Ninety-seven percent of Chicago Teachers Union's members who participated in a "practice contract poll/mock strike vote" last week said "they will vote to authorize a strike, if needed," the union said Monday.

Over 95 percent of the union's membership participated in the practice vote, CTU said in announcing the preliminary results of its "internal union exercise."

In order to strike, CTU would need authorization from 75 percent of its members.

CTU held a "practice contract poll/mock strike vote" after learning last week that teachers could be laid off in early 2016 as part of a massive round of layoffs that could occur if the district does not get the $480 million in pension savings it is seeking from Springfield. 

The union is also still in negotiations with the district over a new labor contract. CTU's contract with the school district expired on June 30.

"For the sake of our children's education and our teachers' jobs, we are committed to working toward a solution to the budget crisis facing CPS, and we hope that the CTU will join us in Springfield to push for fair treatment for Chicago's children, instead of threatening a strike," reads a statement issued Monday by the Chicago Public Schools district.