Who Won the CPS-CTU Contract Battle?

Introduction to the Contract Battle

Mayor Brandon Johnson has a long way to go to realize his dream of becoming Chicago’s longest-serving mayor. But he proudly proclaimed Tuesday that there are “a couple of things that Richard M. Daley and I do have some alignment around: running successful Democratic National Conventions and avoiding teachers strikes.” A former middle school teacher turned paid organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union, Johnson is claiming victory for having delivered a new tentative contract agreement for his former union brethren — and for Chicagoans like him who send their children to Chicago public schools.

The Contract Agreement

As the CTU’s House of Delegates and rank-and-file members prepare to vote on the contract, questions remain about who really came out ahead in this hard-fought battle and whether the contract was worth the months of acrimony and the political price that Johnson had to pay. Johnson touted the wins in the contract that he said would make for a better educational experience. He said the union and district took full advantage of a change in state law that reinstated the CTU’s right to negotiate over nonpay and benefit issues.

Key Wins for the Union

The mayor also pointed to an agreement to increase by 50 the number of “sustainable community schools,” a designation that provides funding to bring community organizations into schools that offer supplemental services for families and children. He campaigned on creating more of those programs, and the CTU has long elevated the idea as a solution for under-resourced schools. Yet another win, Johnson said, was the commitment to hire 400 more assistant teachers and 90 more librarians, and increase funding for arts and sports programs with a heavy emphasis on smaller schools in under-resourced neighborhoods.

Challenges in the Negotiation Process

The rocky road toward a tentative agreement included the mass resignation of Johnson’s fully appointed school board and surprise resistance to the mayor’s financing plan from the partially elected board that came into being later. That delivered two of the most significant political losses of Johnson’s nearly two-year tenure. In between those hits, Johnson’s replacement handpicked board did agree to the mayor’s demand to fire schools CEO Pedro Martinez after Martinez refused to reimburse City Hall for a $175 million pension payment for nonteaching school employees.

The Role of Pedro Martinez

But Martinez isn’t gone yet. His contract allows him to stay through June because he was terminated without cause. Martinez sued the Board of Education to remove members from intervening in negotiations, and he has remained on the job long enough to resist pressure from City Hall to borrow to cover the pension payment and the cost of the new teachers contract. From Martinez’s perspective, the CTU initially asked for a lot more, and he was proud to have held his ground for a district facing a $700 million deficit.

Conclusion

The contract battle between CPS and CTU has been long and challenging, with both sides experiencing significant wins and losses. Mayor Brandon Johnson has claimed victory, citing improvements in the educational experience for Chicago’s students, including lower class sizes, more community schools, and increased funding for arts and sports programs. However, the true test of the contract’s success will come in its implementation and the impact it has on the city’s schools and students.

FAQs

1. What were the main points of contention in the CPS-CTU contract negotiations?

   • The main points of contention included class sizes, the number of sustainable community schools, hiring of more assistant teachers and librarians, and funding for arts and sports programs.

2. How does the new contract address these issues?

   • The contract includes provisions to lower class sizes, increase the number of sustainable community schools by 50, hire 400 more assistant teachers and 90 more librarians, and increase funding for arts and sports programs, especially in under-resourced neighborhoods.

3. What role did Pedro Martinez play in the negotiations?

   • Pedro Martinez, the CEO of CPS, played a significant role in the negotiations, initially resisting some of the union’s demands and later being terminated by the board, although he remains on the job until June due to his contract.

4. How does Mayor Brandon Johnson view the outcome of the negotiations?

   • Mayor Johnson views the outcome as a victory, highlighting the improvements in the educational experience for Chicago’s students and the avoidance of a teachers’ strike.
5. What are the financial implications of the new contract?
   • The contract is expected to cost the school district $1.5 billion over four years, but anticipated increases in revenue are expected to offset this cost, preventing an increase in the district’s deficit.