Introduction to the Contract Negotiations
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for Chalkbeat Chicago’s free daily newsletter to keep up with the latest news on Chicago Public Schools. CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union agreed on one thing Wednesday following a closed-door meeting between the three parties: They are very close on settling a union contract that has been bargained for nearly a year.
The Meeting and Its Outcomes
But while the mayor and Chicago Board of Education President Sean Harden characterized the meeting as productive, CTU leadership and CEO Pedro Martinez emerged frustrated. Johnson, a former middle school teacher turned CTU organizer, called the remaining issues “minute” and warned of the potential added costs of a strike. “None of these issues that they need to settle on will be worth the consequence of six, seven days or however many days out of school,” Johnson said. “They are so close.”
Key Issues in the Contract
The two sides have been stuck on how much additional preparation time elementary school teachers ought to get: 10 minutes or 20. They also remain apart on what veteran teachers are paid and how frequently highly rated teachers get evaluated. Wednesday’s meeting was convened by the mayor at Harden’s request. Both CPS and CTU shared where they stand and discussed pathways to a deal, but parties on both sides declined to share details.
Reactions from Key Parties
Harden said both sides are “so close, I have to believe that …we haven’t just struck the right chord yet,” Harden told reporters. “But we’re gonna keep grinding at it.” Martinez said he sees “no remote possibility of a strike” because both sides are “that close.” Still, Martinez said his team was asked to stay at the meeting longer, but he didn’t feel comfortable with that. CPS and the union will go back to bargaining Thursday morning, he said. “The power dynamics are just unfair to our team, who all we’re trying to do is protect our district and protect our students,” Martinez told reporters after the roughly two-hour meeting. “This was not a negotiation.”
Union’s Perspective and Next Steps
CTU President Stacy Davis Gates agreed that things are close — and “absolutely landable tonight” — but criticized Martinez for refusing to stay longer on Wednesday to get a deal. She said at one point he “stormed out of the room.” “You’re suing the district to keep your job, you’re saying you’re the only decisionmaker for this contract, and then you storm out of the room,” Davis Gates said of Martinez, who won a temporary injunction that prevents board members from attending negotiations. Martinez left the meeting after the mayor and “at no point disrespected the mayor,” according to a source who attended the meeting.
Budget Amendment and Its Implications
The mayor’s high-stakes convening of the key players comes on the eve of a pivotal school board vote scheduled for Thursday to amend the current school year’s budget — a move that typically happens after collective bargaining agreements are settled. The amendment on Thursday’s agenda accepts $139 million in unanticipated revenue from the city and leaves open three ways to spend it: on a new contract for teachers, a collective bargaining agreement for principals, and a $175 million pension reimbursement to the city.
Path Forward and Challenges
Harden said “there is a path on the table” to pay for both the contract and the pension payment, but he did not disclose more details. Harden told reporters that the board’s bond attorney has confirmed that it can refinance its debt as one option. Davis Gates again raised concerns about the board passing a budget amendment before a contract deal, without knowing the true cost of the contract, even though historically the board has waited to amend its budget until after it reaches a deal. The added revenue is not enough to cover both a payment to the city and increased labor costs related to the contract.
Conclusion
The negotiations between the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools have been ongoing for nearly a year, with the latest meeting convened by Mayor Brandon Johnson in an effort to broker a compromise. Despite the closeness of the deal, significant issues remain, including preparation time for elementary school teachers, veteran teacher pay, and the evaluation of highly rated teachers. The pressure to settle the contract is heightened by the upcoming budget amendment vote and the potential for a strike, which would have significant consequences for students, families, and the city.
FAQs
- Q: What are the main issues in the contract negotiations between CTU and CPS?
A: The main issues include additional preparation time for elementary school teachers, pay for veteran teachers, and the frequency of evaluations for highly rated teachers. - Q: What is the significance of the budget amendment vote scheduled for Thursday?
A: The budget amendment vote accepts $139 million in unanticipated revenue and considers how to allocate it, including towards a new teacher contract, a collective bargaining agreement for principals, and a pension reimbursement to the city. - Q: What are the implications of a potential strike?
A: A strike would be harmful to students and families, and also potentially harmful to the mayor’s long-term political interests. The cost of a strike would be disproportionately higher than finding a compromise. - Q: What is the role of Mayor Brandon Johnson in the negotiations?
A: Mayor Johnson, a former middle school teacher and CTU organizer, has been involved in convening meetings and urging parties to stay at the table to negotiate a compromise, highlighting the potential added costs and consequences of a strike.
