By Richard Berg, Organizer | February 26, 2021 | ACTS
File under: Aspira, Instituto Justice Leadership Academy, Latino Youth High School, Namaste, Passages Charter School
Asian Human Services, the owner of Passages Charter School, has abruptly broken off negotiations but members remain united. Aspira members have reached a tentative agreement over the move of ASPIRA Early College High School into the ASPIRA Haugan Middle School building. CTU members at Instituto Justice Leadership Academy are raising objections about the school’s disturbing lack of cleanliness. Educators at Latino Youth High School continue to stand strong in their 28th week of refusing the boss’ return to in-person work order. And we are close to a tentative reopening agreement with Namaste.
By Richard Berg, Organizer | January 17, 2021 | ACTS
File under: Acero, COVID-19, EPIC Academy charter school, Namaste, Passages
Acero and Passages charter schools are delaying reopening for in-person instruction until a series of scientific COVID metrics are met. Namaste has agreed to bargain over reopening and CTU reached an agreement with Epic Academy to reduce the extra hours members had been required to work, without pay, for parent teacher conferences.
By Richard Berg, Organizer | January 8, 2021 | ACTS
File under: Charter Schools, Latino Youth High School, Namaste, Passages
Namaste and Passages charter schools are mapping out plans to return staff and students to in-person learning in the new year. But Union members are fighting back. Educators at Latino Youth continue their impressive hold out, continuing with remote learning. And CTU members in charters will be electing delegates to begin a three-year term in February
By Chris Baehrend, CTU Charter Division Chair | December 29, 2020 | ACTS, Grievance Wins, Movement, Rights
File under: Ada O'Hara Ramos, IELRB: Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, Juan Tolentino, Latino Youth High School, NLRB: National Labor Relations Board, Pilsen Wellness Center
As CPS continues its push to force members back into unsafe buildings in January, the successful rebellion at Latino Youth offers an important lesson: solidarity is power.
By Richard Berg, Organizer | December 10, 2020 | ACTS
File under: Acero, EPIC Academy charter school, Namaste, Urban Prep
CTU members at Namaste are cautiously optimistic that their organizing against in-person instruction has paid off. Educators at Epic Academy kicked off negotiations this week on their first collective bargaining agreement. Acero parents and teachers continue to fight staff layoffs. And everyone is wondering where Urban Prep’s $1.2 million in federal stimulus loans went because it hasn’t shown up in classrooms.
By Richard Berg, Organizer | December 4, 2020 | ACTS
File under: Aspira, Chris Baehrend, CICS: Chicago International Charter Schools, Latino Youth High School
Good news for CTU members at CICS Civitas who, just before Thanksgiving, received their proper raise and retroactive pay stemming from our strike. Not so good news at Latino Youth, where management has brought on the same big anti-union law firm CPS used to stonewall district negotiations. CTU-ACTS Chair Chris Baehrend authored a chapter about our historic charter strikes in the new book, Strike for the Common Good.
By Maria Moreno, Financial Secretary | December 1, 2020 | ACTS, News
File under: Clinicians, CTU Election, Delegate Election, PSRP: Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel
In accordance with Article V, Section 2 of the Chicago Teachers Union Constitution and By-Laws, the term of current delegates will end on January 31, 2021. The Notice of Nominations and Election for each citywide functional group will be sent via email to each member eligible to vote and posted on the CTU website on Friday, December 4, 2020.
By Richard Berg, Organizer | November 20, 2020 | ACTS
File under: Aspira, CICS: Chicago International Charter Schools, CTU-ACTS, EPIC Academy charter school
The CTU New Organizing Committee met with charter school educators interested in unionizing. CTU members at Aspira are strategizing how to deal with colocation efforts. Acero Sped and ELL educators participated in a Know Your Rights training and are beginning to reach out to parents. Negotiations on our first contract with Epic are expected to begin after Thanksgiving
By CTU Communications | November 13, 2020 | ACTS
File under: Acero, Charter Schools, CICS: Chicago International Charter Schools, Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy, Namaste
Namaste is the latest charter school to experience a COVID-19 outbreak. After months of negotiations, and a request for a mediator, we are seeing progress in CICS-Civitas talks. Instituto Health and Science Career Academy is hiring a psychologist to comply with the CTU contract. Three laid off special education apprentices have been recalled at Acero, after members organized against the layoffs.
By Richard Berg, Organizer | November 6, 2020 | ACTS
CTU reached an agreement with Epic Academy that provides for remote learning through the second quarter, ending Feb. 4, 2021. The agreement also allows for “no stakes” observations. Finally, the union was able to negotiate 30 minutes on the clock for union meetings...
