Member information for today’s Chicago Teachers Union election
We are a democratic union Representatives from schools and positions in Chicago Public Schools come together on the first Wednesday of every month at the Chicago Teachers Union House of Delegates to hear reports on our union’s progress and discuss key issues facing...
Bargaining Update: “Do you believe that librarians are important to schools?”
That was the question I posed to Chicago Public Schools yesterday. Their response? “We’ll have to get back to you on that.” The full Chicago Teachers Union bargaining team met with Chicago Public Schools on Wednesday afternoon, where members...
Adequate school staffing among key CTU contract demands
Union bargaining team is fighting for staffing commitments in critical areas that impact students’ readiness and ability to learn. CHICAGO, May 16, 2019—In 2012, Chicago Public Schools staffing of nurses, social workers, psychologists and counselors was...
Tell us your school is bringing a bus to the May 22 rally
We want to get a preliminary count of how many schools are bringing buses to the May 22, 2019 Keeping the Promise Rally for a Fair Contract. If you have your signup sheet and the Bus sign-up sheet (you must show that at least 25 people will ride down with you) and the...CTU All-Member Tele-Town Hall: 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 14
CTU All-Member Tele-Town Hall 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 14 Join us by phone at 7PM TUESDAY, May 14 for an all-CTU-member tele-town hall to learn more about current bargaining for a new CPS contract, plus developments in school issues and campaigns, this spring’s...Real teacher appreciation is a fair contract and manageable class sizes for Chicago’s schools
Chicago’s public school students need individual attention from their teachers, which is impossible with as many as 48 students in a kindergarten class. CHICAGO, May 8, 2019—Chicago Public Schools has the highest class sizes across grades 1-4 of any school district in...
Another charter victory: CTU members sign tentative agreement with charter operator Instituto
TA ends three day strike and wins smaller classes, wrap-around supports, sanctuary protections for immigrant students, contract protections for special education students and English language learners. CHICAGO—CTU members at charter schools are reforming the industry...
Class size demands—because real teacher appreciation is a fair contract.
Manageable class sizes Our students need individual attention from their teachers. We cannot provide that level of attention when we have as many as 48 students in a kindergarten class. According to Illinois State Board of Ed Report Card data, Chicago Public Schools...
Latino Youth HS settles, strike continues at charter operator Instituto’s schools
Latino Youth strikers win sanctuary protections, mental health support, restorative justice, culturally appropriate curricula for low-income, Latinx high school students, as strike at Instituto schools continues.
CTU Resolution to Lift the Ban
The following resolution was adopted at the May 1, 2019, CTU House of Delegates Meeting. Whereas, Chicago is experiencing a massive crunch on low income/affordable housing as neighborhoods gentrify and the 2008 foreclosure crisis continues to ripple through many of...
7A/1P TODAY: Friday actions to push management on financial shell games and demand fair contracts at three striking charter schools
7AM TODAY, May 3: Press conference/picket lines IHSCA, 2520 S. Western Ave., Chicago. (Picket lines at all three striking schools: IHSCA, IJLA, LYHS) 1PM TODAY, May 3: Rally and March IHSCA, 2520 S. Western Ave. Strikers will march to Instituto CEO’s office at...
It’s time for Chicago Public Schools to respect women’s work
Fair wages and benefits for a predominantly female workforce is a key issue in the CTU fight for a fair contract—in a district that is nearly 80 percent female, yet in a country where full-time working women make 80 cents on the dollar compared to men. CHICAGO, May 1,...
Just the Facts: Key information on CPS negotiations
We’ve formally asked for a federal mediator to join us at the bargaining table. Here’s why…
AFT’s Weingarten to join CTU charter educators to kick off multi-employer strike
Press conference/rally: 5PM, Wednesday, May 1 Chicago High School for the Arts, 2714 W. Augusta Blvd., Chicago Teachers, support staff are striking for living wages, adequate student supports, pension rights, protections for immigrant and special education students....CTU demands mediator as CPS seeks to renege on negotiations timeline
CPS move seeks to force CTU teachers, paraprofessionals, support staff to begin next school year with no contract—and no relief from overcrowded classrooms, severe staff shortages, chronically under-resourced school communities. CHICAGO, April 29, 2019—The CTU has...Early Notification of Resignation Program Deadline Extended to May 2
Please be aware that we have extended the deadline for our Early Notification of Resignation Program (ENRP) to Thursday, May 2. If you know your path leads away from CPS next year, please consider signing up for the ENRP. Early notification will carry a financial...
CTU charter members to strike on May Day
Teachers, support staff will walk out after end of school day on May 1 if demands for living wages, adequate student supports, pension rights, protections for immigrant and diverse learners are not met. View livestream of press conference at this link. CHICAGO—CTU...
President Sharkey to address City Club today
City Club of Chicago speech: 11:30 a.m. TODAY, Thursday, April 25 Maggiano’s Banquets, 111 W. Grand Ave., Chicago CTU President Jesse Sharkey to address City Club today CTU charter educators to announce first multi-employer strike against operators in U.S....
April 25: CTU charter members to announce strike date against operators
Press conference/rally: 4:30 PM, Thursday, April 25 Arturo Velazquez Westside Technical Institute, 2800 S. Western Ave., Chicago Teachers, support staff will walk out if demands for living wages, adequate student supports, pension rights, protections for immigrant and...
Elementary & Middle School Prep Periods Will Be Teacher-Directed June 19, 20
The Chicago Teachers Union won a favorable settlement of our grievance about preparation periods on June 19 and 20, 2019 — the last two days of student attendance for the 2018-19 school year. Prep periods on those days will be teacher directed. Consistent with...Call public hearings on gang database now
Controversial database is fraught with errors, denies due process, and thwarts public oversight. CHICAGO, April 15, 2019—CTU President Jesse Sharkey issued the following statement supporting public hearings into Chicago’s controversial gang database. “The...Bargaining update—April 12, 2019
April 12, 2019, bargaining update from from CTU President Jesse Sharkey to members.
Our students need support, not abuse
CPD officers mounted unprovoked assault, taser attack on Marshall High teenage girl. CHICAGO, April 11, 2019—CTU President Jesse Sharkey issued the following statement in wake of news that documentation has surfaced showing an unprovoked resource officer assault on a...
Time for City officials to answer to the people
Aldermen-elect join protesters from across city in the streets to oppose lame duck City Council’s handouts to wealthy developers, setting the stage for end to business as usual for clouted insiders. CHICAGO, April 10, 2019—CTU President Jesse Sharkey issued the...General CTU Announcement
The Schools Chicago’s Students Deserve 2.0
This 2018 update to CTU’s 2012 report provides a counter-narrative to the corporate agenda on education and highlights the role of CTU’s campaigns, including for contracts, in fighting it.
