New agreements will help alleviate substitute shortage

CTU and CPS have agreed to two new Memorandums of Understanding that will improve substitute teacher coverage. One relates to the number of days retirees can substitute teach and the other provides new pay provisions to help cover parental leaves under the new 12-week leave policy.

Acero educators to ratify new contract, while staff at two other charters take strike votes

CHICAGO–On Thursday, Acero Educators are expected to vote overwhelmingly to approve a tentative agreement with the Acero Charter Schools, ushering in a new era for the operator and its relationship with educators, their students and the educational community it serves. This development stands in stark contrast to the obstacles erected by CICS and Christopher House charter school as educators there pursue the same common-sense contract provisions that Acero and district educators now enjoy.

Next steps in fight for parental leave

Nothing prevents expanded parental leave from happening for our educators and support staff — except for the mayor’s obvious bias towards our overwhelmingly female and female-oriented workers in our schools.

Petition to Mayor: Equalize CPS Parental Leave with City Workers

On November 15, CPS officials told the CTU that CPS would recommend that the Board of Education vote to approve a new parental leave policy modeled on a similar policy available to city employees, starting on January 1st, 2023. The policy enables city workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave. In December, CPS further committed to the CTU that they were working to nail down details about the policy. Then, suddenly, in late December, the Department of Labor Relations reversed CPS’ position.