Chicago education board: Strike authorization vote invalid

CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago Board of Education wants a state body to invalidate a recent vote by the teachers union to authorize a strike.

The Chicago Tribune reports Friday (http://trib.in/1NEQRWf ) that the board views the strike authorization by the union as "inherently flawed."

Chicago Teachers Union members voted overwhelmingly last week to authorize their leaders to call a strike. That vote gives union leaders leverage in ongoing talks with Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration over a new contract.

The Tribune says the school board has sent a memo to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board arguing that the union cannot hold such a vote until contract talks go through additional stages.

But union attorney Robert Bloch disagrees. He calls the memo to the state body a "Hail Mary pass" to thwart the union.

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Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com