Tell Pritzker: Sign the COVID-specific leave act
HB 2778 sits on Gov. Pritzker’s desk awaiting his signature. It creates COVID leave for all school workers and retroactively restores sick days used for COVID purposes. Tell him to sign it.
The power of engaged members and coalitions: Legislature passes key paycheck protections, tighter school closure moratorium
Passing bills in the General Assembly is never easy — as our 10-year fight to win an elected school board shows — but it is an even harder lift during the two-week fall veto session. That is why I am thrilled to report success this year on three pieces of key legislation that your support and advocacy helped pass during the just-completed fall session.
Support HB 2778 for COVID paycheck and benefit protections
House Bill 2778 would guarantee that all school districts treat educational employees fairly and promote economic recovery while helping to ensure schools remain safe for those who learn and work in them.
Thank your legislators for an elected school board
Up until now, Chicago Public Schools has never had an elected school board in its entire history. All that will change as HB 2809 — passed in the Illinois General Assembly’s 2021 spring session — goes into effect. It’s been a long time coming.
Take Action for a Fully Elected, Representative School Board
Elected, Representative School Board legislation is moving through the General Assembly.
Elected school board, charter accountability top CTU legislative agenda
Our success in Springfield depends on you — call your legislators today.
Legislative Update for Spring Session 2021
The Illinois General Assembly has started its spring legislative session, and CTU is there advocating for what our schools need. Our goal is to build on our recent victories and to pass legislation that makes concrete improvements in school governance and oversight and that allows us to be more effective in our work.
Restore Our Bargaining Rights
HB 2275 will restore bargaining rights to CTU and all other CPS unions that were eliminated by the 1995 amendatory act. Both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly have passed it. IL House Speaker Welch needs to send the bill now to Governor Pritzker so he can sign it. Write them both and your state representative to urge action as soon as possible on this bill which can impact the safe reopening agreement under negotiation now between CTU and CPS.
Email Gov. Pritzker: Request HB2275 to Sign
On January 11, 2021, the Illinois Senate ratified HB2275, a bill that reinstates the bargaining rights taken from unions representing CPS employees back in 1995. The only remaining step in the repeal of the onerous 1995 language is for Governor J.B. Pritzker to sign the legislation. Send Gov. Pritzker a message urging him to request the legislation from House Speaker Welch so he can sign it.
HB2267 and HB2275 – Call State Senators by Monday
Get your state senator’s phone number. Call their Springfield office and tell them to “Vote Yes on both HB2267 and HB2275 and to restore CTU’s bargaining rights and bring democracy to Chicago Public Schools.” Then call Senate President Don Harmon at 217-782-8176 and tell him to call the bills and vote Yes!
