CHICAGO (AP) – Teachers in the nation’s third-largest public school district have overwhelmingly voted in support of a strike, though the earliest one could occur is mid-October.

The Chicago Teachers Union said Monday that 95 percent of its voting members favored strike authorization.
The support was expected. About 88 percent supported a strike during a similar December vote.

The union, which represents over 25,000 members, needs 75 percent support and 10 days of notice before a walkout.
CTU’s governing body meets Wednesday to determine next steps. If they decide to give notice, the first possible day of the strike would be Oct. 11.

Cost-of-living raises, pension contributions and health care have been key issues since the contract expired last year.

Teachers staged a one-day walk in April. The last major strike was in 2012.