The Chicago Teachers Union had a very successful legislative session during this spring, including the passage of landmark legislation that could reshape the charter sector and a bill that finally brings parity to retired PSRPs. Moreover, the state budget will include important increases in funding for CPS.
As of mid-May, the Joint Class Size Assessment Council has provided a total of 354 class-size positions. Of these, 210 are teacher positions, and the remaining 144 are teacher assistants. These are at more than 190 district schools throughout the city. We have also authorized overtime classes at the high-school level to help alleviate overcrowded classes, and some schools have received extended-day buckets providing additional paid preparation time before or after school for teachers with student overloads.
CHICAGO—The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) Thursday commended the Illinois General Assembly for passing a bill that protects Illinois educators from intimidation, retaliation and interference when they organize to join a union in privately operated charter schools, a move that will help educators improve the teaching and learning conditions in their schools. The legislation, HB 1120, requires charter school operators taking public school funding to include a labor neutrality clause as part of its school authorization. Under such a clause, an employer agrees to refrain from opposing or taking a position on union organizing by their employees.
Collaboration between union and district is a central part of Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson’s plans for delivering on the promise of fully funded neighborhood public schools
Two key CTU legislative initiatives passed through committees this week and now go to the full legislative chamber for consideration: one bill requires union neutrality agreements for charter schools and the other allows retired PSRPs to work as substitute paras.
CTU representatives on our healthcare Labor Management Cooperation Committee met in late March and April. We discussed several health care issues brought to our attention by members, as well as new benefits our members can expect.
Take a leading role in the campaign to promote our members’ rights and fight for educational justice! CTU’s 2023 Summer Organizing Internship will provide training in organizing skills, leadership, and union and community education issues. Apply by Monday, April 24!
Time and again, educators and school personnel across this city have been called to do more with less. And now is the time for that to change.
On Wednesday, more than 100 educators will join forces with parents, students, and community members to demand a safe, supportive, and more sustainable educational community from the Acero Charter Schools, which are located throughout the city of Chicago in primarily Latine neighborhoods. The Wednesday rally and press conference comes on the same day as the Charter’s April board meeting.
A key part of protecting our rights and enforcing our hard-won contracts is challenging management when they violate our bargaining agreements — and fighting these cases all the way through the arbitration process when necessary to secure and reinforce our rights. The CTU Grievance Department has a raft of new wins to report that protect our members in both the charter and district spaces.
