Days After Martinez Is Fired, Chicago Board Of Education Members Attend CTU Contract Negotiations
Three days after voting to fire the school district CEO, Chicago Board of Education members took the extraordinary step of attending contract negotiations between the district and the Chicago Teachers Union.
The lawyer for Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez responded with a letter demanding board members cease and desist from attending negotiations, describing it as "unlawful interference" with Martinez’s authority.
Board Members’ Unprecedented Move
Board members Olga Bautista and Frank Thomas attended negotiations in the morning, and board President Sean Harden attended in the afternoon, according to Chicago Public Schools spokesperson Mary Ann Fergus. Harden told Chalkbeat that the board members attended on their own, without the direction of the mayor, to "observe and be part of the support" for CPS.
A New Phase in the Power Struggle
The back-and-forth shows how the vote to oust Martinez has taken the power struggle over the nation’s fourth-largest school district into a new, more public phase. It also could signal that Mayor Brandon Johnson and his handpicked school board feel a sense of urgency — and perhaps see an opportunity — to get a deal done.
The Union’s Demands
The union previously called for an agreement by Christmas. Negotiations started eight months ago and have become increasingly tense. The union’s current demands include a 6% raise in the first year of the contract, hiring additional staff over the life of the contract, and more teacher prep time in elementary schools.
Martinez’s Reaction
The lawyer for Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez responded with a letter demanding board members cease and desist from attending negotiations, describing it as "unlawful interference" with Martinez’s authority. According to two sources who have spoken with the CEO, Martinez was "surprised" to hear board members planned to attend negotiations.
Background on Board Members’ Involvement in Negotiations
Typically, contract negotiations are left to bargaining teams from the district administration and union. However, board members have occasionally attended negotiations in the past. In 2012, then-Board President David Vitale attended negotiations during a tense moment, and a former board member who served with Vitale described the context on condition of anonymity because he did not receive required approval from his employer to speak to the media.
Conclusion
The recent developments suggest that the power struggle over the Chicago Public Schools district has reached a new level of intensity. The involvement of board members in contract negotiations is unprecedented and may signal a shift in the way the district approaches negotiations. As the district and the union continue to negotiate, it remains to be seen how this new dynamic will play out.
FAQs
- What is the current status of the contract negotiations between the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union?
The negotiations are ongoing, with board members attending the meetings for the first time in recent history. - What are the union’s current demands?
The union is seeking a 6% raise in the first year of the contract, hiring additional staff over the life of the contract, and more teacher prep time in elementary schools. - How has the CEO responded to the board members’ involvement in negotiations?
The lawyer for Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez has demanded that board members cease and desist from attending negotiations, describing it as "unlawful interference" with Martinez’s authority.
