Introduction to the Potential Agreement
Leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools have reached a potential agreement that will go to a union committee for approval on Monday, sources close to negotiations said Friday. A settlement had been within reach for a couple weeks, and a final few days of talks this week — including a late-night session on Wednesday — helped the two sides reach the finish line. If the latest terms are approved, this will bring to an end almost a year of tense negotiations in which the union went to battle with the schools CEO despite having a friendly mayor in office.
The Approval Process
CTU leaders plan to take the proposed package on Monday afternoon to their “big bargaining team” — a group of a couple dozen educators who have helped negotiate the contract — for consideration. That team will decide whether to approve a tentative agreement with CPS and recommend the package to the union’s 730-member House of Delegates. A final ratification vote by the CTU’s 30,000 members would then seal the deal.
Reaction from CPS Officials
A statement from CPS officials said they were “pleased with the progress that has been made” and that their “goal has always been to reach a fair contract … while being mindful of our budgetary limitations and fiduciary responsibilities.”
Key Terms of the Agreement
The union ultimately decided to accept the salary offer put forward in the summer of 4% cost-of-living increases in each of the four years of the contract. The CTU also pushed to add upwards of 7,000 more staff members, but became satisfied weeks ago when it won a couple thousand more positions — especially with CPS facing budget deficits in the years ahead. Perhaps the union’s most notable staffing win was a promise to hire 30 librarians in each of the next three years in a district that currently has fewer than 100 for more than 600 schools.
Additional Staffing and Pay Increases
In the waning weeks of negotiations the CTU also pushed for additional pay increases for veteran teachers, who, unlike less experienced teachers, have to go years without getting increases based on experience, called steps. CPS eventually agreed to give veteran teachers more regular pay increases. The CTU also won an increase of 50 more sustainable community schools, up from 20. This program brings community services into schools and seeks to make them community hubs. And the union secured an increase in the number of teaching assistants as well as job protections for them.
Ideological Obstacles
In the end, the biggest obstacles to a deal in these negotiations that have gone on for nearly a year have been more ideological than about money. For months, the union has struggled to find common ground with CPS officials over giving elementary school teachers more planning time, and giving teachers who received average reviews three years between performance evaluations — two issues that are not primarily economic, but that teachers care deeply about.
History of Negotiations
This would be the first time the CTU has landed a contract without a strike vote in the 15 years under the union’s current leadership. Teachers went on strike in 2012 and 2019 and almost walked out in 2016 — reaching an overnight deal before a strike. CTU President Stacy Davis Gates had said she thought this round of negotiations would be more straightforward after the union helped get one of its organizers, Brandon Johnson, elected as mayor in 2023. But talks turned out to be contentious.
Conclusion
The potential agreement between the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools marks a significant step towards resolving the nearly year-long negotiations. While the terms of the agreement still need to be approved by the union committee and ratified by the members, the progress made so far is a positive development for both parties. The agreement addresses key issues such as staffing, pay increases, and community schools, and demonstrates a commitment to finding common ground and working towards a mutually beneficial contract.
FAQs
Q: What is the current status of the negotiations between the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools?
A: The two parties have reached a potential agreement that will be reviewed by the union committee on Monday.
Q: What are some of the key terms of the agreement?
A: The agreement includes 4% cost-of-living increases, the hiring of 30 librarians per year for three years, and additional pay increases for veteran teachers.
Q: What were some of the obstacles to reaching a deal?
A: The biggest obstacles were ideological, including disagreements over planning time for elementary school teachers and performance evaluations.
Q: How does this agreement compare to previous negotiations?
A: This would be the first time the CTU has landed a contract without a strike vote in 15 years.
