chicago teacher’s union

CTU members vote to ratify contract

Nov 2, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

(CHICAGO) Tentative voting results indicate the 25,000 active members of the Chicago Teachers Union have ratified an agreement reached with Chicago’s school board, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

About 72 percent of members counted as of Tuesday night voted “yes,” with about 28 percent opposed, according to a CTU statement. Less than 60 schools were still waiting to be counted as of 9:30 p.m., but “the number of votes outstanding will not significantly alter the result,” officials said, with a final count expected in “a day or two.”

“This has taken nearly two years to reach a fair contract settlement,” CTU President Karen Lewis said in the statement. “Now educators can focus their full energies on their classrooms as we continue to fight for equity throughout the district.”

A simple majority of votes was required for the four-year agreement that maintains a 7 percent pension benefit and doles out raises in years three and four to become the teachers contract.

After holding a series of informational meetings last week, the union postponed the voting planned for Thursday and Friday, saying it wanted to give members time over the weekend to read printed copies of the full deal before deciding. It denied needing more time to sell the potential contract’s provisions.

Some rank and file members grumbled about the deal because its lack of guarantees for social workers and others serving children with special needs. Several took to Facebook to call for a “no” vote.

But in holding out the union secured at least $100 million more in benefits compared to a January offer its 40-member Big Bargaining Team shot down. The city has agreed to kick in about $88 million in surplus tax increment financing money.

CPS officials have refused to discuss the deal’s total price tag or cost to taxpayers. Sources have told the Chicago Sun-Times that it’s worth about $8.9 billion over four years.

If the full membership votes the agreement down after casting secret ballots at schools on Monday and Tuesday, the union could strike while negotiators from the union and Chicago Public Schools return to the bargaining table.

Union delegates had authorized a strike after talks had dragged on for well over a year, but then overwhelmingly voted to recommend the agreement that staved off the second teachers strike since Mayor Rahm Emanuel took over, just minutes before an Oct. 19 midnight strike deadline.

Four years ago, after the CTU did strike for seven school days, just over 79 percent of union members who voted on the deal reached with the school board approved it. Then it went before the Board of Education for a formal vote.

The agreement is expected to go before the school board at the next scheduled meeting on Dec. 7.

— Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago students, teachers back to class after strike threat

Oct 11, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

(CHICAGO) Students and teachers in Chicago are heading back to the classroom after the Chicago Teachers Union and the nation’s third-largest school district averted a strike with a late-night tentative contract agreement.

The union had been prepared to hit the picket lines Tuesday morning for what would have been the second major Chicago Public Schools strike since 2012.

But just before a midnight deadline, the union and CPS said Monday it had reached a deal. It still must be approved by the union’s House of Delegates and its full membership, a process that could take weeks.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and union President Karen Lewis both said they were relieved that the district’s nearly 400,000 students will be in class Tuesday.

The four-year proposal includes cost-of-living increases in the third and fourth year.

Chicago teachers, school district continues contract talks

Oct 10, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

(CHICAGO) Negotiators for the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools continue to meet in an effort to reach a contract and avert a threatened teacher strike.

The two sides were quiet Sunday, a day after the union’s 40-member big bargaining unit met to review its position on a potential contract. The bargaining unit — representing about 28,000 members — rejected the district’s last offer in February. The teachers union has set a Tuesday strike date.

Union leaders have outlined a $200 million wish list to offset cuts to pay and benefits.

CPS has said it continues to work within the framework of the offer it made in January, which included pay increases and other items such as a cap on the number of privately operated charter schools in Chicago.

Chicago Teachers Union begins strike authorization vote

Sep 22, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

(CHICAGO) Teachers in the nation’s third-largest school district are casting ballots on whether they support a strike.

Members of the Chicago Teachers Union began voting for a strike authorization on Wednesday. Voting lasts through Friday. Union officials say the results won’t be available right away.

The union needs 75 percent support, which is expected. A similar vote in December garnered support from roughly 88 percent of the voting members. Union members say the second vote offers legal cover.

If the union goes on strike, they have to give the district 10 days of notice. The earliest a walkout could take place is mid-October.

The contract expired in June 2015. Negotiations with Chicago Public Schools officials have focused on cost-of-living raises, pension contributions and health care.

The union represents over 25,000 members.