The ongoing negotiations between the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) have hit a roadblock with the recent rejection of a fact-finding report by the CTU, as reported by WGN-TV. Despite this setback, the CTU has expressed a sliver of optimism for the future of the contract negotiations. An independent fact-finder released a 19-page report siding with the union on multiple counts, such as boosting pay for veteran teachers and advocating for the hiring of more school librarians and family engagement coordinators.
The union has found itself without a contract since June 2024, with this rejection marking yet another stumble in a series of unfruitful engagements stretching over a decade, having dismissed every fact-finding report since 2010. Even with the recent disappointment, CTU staff attorney Latoyia Kimbrough acknowledged, in a statement obtained by WGN-TV, "We have no choice but to reject the fact-finder’s recommendation." The CTU's demands center around smaller class sizes, increased salaries, and reform to teacher evaluation systems.
Chicago Public Schools responded to the fact-finder's report in a statement reported by WGN-TV, expressing respect for the "thorough and objective analysis of the neutral factfinder" and a commitment to carefully reviewing all recommendations before proceeding. CPS emphasizes a student-centered negotiation approach, highlighting their goals of supporting academic recovery post-COVID-19 and providing educators adequate resources in a sustainable manner.
In parallel, CTU's president Stacy Davis Gates shared her response to what she termed an unprecedented report, stating in an interview with ABC 7 Chicago, "What it does is it provides us with some renewed optimism that we can begin to push Chicago Public Schools in a place of centering our students and what they need in this report." It has been revealed by the report that a dismal 80 percent of Chicago Public Schools lack a librarian, and only 10 percent of schools with a majority of African-American students have one.
The two parties are now in a 30-day cooling-off period, after which the CTU can issue a 10-day strike notice, potentially kicking off a strike by mid-March - the earliest possible date. The last strike CTU initiated was in 2019, resulting in 11 days of canceled classes. According to ABC 7 Chicago, the union hopes to avoid a similar scenario and plans to involve parents and the community at large by organizing townhalls, aiming to widen the dialogue and strengthen their negotiation position.
