(Chicago Tonight)

The United Educators of UNO reached a tentative agreement early Wednesday morning with the UNO Charter School Network to stave off what would have been the nation’s first-ever charter school teacher strike.

UEU spokeswoman Erica Stewart, far right, joins protestors outside the UNO Charter School Network offices downtown Thursday to call for greater urgency during ongoing labor negotiations. (Matt Masterson / Chicago Tonight)

The United Educators of UNO plans to strike next week if it cannot come to terms on a new labor agreement with the UNO Charter School Network.

(Araceli Arroyo/Flickr)

The UNO Charter School Network laid off 29 union educators – including teachers, support staff and social workers – late last week as it worked to balance its 2016-17 budget and negotiate a new contract with its teachers union.