News and Notes
ChiArts educators reach tentative agreement with school management
On Wednesday evening, CTU members at Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) reached a tentative agreement with the school’s board of directors on a new four-year contract that will center the needs of the scholar-artists, students and their families who live at the core of the school’s mission. The agreement came after members courageously voted to strike if an agreement was not reached. Read more.
CTU Back to school highlights: It’s a new day in CPS!
It’s a new day in CPS! Check out the highlights from last week’s Back to School tour during which we celebrated the transformational path forward for our schools under the Brandon Johnson administration. Watch video highlights from the tour.
Support the CTU PAC, a vehicle for transformative change in our city and beyond
Thanks to our collective efforts and the dedication of our members, we did what the pundits said couldn’t be done — elect a union brother, a teacher, a CPS parent mayor of Chicago. This historic achievement was made possible by the rank-and-file members who support the CTU Political Action Committee (PAC). Learn more and support your PAC today.
Sept. 29: Get your tickets today for the CTU annual LEAD dinner
It has never been more important to celebrate our political power! Our annual Legislators and Educators Appreciation Dinner — LEAD — provides rank-and-file members an opportunity to engage elected officials in an evening of celebration and coalition-building for legislative initiatives in Chicago, Springfield and nationwide. Sept. 29, 4:30 p.m. social hour, 5:30 p.m. dinner at the CTU Center. Tickets are on sale now, get yours today!
Tonight, Sept. 7 LSC Empowerment: School Budget Deep Dive
Sept. 12: Bring Chicago Home Webinar
Bring Chicago Home is fighting to end homelessness in Chicago. In 2023, CPS had 17,700 students enrolled in temporary living situations. With a one-time transfer tax on home sales of more than $1 million in value we can tackle this problem for our students and for all Chicagoans. Register for the teach-in to learn more.
Sept. 14 on Zoom: Class size questions answered
Have too many students in a class? Not sure what to do or whether you can get relief? Find out what the Joint Class Size Committee can do to relieve crowded classrooms. We have one more drop in session on Zoom from 4 to 5 p.m. on Thurs. Sept. 14. You can read more details about class size relief and find the oversize class reporting form on our website’s class size information page.
We’re hiring: Green schools organizer
The full-time green schools organizer will work with labor, environmental, and community allies to sustain and expand a grassroots Green Schools Campaign in Chicago. The organizer will play a key role in building our coalition, strengthening the climate jobs movement, and ensuring green and healthy schools for students and school workers across Chicago. Learn more and apply.
CTU stands in solidarity with our United Auto Workers siblings
At its Aug. 30 meeting, our House of Delegates adopted a resolution supporting our union siblings in the UAW as they negotiate their contract with Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, collectively known as the Big 3. Read the resolution and find ways to support UAW members at uaw.org.
SOI’s rank-and-file leaders critical to resistance, transforming Chicago’s political landscape
CTU Organizing Director Rebecca Martinez sees the four-week Summer Organizing Institute as an investment in our members and in our resistance. The program has been foundational in transforming the political landscape of our city, witnessed by the election of Mayor Brandon Johnson, an SOI alumnae himself. Read more.
Mexican Independence Day Parade
Join the CTU contingent in the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade on Saturday, September 16. We will meet at 10 a.m. and the parade steps off at noon. Wear your CTU red and show up with orgullo mexicano! RSVP to join us in the parade at ctulocal1.org/mx.
Do you have colleagues who are new to CPS? Get them two mentors!
The We Care mentoring program provides members in their first three years in CPS with both a Virtual Instructional Coach for teaching skills and a Building Mentor for learning how to handle the work expectations of CPS and their school community. The union-run program is a joint project of ISBE, CPS, the CTU and our state federation, the IFT. Nurture success in your school! Help your colleague submit their information at ctulocal1.org/WeCare.
Solidarity actions you can take TODAY 
Info for delegates, executive board members and district organizers
Rank-and-file democracy is the trademark of our union, and CTU’s delegates, executive board members and district organizers are vital to ensuring it. Regular meetings of those groups are crucial to the successful functioning of the union. Please make a note of the calendar for the year, so you don’t miss a meeting of the body you serve on. View the CTU meetings calendar for the 2023 – 2024 school year.
CTU committees are the lifeblood of our union, learn more
CTU committees are a great way for rank-and-file members to engage with our union’s policy deliberations, celebrate our unity and serve your colleagues. You don’t need to be elected to serve on a committee, just fill out the application. Learn more, and join a committee today.
Donations for displaced migrants needed
In the News
- The public is souring on American education, but parents still give own child’s school high marks | Chalkbeat
- The Movement and the Mayor | Hammer and Hope
- Teachers call off strike at Chicago art-focused school as agreement nears | Sun-Times
- Chicago Public Schools reverses policy that docked pay from teachers taking religious holiday | Chalkbeat
- After first week of classes, hundreds of Chicago students with disabilities waiting for bus routes | Chalkbeat
- Meet the teens advising Chicago’s mayor on education | Chalkbeat
- Republicans, instead of attacking teachers unions, maybe help solve our educator shortage? | USA Today
- New union petitions continue to rise in Chicago, following last year’s trends | WBEZ
CTUF Quest Center
The Chicago Teachers Union Foundation Quest Center welcomes you back to school with a special discount offer to begin the 2023/24 school year!
Save $50 off CTUF Quest Center courses that cost $150.00 or more using promo code SAVE50! at checkout. Check out the full CTUF Quest Catalog.
The offer ends on
. One promo code per user. Valid only with CTUF Quest Center courses. This coupon code does not apply to Teacher’s Teacher, ChiME, or Schlechty Center classes.
For more CTU news and updates, please visit our website at www.ctulocal1.org, and follow us on Facebook (including our members only Facebook group), Instagram and Twitter.
