Introduction to the Inquiry

The Chicago Teachers Union is cooperating with a federal inquiry into allegations that it is keeping financial audits from its members, though a lawyer representing the union argues “it’s a waste of time.” The Republican-led U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce sent a letter to CTU President Stacy Davis Gates last week accusing the union of failing to provide “complete financial audits” to members since 2020.

Allegations and Accusations

The letter states that “this failure to disclose financial information strips dues-paying members of their basic right to understand how their money is spent,” and that “every dollar paid by workers should serve their interests, not those of a select few operating in the shadows.” The letter also alleges that Davis Gates maligned a member’s request for published audits as a “racist ‘dog whistle,’” citing social media posts from Davis Gates that were shared by a member of the conservative Illinois Policy Institute.

Request for Financial Documents

Top members of the House committee asked the CTU to provide five years of financial documents, saying the information would help lawmakers potentially make changes to the federal law that requires labor unions to disclose certain financial information to their members. The CTU has been given until December 22 to respond to the request.

Response from the CTU

Michael Bromwich, an attorney with Washington, D.C.-based law firm Steptoe, is representing the CTU in the matter. He said the union will cooperate with the investigation and respond by the deadline, but he wasn’t concerned. He said the audit reports are already available for its rank-and-file to see at the union office. “It is a waste of time, and it’s a waste of resources, but we will be good citizens and we will be responding with any responsive documents,” Bromwich told the Sun-Times and WBEZ. “There is much less here than meets the eye.”

Political Context

Robert Bruno, a professor of labor and employment at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said the letter was “exceptional” and he couldn’t recall another local union fielding this kind of inquiry from Congress in recent years. Bruno said it’s essential to remember the political context in which this inquiry is taking place. Davis Gates and other CTU leaders have been vocal against the Trump administration, admonishing it for threatening funding for Chicago Public Schools over programs such as the Black Student Success plan.

Ongoing Lawsuit

A handful of CTU members filed a lawsuit demanding financial records last year in Cook County court. They accused the union of failing to provide annual audits of its finances since 2020, in violation of its bylaws. Lawyers for the CTU have asked to dismiss the case, arguing that the union has since provided the records sought by the lawsuit. They say continuing the lawsuit amounts to a “fishing expedition.”

Conclusion

The CTU is cooperating with the congressional inquiry, but the union’s lawyer believes it is a waste of time. The union has provided financial summaries to its members through an online portal, but some members are not satisfied with the level of detail. The inquiry and the ongoing lawsuit highlight the importance of transparency in labor unions and the need for clear financial disclosure.

FAQs

1. What is the CTU being investigated for?
   The CTU is being investigated for allegedly failing to provide complete financial audits to its members since 2020.
2. Who is leading the investigation?
   The Republican-led U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce is leading the investigation.
3. What is the CTU’s response to the investigation?
   The CTU is cooperating with the investigation and will respond to the request for financial documents by December 22.
4. Is there an ongoing lawsuit related to the investigation?
   Yes, a handful of CTU members filed a lawsuit demanding financial records last year in Cook County court.
5. What is the outcome of the lawsuit?
   The lawsuit is ongoing, with the CTU asking to dismiss the case and the plaintiffs seeking more detailed financial information.