Chicago Teachers Union Pressures CPS as Budget Vote Approaches
Contract negotiations stall over key issues, with the union threatening a strike and a divided school board set to vote on a critical budget amendment.
- The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has accused Chicago Public Schools (CPS) of rejecting compromises that could have resolved contract disputes before Thursday’s budget amendment vote.
- Key unresolved issues include planning time for elementary school teachers, veteran teacher pay increases, and extended intervals between evaluations.
- The CTU has reduced its demand for additional planning time to 20 minutes per day, but CPS has only offered 10 minutes, citing financial constraints.
- The hybrid school board is divided on approving a budget amendment that would allocate funds for the teachers' contract and a $175 million pension reimbursement.
- The CTU has completed the legal process to call a strike, raising the possibility of a 10-day notice if negotiations remain stalled.
Chicago Tribune 
Chicago Sun Times 