Chicago teachers vote on new contract, ballots to be counted Wednesday

10/3/2012
ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHICAGO — Chicago Teachers Union officials are set to start counting the ballots that its members cast on whether they want to accept a proposed contract.

Last month, teachers at more than 600 schools ended a seven-day strike after union delegates discussed the proposed contract settlement and voted overwhelmingly to suspend the labor action.

The union's financial secretary, Kristine Mayle, says teachers voted before and after school Tuesday, and that the union would count the votes Wednesday.

Mayle says that the results of the vote could be known as soon as Wednesday night or Thursday.

Teachers walked out Sept. 10 after months of tense contract negotiations, marking the first teachers strike in the city in a quarter century.