Rauner’s veto, which could result in deep school cuts, was widely expected by the Chicago Teachers Union, which concealed this from teachers in order to block a strike and push through concessions.
Chicago police kill two over Thanksgiving holiday
By Jessica Goldstein, 28 November 2016
The recent shootings take place one year after the release of dashcam footage of the murder of 17-year-old black youth Laquan McDonald by a Chicago cop.
Several thousand join anti-Trump protests in Chicago
By our reporters, 14 November 2016
For the second time in a week, anti-Trump protesters gathered in downtown Chicago Saturday morning expressing social anger felt throughout the United States in the wake of Trump’s election.
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