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School closings—district, charter or otherwise—are bad for children
The proposed closure of Chicago Virtual and Frazier Preparatory Academy charter schools is an admission of failure by the district, and a continued attack on the lives of the city’s Black and Brown children.
Older Press Releases
CTU addresses the Chicago Public Schools 2020-2021 school closing plan
So this is how a school—one with more than 40 years of history that includes a state champion girls basketball team, multiple city champion debate teams, a featured role in the video for a single on a Grammy-nominated album and myriad positive impacts on thousands of students and families’ lives—officially ends?
Nine CTU members due in court for arrests at Sterling Bay/Lincoln Yards strike action
Wednesday, Nov. 27, 1 p.m.: Preliminary hearing for nine CTU members Cook County Criminal Court, 3150 W. Flournoy St., Chicago Members will hold a press availability immediately after court. CHICAGO, Nov. 27, 2019—Nine Chicago Teachers Union members are due in Cook...
CTU statement on Chicago City Council passage of mayor’s austerity budget
We should be expecting more from those whom the people elected to lead, but sadly, we have come to expect less from all levels of city government. Today was no exception.
CTU members vote overwhelmingly to accept tentative agreement with CPS
New contract includes historic language to cut class sizes, put nurse and social worker in every school. CHICAGO, Nov. 15, 2019—Chicago Teachers Union members voted today to accept the tentative agreement they won in the wake of their historic eleven day strike. With...
CTU members at Passages unanimously vote to accept tentative agreement
New contract cements protections for immigrant and special education students, raises wage floor and rights for educators to levels in CPS district-run schools. CHICAGO, Nov. 8, 2019—Chicago Teachers Union members at Passages charter school voted unanimously today to...
Falling school enrollment driven by push-out of working class Black and Latinx families
City Hall has power to reverse hostility to needs of ordinary residents—and must muster political will to support real equity and economic justice. CHICAGO, November 8, 2019—Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey issued the following statement today in...
Educators return to classrooms as Chicago Teachers Union ends historic 11-day strike
Today, we return to classrooms with real and lasting change for our students and the people of this city.
Chicago Teachers Union reaches Tentative Agreement for new contract with Chicago Public Schools
The Chicago Teachers Union yesterday reached a Tentative Agreement for a new contract with Chicago Public Schools. Regrettably, the same can’t be said about instructional make-up days for students.
Lightfoot rips off CPS of $100 million, robs students and thwarts contract settlement
Mayor brags about providing CPS with $100M TIF surplus that she promptly grabs back for pension payments City should be paying, cops in schools for which City previously paid. CHICAGO—The TIF slush funds that the mayor giveth, the mayor also taketh away. Chicago Mayor...
CPS refusal to allocate $38M—one half of one percent of budget—is stalling tentative agreement
CHICAGO—CTU President Jesse Sharkey issued the following statement today in response to claims from the mayor and CPS about what separates the parties at the bargaining table. "Thirty eight million dollars—one half of one percent of CPS' annual budget—is what is...
CTU Speaks! Podcast
Our new podcast, CTU Speaks! is hosted by rank-and-file CTU members Andrea Parker and Jim Staros. We’ll chat about our union, enforcing our new contract, and our fight for the schools our children and educators deserve.