Press Room
Latest Press Release
CTU charter school educators to rally for accountability, equity from operators, mayor’s CPS ‘oversight’ team
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,...
Older Press Releases
Tom Devore, Mayor Lightfoot and CPS have violated the Safety Agreement
The mayor has prioritized the wishes of Tom Devore — an opportunistic, right-wing extremist hundreds of miles away from Chicago — over the wishes of the people of our city.
Masks remain critical part of COVID mitigation
Mayor also ditching vaccine requirements for bars, restaurants even as few kids in CPS are vaccinated and vax rates lag in students' Black and Brown neighborhoods, as well. CHICAGO, February 22, 2022 — The Chicago Teachers Union issued the statement below after...
CTU moves to protect Union elections from outside interference
Rank-and-file elected leadership takes action after disturbing information came to light last week about allies of Mayor Lori Lightfoot interfering in the Chicago Teachers Union officers election. CHICAGO, February 16, 2022 — Chicago Teachers Union president Jesse...
CTU condemns inflammatory, hurtful smears against our students
Mayor equates CPS students with criminals by claiming COVID school quarantine led to increased carjacking without producing scintilla of evidence, echoing smears of CPS students and staff from Reagan education boss Bill Bennett. CHICAGO, February 7, 2022 — The Chicago...
Upcoming court date in $9.25 million CTU civil rights victory for Black educators targeted by racist ‘turn-arounds’
Mayor and hand-picked board must now also end ongoing racist CPS policies – starting with discriminatory student-based budgeting and SQRP school ranking system. 11:30 a.m. Monday, February 7: press conference with named plaintiffs in CTU civil rights turnaround cases,...
Our agreement protects us from court ruling to suspend masking
The Chicago Teachers Union issued the following statement Friday evening after a Sangamon County judge put a temporary restraining order on masking requirements in schools and other public places: You may have read late Friday that a downstate Illinois judge ruled to...
President Sharkey will complete fourth term, not seek re-election in 2022
Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey issued the following statement today regarding his decision not to seek re-election as president of the 25,000-member union, the third-largest teachers’ local in the U.S. President Sharkey will serve out the remainder of his current term through June 2022.
CTU hails Gov. Pritzker’s proposed budget increase to evidence-based public education funding model
With hundreds of Illinois school districts remaining underfunded, state should further increase investments in evidence-based funding, especially to help schools address ongoing impacts from pandemic. CHICAGO, February 2, 2022 — The CTU issued the following statement...
More than 2,000 teachers across the U.S. earn National Board Certification
Chicago has the 3rd highest number of new National Board Certified Teachers of any district in the nation, and the 3rd highest number of total NBCTs in the country.
With anger at Lightfoot growing, CTU rank and file votes to approve safety protections, fight for more
Chicago’s mayor initially refused to provide N95 masks for students, and continues to reject opt-out COVID-19 testing as an “invasive medical procedure,” despite its use in Chicago charter schools and districts throughout the state and U.S. CHICAGO, January 12, 2022...
Administrative Transfer Window
Teachers will be able to transfer schools for Fall 2022 without principal permission from Monday, April 4, 2022 to Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
