The Proviso teachers’ union declared the strike over compensation March 4, canceling classes for the district’s 4,200 students for 8 days so far. The local school board tried to call a time-out to get students back in class, but the union refused.

The Chicago Teachers Union has gone on strike five times and walked out on students at least three other times since it got the right to strike in 1984. Gaining greater power through Amendment 1 would embolden militant union tactics.

Amendment 1 would permanently write indicted former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s public union deals into the state constitution. If passed, neither lawmakers nor voters could ever change them.

Despite revised statewide orders, Chicago Public Schools are still requiring universal masking in all schools and offices after the Chicago Teachers Union forced the change through a walkout. A judge was asked to let student faces go free.

Illinois has seen 48 teacher strikes in 10 years. None of Illinois’ neighboring states let unions use students and their educations as bargaining chips.

If voters pass Amendment 1 in November, it will give teachers unions unprecedented power over what happens in schools. That power could never be curbed.