By CTU Communications | July 9, 2020 | News
File under: Chicago Public Schools, COVID-19, Donald Trump, Lori Lightfoot, reopening
Caught between the gross ineptitude of Donald Trump’s U.S. Department of Education, and the uncertainty from Chicago Public Schools, more than 85 percent of CTU member respondents feel they should not or might not go back to work in the fall without a detailed plan and resources that will help guarantee the safe re-opening of our schools.
By Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance | July 8, 2020 | News
File under: Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance, Chicago City Council, Chicago Housing Justice League, Just Cause, Lori Lightfoot
19,000 evictions are filed in Chicago per year, and an estimated 25%of those are “no-cause evictions.” This means that the renters in these situations did not do anything wrong like fail to pay the rent or breach their lease to wind up in eviction court.
By Jesse Sharkey, CTU President | July 8, 2020 | News
File under: 52-week employees, COVID-19, Donald Trump, Lori Lightfoot, Outside experience, Salary Step Schedule Credit, Sports
Update from CTU leadership on contract enforcement, and the conditions we’re fighting for in district and charter schools in order to safely return to classrooms.
By CTU Communications | July 6, 2020 | News, Press Release
File under: #PoliceFreeSchools, COVID-19, Gun Violence, police, trauma
People need more equity and justice, not more cops, to address consequences of joblessness and hopelessness that drive violence. CHICAGO, July 6—The Chicago Teachers Union issued the following statement today in response to another devastating weekend of violence and...
By CTU Communications | July 1, 2020 | News
File under: CICS: Chicago International Charter Schools, COVID-19, EPIC Academy charter school, NLRB
The results are overwhelming: 90 percent of rank-and-file educators at EPIC charter school have voted to unionize and join the CTU.
By CTU Communications | June 26, 2020 | News
File under: Kids First Chicago, Privatization, Renaissance Schools Fund
The “ARA” is CPS’ latest attempt to close schools while claiming to ‘make them better’. The report was developed by Kids First Chicago, a new name for the Renaissance School Fund, a charter fundraising group that pushes education privatization.
By Thad Goodchild, Deputy General Counsel | June 25, 2020 | Grievance Wins, News
File under: Arbitration, contractual rights, COVID-19, drivers education, Grievance, hazard pay, PBD, personal business days, PSRP
We’ve recently leveraged powerful wins on personal business days in arbitration, and made important progress in strategic bargaining on PSRP summer in-person assignments and securing drivers ed instructors’ second semester pay. Scroll down to learn more! NOTE: We’ve added in a link that was missing under PSRP summer assignments.
By CTU Communications | June 24, 2020 | News, Press Release
File under: COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Elected Representative School Board, Lori Lightfoot, rubber stamp
Battle to win real equity and justice for students and Chicago neighborhoods is just beginning. CHICAGO, June 24—The Chicago Teachers Union issued the following statement this afternoon in response to the vote by a majority of Mayor Lightfoot’s hand-picked board...
By CTU Communications | June 24, 2020 | Fighting Racism, News
File under: #DefundThePolice, #PoliceFreeSchools, Chicago police, police
The Chicago Teachers Union Education Policy Department, along with rank-and-file educators, have conducted extensive research on the presence of police in public schools across the country. Their findings below are just a snapshot of overwhelming evidence supporting the termination of the $33 million contract between the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Public Schools, the removal of all officers from the city’s school communities, and reinvestment of funds into additional staffing, restorative justice, and trauma and wraparound services.
By Chris Geovanis | June 23, 2020 | News, News Advisory
File under: #DefundThePolice, #PoliceFreeSchools, Chicago police, COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Dnigma Howard, Laurentio Howard
Laurentio Howard, whose 16-year-old daughter was assaulted and tased by cops in her high school, supports call for CPS to invest in student needs, COVID-19 safety – not cops in schools. Noon, TODAY, June 24 Car Caravans/marches: Marchers assembling at Federal...
By Laurentio Howard | June 23, 2020 | News
File under: Chicago police, Lori Lightfoot, Marshall High School, police, SRO
Laurentio Howard, whose daughter was beaten, tased and dragged down the stairs by Chicago police working in Marshall High School, wrote this letter to Mayor Lori Lightfoot, CPS CEO Janice Jackson and Chicago Board of Ed President Miguel del Valle calling for police-free schools.
By Chris Geovanis | June 23, 2020 | News, Press Release
File under: chicago mayor, COVID-19, ISBE, Jesse Sharkey, Lori Lightfoot
Safety for students and their educators must be top priority for CPS fall school re-openings. CHICAGO—CTU President Jesse Sharkey issued the following statement in response to the release today of new ISBE guidance re opening schools this fall. “While Governor...
By CTU Communications | June 22, 2020 | News, News Advisory
File under: Chicago police, COVID-19, CPD, school resource officer, SRO
Noon, Tuesday, June 23: Press conference via Zoom (pre-registration required – contact Alexis at alexis@unitedworkingfamilies.org...
By Chris Geovanis | June 22, 2020 | News, News Advisory
File under: charter operator, CICS: Chicago International Charter Schools, COVID-19, Layoffs, student-based budgeting
1:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 23: Press availability via Zoom. CICS management continues to hoard $35 million in public education funds, while proposing layoffs that will undercut students’ educations, derail ability to support special needs students. CHICAGO—CTU...
By Chris Geovanis | June 22, 2020 | News, Press Release
File under: #DefundThePolice, #PoliceFreeSchools, Chicago police, SQRP: School Quality Rating Policy
CHICAGO, June 22, 2020—The Chicago Teachers Union released the following statement today in response to Chicago Public Schools’ continued refusal to address concerns over policing in the city’s public schools: Young Black organizers throughout our city—and...
By Chris Geovanis | June 22, 2020 | News, Press Release
File under: #DefundThePolice, #PoliceFreeSchools, Chicago police, COVID-19, police
CPS’ distorted funding priorities sacrifice critical supports for students to instead bankroll harmful policing practices. Noon, Wednesday, July 24 Car Caravans/marches: Marchers assembling at Federal Plaza, Dearborn and Adams; car caravan assembling near Grace...
By CTU President Jesse Sharkey | June 21, 2020 | News
File under: COVID-19, Jesse Sharkey, July 24, Remote Learning
Dear fellow CTU members: You’ve supported our graduates—and all our students—through a lifechanging and historic year. The end of the school year brings joy, excitement, relief and reflection. In that, this year is like others. In every other way, this year has been...
By Chris Geovanis | June 19, 2020 | News, Press Release
File under: COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Jesse Sharkey, Layoffs
CPS should be doing everything in their power during a global pandemic to create stability and fully staffed schools, instead of once again creating destructive annual end-of-year chaos. CHICAGO—CTU President Jesse Sharkey issued the following statement to rank and...
By CTU Communications | June 18, 2020 | News, Press Release
File under: DACA, Jesse Sharkey
Much-needed win also acknowledges fundamental rights and dignity of all DACA recipients. CHICAGO, June 18, 2020—CTU President Jesse Sharkey issued the following statement today in response to the Supreme Court’s decision today on DACA. “The Supreme Court...
By Jesse Sharkey, CTU President | June 16, 2020 | News
File under: Contract, Counselors, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Librarians, Restorative Justice Coordinators
In a major contract win, the Chicago Teachers Union has finalized the process for 30 Chicago public schools to receive a restorative justice coordinator, counselor or librarian starting in the 2020-2021 school year.
By Thad Goodchild, Deputy General Counsel | June 14, 2020 | Do This Now, News, Rights
File under: Contract enforcement, Grievance, Reimbursement
The CTU grievance department provides this advice with actions to take to secure your rights. We’re also sharing news of important grievance wins that secure rights for all our members.
By Christel Williams-Hayes, CTU Recording Secretary | June 13, 2020 | News
File under: PSRP, PSRPs
Important PSRP info on end-of-year assignments and summer unemployment benefits.
By CTU Communications | June 11, 2020 | Fighting Racism, News
File under: Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, racial justice, Racism, Solidarity
Updated Friday evening, June 12: Just as he did last weekend, our ally Ervin Lopez has compiled a list of marches, caravans and other events for racial justice, against police violence and for a more just Chicago. We will update this post as we receive and vet further information. Thank you, Ervin!
By Nora Flanagan, Northside College Prep | June 10, 2020 | News
File under: Ahmaud Arbery, Black Lives Matter, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd
If you can’t show up, you can still support the Movement.
By CTU Communications | June 10, 2020 | Do This Now, News
File under: Contract enforcement, CTU contract, IEP: Individualized Education Plan, Payroll
The deadline in 2020 is Friday, June 12 for stipends won in our latest contract for language interpreters in IEP meetings.
