Union Delegates

Union leaders in every school and workplace

A school’s delegate is the elected leader of the Union in the school. Larger schools will have a lead delegate and a number of associate delegates, based on the number of members in the school. CTU members who do not work at one school — including PSRP categories like school clerks — are represented by citywide delegates from the same functional group — a grouping of educators who work at similar jobs. Delegates serve three-year terms, although they are often initially elected to fill a vacancy in the middle of the term. In charter schools, “building representatives” serve essentially the same role as a delegate and also serve in the House of Delegates.

CTU staff created this summary of delegate responsibilities for the benefit of delegates and the members they serve. To be effective, a delegate cannot work alone. They must put their efforts toward bringing colleagues together, educating members about our rights, and coordinating Union members to speak as one. Delegates are elected by the peers they represent. When voting for a delegate, it is important to choose someone you trust who represents the spirit of cooperation among colleagues and is willing to hold administrators accountable for respecting the rights of every educator, not just their friends.

Your delegate is your first contact with the CTU. If you are called by an administrator into a meeting that may affect your job, you have the right to be accompanied by a Union representative. Often that representative will be your delegate. Delegates can also help you work with Union staff to pursue a grievance, although you aren’t required to go through a delegate to deal with Union staff.

Delegates also convene the Professional Problems Committee and usually lead PPC meetings with the principal. Every month, all the delegates throughout the city meet at the House of Delegates to confer with officers and staff and to make decisions about the direction of the Union. Most delegates hold a Union meeting in their school following the HOD to report back. In addition, delegates are responsible for managing school-wide votes, such as voting for your testing schedule, flexible prep schedule or other contract issues.

Delegate Directory

Anyone can download the public delegates list, which contains only the name, school and role information for each delegate. In order to facilitate cooperation among delegates, a directory that includes personal contact information is available in a password-protected area accessible only to other delegates within our MemberLink Portal. If a delegate wishes to withhold some of their contact information, they can fill out the form electronically inside the MemberLink Portal or else download the Delegates Directory Opt-Out Form and return it to the union for a correction to the directory.

House of Delegates Meeting Schedule 2023–2024

House of Delegates meetings begin at 4:45 p.m. Beginning at 4:15 p.m., officers will hold a Question and Answer period, during which no official business will be conducted.

Getting to the House of Delegates Meeting

Parking

In addition to the smaller parking lot at the Chicago Teachers Union Center, there will be one secure lot located on the west end of Carroll street directly across from the CTU Center. A sign will be posted on the gate. Two more lots, on the south and east sides of the building, will be opened at 5:00 p.m.

Bicycle parking will be available south of the main entrance inside the parking lot. Nearby Divvy stations are located on Walnut (north of Lake) at Damen and on Hubbard at Wood.

By Bicycle

• Damen Ave. has partial dedicated cycling lanes running both north and south from the CTU center
• From the Loop/Lakefront Trail: Randolph to Dearborn to Kinzie to Milwaukee to Hubbard to Damen.
• From North/South: Halsted to Hubbard to Damen
• From Southwest: Blue Island to Damen or Loomis to Adams to Damen
• From the Northwest: Milwaukee to Damen
• From the West: Warren to Damen

By Mass Transit

• Number 50 Damen bus to Carroll Ave. The #50 runs from 35th/Archer to Irving Park Road and stops at Orange, Pink, Blue and Brown L lines.
• Green Line to Ashland Ave., then walk four blocks west to Damen and two blocks north to Carroll Ave. or use Divvy from the station to Walnut & Damen.
• Blue Line to Illinois Medical District; #50 Damen bus north to Carroll Ave.

By Car

• From the north: I-90 south to Ogden Ave. (exit 50A); Ogden to Grand Ave.; right on Grand Ave. to Ashland Ave.; left on Ashland to Carroll Ave.; right on Carroll to the CTUC.
• From the south – I-90/94 north to I-290 west; I-290 west to Damen Ave. (exit 28A); right on Damen to Carroll Ave.; right on Carroll to the CTUC.
• From the east – I-290 west to Damen Ave. (exit 28A); right on Damen to Carroll Ave.; right on Carroll to the CTUC.
• From the west – I-290 east to Damen Ave. (exit 28A); left on Damen to Carroll Ave.; right on Carroll to the CTUC.