Press Room

CHICAGO — Former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Arne Duncan, never had the juice to run for Mayor of this great city. Yet, he clearly thinks he can influence how voters in the city vote in the upcoming election. As Vallas’s former partner-in-crime in destabilizing New Orleans’ public schools — through policies, actions, words and deeds — today’s endorsement of Vallas by former Education Secretary Duncan should not be a surprise. Arne Duncan called Hurricane Katrina in 2005 “the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans.”

The fight against unfair labor practices in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) began in earnest on Tuesday, March 21, with 30,000 school workers walking off the job. These workers, represented by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 99, encompass the support staff across the entire school district. LAUSD’s continued disrespect, and their inability to care properly for the workers who make their mission possible, has also led to a solidarity strike by the 35,000 teachers represented by United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA). SEIU Local 73 and the Chicago Teachers Union are therefore proud to share our message of solidarity with SEIU Local 99 and UTLA.

9:00 am, Wednesday, March 22 press conference will outline the importance of Chicago Public Schools developing a Facilities Master Plan centered around the voices of parents, students, educators and the community at CPS headquarters.

7:00 pm, Thursday, March 9: Press conference outlining the threat that Paul Vallas poses to Chicago’s neighborhood public schools and unionized charter schools.

Willie Wilson and Ken Griffin know exactly what they’re getting when they back Paul Vallas, another Republican who will side always with millionaires and billionaires over Chicago’s working families.

The Vallas-Chico duo is bad for working families, bad for classrooms and will be dismal for Chicago.

Thanks to an unprecedented, historic multi-generational, multi-ethnic working-class coalition demanding transformative change in Chicago, educator, CTU member, and public school parent Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson will advance to the April 4 runoff, continuing to spread his bold vision for a Better Chicago and grow his people-powered winning coalition.

8:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 22: Press conference to demand great attention be paid by CPS, City Hall, and Charter operators to the classroom resources and wraparound services necessary to meet the needs of newly placed migrants in Chicago.

CTU commends Gov. Pritzker for boosting early childhood education funding but urges the state to do more.

“Two years ago today, students and families of this city lost a champion; educators lost a fierce leader, and the labor movement lost a friend and a true trade unionist…

CHICAGO, Jan. 19, 2023 — UIC United Faculty’s strike is in its third day — and the Chicago Teachers Union is proud to continue to stand in solidarity with our fellow trade unionists who were forced onto the picket lines this week. As educators in Chicago Public Schools, we see a great many of our […]

Randi Weingarten, who heads up union of 1.7 million teachers and support staff, to join educators, allies to demand CPS parental leave that mirrors what mayor offered to City workers – but has now been indefinitely delayed for educators, support staff.

CTU members will join fellow trade unionists, mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson and progressive champions from across the city at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 16 to celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on MLK Day. After the rally, which is being held at CTU headquarters at 1901 W. Carroll, participants will fan out for door-to-door canvasing, phone banking and more for progressive candidates — including Brandon — seeking election to City Hall in the February 28 election.

While Mayor Lightfoot continues to drag on replacing dangerous lead water pipes for hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans, educators at a South Side school that serves a large number of special education students are scrambling to force Lightfoot’s CPS team to address serious lead paint risks in their school facility.

John “Coach” Lewis, husband of late CTU President Emerita Karen GJ Lewis, issued the following statement today in response to references to President Lewis by candidates for mayor of Chicago and their supporters.

Union sees 34 out of 34 victories for the night, with rank and file members pushing hard for signatures for Brandon Johnson, as voters embrace CTU values and platform on election day.

The Chicago Teachers Union issued this statement after learning of another incidence of intolerance at Jones College Prep High School, which has been dogged by complaints of antisemitism, racism and homophobia for years under the school’s current leadership.

Lightfoot forcing CPS to assume $6 billion in grossly underfunded City pension liabilities in district with backlog of at least $2 billion in urgent facilities needs and desperate shortages of supports for students.

Influx of immigrant families in recent months has intensified inequity for Chicago’s public school students, communities – with shortages ranging from bilingual ed teachers to native language resources and culturally relevant curriculum.

Report shows how educators are working their hearts out for students and school communities – while resource gap and inadequate assessment policies continue to undermine equity for Chicago’s working class, Black and Brown students.   CHICAGO, October 27, 2022 — The Chicago Teachers Union issued the following statement today in wake of the release of […]

School district has slashed funding at 40+% schools, while student trauma goes unmet – and district forks over another $200 million to offset mayor’s budget shortfall on City side.   CHICAGO, October 26, 2022 — The Chicago Board of Education and the Chicago City Council both meet later today. Both bodies will discuss finances. And […]

“We have so much to offer our community,” say LSC members, as CTU urges support for pioneering sustainable community school. 9:30 a.m., Wed., Oct. 26: press conference with LSC members, parents, supporters, CPS HQ, 42 W. Madison St., Chicago CHICAGO — Parents, LSC members and local residents will urge CPS on Wednesday to support a […]

Union urges action that addresses root causes of gun violence.   CHICAGO, October 24, 2022 —  The Chicago Teachers Union issued the statement below in wake of the Monday school shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis: “Tragically, in America, parents and families worry about their children’s safety at school with […]

Acute shortages of supports for special education students, English language learners highlight chronic lack of resources while charters’ statewide lobby group advocates for right-wing candidates. 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19: Rank-and-file CTU charter members to picket, rally at Acero Idar, 5050 S. Homan for end to chronic and unsustainable under-staffing CHICAGO — As charter school […]

Mayor extracts $200 million this year alone from CPS to cover Lightfoot budget hole, while school communities across city saw budgets slashed for a third year under Lightfoot.   CHICAGO, October 3, 2022 —  The Chicago Teachers Union issued the following statement in response to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s release of her proposed 2023 budget: […]