Karen Lewis

The Chicago Teachers Union easily met a threshold that 75 percent of its membership authorize a strike.

The union said CPS wants a pay freeze, $653 million in concessions, larger classes and school closings.

The Chicago Teachers Union will take a vote to authorize a strike next week.

Thousands of CTU members and supporters rallied for "good schools and a fair contract" downtown Monday.

CEO Forrest Claypool said CPS has 20 percent of state students, but gets 15 percent of school funding.

The Chicago Teachers Union released the results of the vote Monday.  

Unlike 2012's strike that hit the streets, this potential one would occupy banks, Karen Lewis said.

Yet Gov. Bruce Rauner was light on specifics on where additional state education funds would come from.

"The Teachers' Strike" has drawn ire from the CTU, which wants no part of the book.

"The Teachers' Strike," a novella, has drawn ire from the teachers' union amid new contract talks. 

CPS will cut more than $200 million from its budget and lay off 479 teachers, officials said.

"To take a 7 percent pay cut is strike-worthy," CTU President Karen Lewis said of a "pension pickup."

Mayor Rahm Emanuel also named Frank Clark to replace David Vitale as head of the Board of Education.

Teachers said they'd accept no raise, but wanted concessions on grading, testing and class size.

Parent and community groups are organizing three forums to inform the public on how talks are going.