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Teachers in Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco Fight for Coronavirus Safety Measures

HeadlineFeb 08, 2021

Philadelphia teachers worried about catching COVID-19 in the classroom won a victory Sunday after city officials said they did not have to report to schools in person today. Philadelphia’s school district had previously threatened to discipline teachers who did not comply with orders to return to classrooms to prep for in-person classes set to resume later this month. Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan said, “Other than sheer cruelty and a callous disregard for the lives of educators and school staff, I can’t think of another reason to push forward with a reckless plan to reopen unsafe buildings.”

Meanwhile, the Chicago Teachers Union has reached a tentative agreement with Chicago Public Schools to return to in-person learning. The deal still requires the ratification of union members who were on the cusp of striking over coronavirus safety concerns. San Francisco’s teachers’ union reached a similar tentative agreement over the weekend.

In a CBS interview Sunday, Biden called school closures a “national emergency” and said the CDC will soon issue recommendations for minimum safety requirements in schools.

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