Kamil Krzaczynski – AFP / Getty ImagesThe Chicago Teachers Union organized an “Occupy City Hall” and car caravan protest against reopening schools on Aug. 3. (Kamil Krzaczynski – AFP / Getty Images)
About 40 percent of Chicago Public Schools teachers and staff refused to report for in-person work on Monday, city officials said.
Teachers and staff were expected to return to schools this week for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
However, only about half of teachers and three-quarters of support staff — or about 60 percent of the 5,800 employees — returned to the classrooms Monday, according to city officials.
The teachers who did not return and continued to teach remotely were informed that their absence was unexcused and they will face discipline if they continue to defy orders.
“We’re afraid for our lives. We don’t want to lose our jobs.
