Joseph Ocol Bravely Crosses Chicago Teacher Union Picket Line

Rebecca Friedrichs tells the story of Joseph Ocol, one brave Chicago teacher, on forkidsandcountry.org.

Joseph Ocol is a dedicated Chicago teacher who always puts his students first. So how is it that he came to be expelled from his union? Simple. Ocol committed the unpardonable sin – he put the kids ahead of the union. Now he’s expelled, but they still collect full dues from his paychecks.

When his union called a strike during the spring of 2016, Joseph elected to cross the picket line to continue teaching his math students and coaching his exceptional girls’ chess team. His students come from some of the toughest neighborhoods in Chicago, some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in America, so Joseph’s classes and teams provide a safe haven and sheltered learning environment for them.union.”