Press Room

Rank-and-file CTU members, elected officials will come together at 4 p.m. to honor Lewis’ transformational leadership of union and Chicago’s progressive movement. 4 p.m. Friday, September 30: Street renaming ceremony, CTU headquarters, 1901 W. Carroll. CHICAGO —The Chicago Teachers Union will honor their beloved President Emerita Karen GJ Lewis on Friday by renaming the street […]

“Schools Chicago Students Deserve 3.0” brings a groundbreaking 2012 CTU report further into the 21st century, with focus on COVID-19 pandemic recovery and equity for hundreds of neglected Black and Latinx families and school communities.  

Mothers don’t send our children to school to be murdered. Mayor Lightfoot and every single decision maker in this city owe us more. We demand more.

Dear fellow CTU members! Welcome to the 2022 – 2023 school year. I hope you had a restful summer break and were able to relax and recharge your batteries for the year ahead, now that students have joined us in our school buildings. When I was in the classroom, the first day of school back […]

Rank and file expected to vote next week to ensure continuing COVID safety protections for students, staff as families ready for new school year and CTU celebrates 85th anniversary of union’s founding. 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21: Inauguration of new CTU officers, CTU headquarters, 1901 W. Carroll. 7 a.m., Monday, August 22: back-to-school press availability […]

At a time of attacks on educators from red states and Republican lawmakers for teaching the truth about our country’s history, it’s disgraceful that educators are targeted by the mayor for protecting their students and their school communities.

As virus again spikes, new school year approaches and trauma needs among students and staff intensify, educators urge stepped up ventilation, vax plan, desperately needed facilities repairs, more nurses, more educators for special education, English language learners. 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 27: Educators and allies call for education equity, CPS headquarters, 42 W. Madison, Chicago. […]

Illinois State Representative Delia Ramirez in the 3rd Congressional District, and businessman and activist Jonathan Jackson in the 1st, lead a number of election night wins for CTU-endorsed candidates.

The Chicago Teachers Union issued this statement today regarding the U.S. Supreme Court ruling to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, striking down the constitutional right to abortion.

Lightfoot saddles district with $175 million pension bill instead of funding critical positions — librarians, social workers, technology coordinators — in every school. CHICAGO, June 10, 2022 — The Chicago Teachers Union released this statement following word that layoff notices began circulating Friday among educators and support staff, while the district runs a billion dollar […]

In a month dedicated to promoting inclusiveness and diversity, CPS moves to eject deaf and hard-of-hearing children from elementary school that has spent seven years building deep ties and a rich community among hearing and non-hearing students. 7:00 a.m. Thursday, June 9: Educators, parents, students oppose mayor’s closure of deaf and hard-of-hearing program, Chase Elementary, […]

Lightfoot saddles district with $175 million pension bill instead of funding critical positions — librarians, social workers, technology coordinators — in every school. CHICAGO, June 7, 2022 — The Chicago Teachers Union released this statement following the public circulation of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s FY22-23 Chicago Public Schools budget: The mayor is launching her re-election bid […]

Stagnant wages, lack of job security, no basic rights fueled this week’s vote by artists who serve as part-time educators — from voice teachers to video instructors — to join their full-time colleagues in the CTU. CHICAGO, June 3, 2022 — Teaching artists and school office staff at Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) […]

Families, communities struggling with daily tragedy from violence cry out for more support while facing chronic disinvestment and bracing for mayor’s $60+ million in staffing and program cuts across half of CPS schools. 5:30 p.m. (gather), 6:00 p.m. (start), Thursday, June 2: Vigil against violence, Beidler Elementary, 3151 W. Walnut St., Chicago. CHICAGO — Educators […]

Lightfoot’s CPS team slashes over $3 million from Little Village school budgets as district sits on $1.4 billion in federal COVID relief dollars, low-balls scope of harm from cuts to critical programs. 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 31: Protest, press conference with educators, families, students, elected officials, under the Little Village Arch, 26th and Albany, Chicago. […]

The Chicago Teachers Union issued the following statement today in wake of news of another devastating mass shooting that’s taken the lives of at least 14 children and an educator in Uvalde, Texas.

With the Albany Park community still reeling from two years of trauma and loss from the devastating pandemic, CPS is imposing $430,000 in budget cuts at HIbbard Elementary, a beloved school in the predominantly Latinx community. But the school community is fighting back.

With schools currently funded at only 65% ‘adequacy’, mayor’s $60+ million budget cuts come as CPS sits on $1.4 billion in federal COVID relief dollars and low-balls scope of harm, which will force split classrooms, larger classes, less resources for students who desperately need stable supports.. 7:00 a.m. THURSDAY, May 19 : Haines elementary school […]

Unionized charter school teachers and support staff at over 30 schools with 13 different operators launch unified contract campaign to reduce desperate staff shortages, strengthen affordable health care for workers, stabilize schools. 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 17: Rally, press availability with rank and file CTU charter educators, officers, allies. CPS headquarters, 42 W. Madison, Chicago […]

CHICAGO, May 16, 2022 — The Chicago Teachers Union issued this statement today following another violent weekend in Chicago that led to the tragic death of a CPS student and a 6 p.m. weekend curfew for unaccompanied young people in Millennium Park: Why does a Black mayor of a city with a large population of […]

Lightfoot’s CPS team has $1.4 billion in unspent federal COVID relief funds, but is imposing massive cuts on schools in special education, trauma supports, other critical needs, creating larger class sizes, fewer supports and hunger games of disinvestment and neglect. 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 27: press conference with parents, educators, CTU officers. CPS headquarters, 42 […]

CPS hoarding $1.4 billion in federal COVID relief dollars, low-balling scope of budget cuts, which will result in split classrooms, bigger classes, less resources for students who need more social emotional support. 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 26: press conference with parents, CTU educators, CTU officers. Zapata Elementary School, 2728 S. Kostner Ave., Chicago CHICAGO — […]

Stagnant wages, lack of job security or basic rights fuel push by artists – from voice teachers to video instructors – to join union with full-time educators. CHICAGO, April 20, 2022 — Since full-time teachers and paraprofessionals at ChiArts – the Chicago High School for the Arts – unionized with the CTU in 2018, educators […]

CTU Legislative and Policy Director Kurt Hilgendorf emailed this legislative update to rank and file CTU members on Friday, April 8, 2022. We are down to the wire in Springfield, where the legislature is expected to finish this session’s work by midnight tonight. We’ve shared a variety of positive legislative developments this session, including the […]

CTU Legislative and Policy Director Kurt Hilgendorf sent this legislative update to rank and file CTU members on Thursday, April 7, 2022. As you may know, the legislative session is set to end in Springfield on Friday, and we continue to move our bills through the General Assembly in what’s turning out to be both […]