Union-Wide Resolution for Special Education, Pre-K, Itinerant, and Clinician Reopening Priorities
This resolution was passed by the House of Delegates at its April 7, 2021 monthly meeting.
PSRP/Clinician/Citywide Teacher Delegate Positions for the 2021-2023 Delegate Term
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.
Supplemental Procedures* for Conducting Remote Citywide Delegate Elections
The Rules and Elections Committee has determined these procedures for conducting elections to fill citywide delegate vacancies while in-person meetings are not possible.
Bargaining Update: Clinicians bargaining
We bargained again today with CPS on issues specifically related to clinicians, particularly OT and PT workers, who CPS is seeking to force back into buildings to provide services to students—even though CPS has yet to fully develop a safety plan or consider remote options. Predictably, we have many concerns which we’ve raised with the Board as we continue to push them to move to remote therapy services.
Clinicians: Next steps in securing safe working conditions
Public health guidance is clear: Any work that CAN be done remotely SHOULD be done remotely. The Chicago Teachers Union continues to lead with our values – including our conviction that students, members and their families deserve safety first and safety always. Every clinician who believes in-person work may be dangerous to them or their family without negotiated protections should email our template letter today.
Victory on work hours for clinicians
After sharing our concerns and demands in numerous special education committee and impact bargaining meetings, ODLSS withdrew its position that clinicians must be available to support remote learning activities for six hours per day. Instead, they will follow the mutually agreed work hours…
Notice of Election to Fill PSRP, Clinician and Citywide Teacher Delegate Vacancies
Nominations to fill Citywide Teacher, PSRP and Clinician Delegate vacancies will be held at the Chicago Teachers Union, 1901 W. Carroll Avenue on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 and Wednesday, January 15, 2020.
CTU to mayor: Put promises into action in enforceable contract
We’ve been down this path of unfulfilled promises before with the previous mayor, who promised to expand early childhood education and improve special education—when today parents struggle even more to access these services for their children.
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...General CTU Announcement
I appreciate you.
I want to thank you for your tremendous commitment and dedication to the students and families served by Chicago Public Schools. In a year where virtually everything has been turned upside down, you have stood your ground and remained a constant force in your students' lives. So let’s make no mistake about it—despite the names you see in papers and hear on the news, you are the real leaders of our district and defenders of public education in Chicago.
After a long contract campaign, we hoped for some stability for our schools, but you then had to endure furlough days, unconscionable mid-year budget cuts and threats to end the year early. In spite of it all, you never wavered in the effort you put forth for your students and your union, and for that, I am grateful. While none of us expected teaching to be easy, those of us in CPS had to become especially adept at mastering endurance and perseverance—both inside and outside of the classroom. From launching GoFundMe pages to help pay for classroom expenses, to joining thousands in the fight for true sanctuary schools in Chicago, you are protecting your classrooms and students in ways that few people outside of our profession can imagine.
This week, we are launching a campaign to recognize some of our union’s most ardent fighters for teacher and student rights who have been targeted by CPS CEO Forrest Claypool and his administration. Please consider taking the time to post in social media and lift up these brave educators for their work. This is, in part, also why our House of Delegates decided last week to run a “no confidence” vote for Claypool this month. We will reveal the results of that referendum in the upcoming weeks, and I hope your school can send a contingent to join us in delivering that message.
Please tweet at #ThankATeacher and email us at [email protected] this week to share stories of how you go above and beyond for the schools that your students and their families and communities deserve. And on behalf of my fellow CTU officers, happy Teacher Appreciation Week, and we thank you this week and every week for all that you do.
In solidarity,
Karen GJ Lewis, NBCT
President, Chicago Teachers Union
