The governing body of the Chicago Teachers Union called for the "immediate resignation" of schools chief Forrest Claypool on Wednesday, a symbolic gesture that also denounced budget cuts and layoffs implemented by the city amid ongoing budget turmoil.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who appointed Claypool to lead Chicago Public Schools in 2015, responded by saying he had "complete confidence" in the former mayoral chief of staff and Chicago Transit Authority chief.

"Instead of throwing stones at each other, everyone who cares about Chicago's schools and Chicago's students should be focused on coming together to fight for fair funding in Springfield," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement.

"That's Forrest's focus, that's my focus, and that should be the focus of all of us."

Union members also used a separate resolution to object to four furlough days CPS instituted this year to close part of a budget gap the school system faces at the end of the year.

The furloughs are "a violation of our recently signed contract as well as a violation of labor law," that CTU resolution said.

Union members plan to demonstrate outside the Emanuel's office on Friday, the first scheduled furlough day of the year.

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