Teachers Demand CPS Improvements
Contract negotiations between the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) already started. On Tuesday morning, April 15, the CTU delivered their list of demands to CPS as soon as possible. Moreover, according to ABC 7 Chicago, this year with the CTU-friendly Mayor, Stacy Davis Gates, “negotiations are not likely to provoke a strike.”
To which the process of negotiating the contract will begin by advocating about it and inviting the most Chicagoans as possible. In order to witness the negotiations and to essentially support the Teachers Union. This constant process of Teachers fighting for equity has been a true challenge and struggle for everyone in the education system involved. However, the union will not give up until there is a change in the system and improvements are made for the benefit and future of the students and teachers.
The Mission to Transform the CPS contract
It is well known that teachers have been on a constant fight to get fair raises and a list of other school benefits. Well, now the Chicago Teachers Union will be on the mission to use this negotiation contract in order to establish a transformation and essentially reform the CPS current system. Nonetheless, although it’s a battle, the Teachers Union has achieved goals for the schools in the city and students benefits. In fact, back in 2012, they reached the goal to pass the negotiation to establish air conditioners in every class for every school building.
Now, according to Gates she stated the following about what she and the union expect for schools at the end of this contract negotiation, she said,
By the end of the contract we are on now we will have a social worker in every school, by end of contract a nurse in every school, those are things we fought for in 2019.
These are demands that they have been advocating for since the year 2019, now Gates said the union will keep fighting for those to this day but will also update the requests they are fighting for. The plan is to now demand the following and more,
- Affordable housing.
- Dual language in every school.
- Fully funded special education services.
- Fall, winter, and spring sports for all schools.
- Fine arts programs.
- More sustainable schools in low income areas.
Demands Come at a Challenging Time for the District
Furthermore, the CPS district has responded back to these demands that CTU is demanding. Actually, in a recent interview, CPS and CEO, Pedro Martinez mentioned that all of these demands came at a moment in time when the CPS district is facing a $391 million deficit and also COVID funds drying up next year. However, he also said that he is counting on the state of Illinois to come up with more money that can essentially be used for the schools benefits.
On the following statement he emphasizes that there might be an economic deficit, but it is not such a huge problem that it can’t be fixed and be taken accountable. The CPS and CEO, Martinez said,
I’m gonna be this eternal optimist that there are conversations to be had there. There’s policy decisions to be made. But the deficit isn’t so significant, that it can’t be resolved.
The Goal was Clear Before the Election of Mayor Brandon Johnson
The Teachers Union had a clear goal and vision of what CPS improvements they wanted to see accomplished before they supported Mayor Brandon Johnson to become the Mayor of the city, and with his election, for him to support CPS. His election was even a greater motive for the CTU because he is a former CTU organizer and advocate. And, although the union supported Brandon Johnson to further advocate for the city’s schools, Gates has doubts that the city will be all-in on the union’s demands.
Not to mention, at this time Mayor Johnson, has not yet commented or talked about the recent demands that CTU is demanding. However, like mentioned before, Mayor Johnson being a former CTU organizer, he also wants the best for all schools around the Chicagoland area. One more comment that Gates stated was the following,
We have committed as an entire union to using our contract to create more sustainable community schools like Richards Academy. And we want this type of school all over the district. But the most wonderful thing about that is not only does the union want it, the mayor of Chicago wants it.
Written by Jeanette Sanchez
Sources:
ABC 7 Chicago: Chicago Teachers Union delivers their contract demands to Chicago Public Schools
Illinois Policy: Chicago Teachers Union contract demands about politics, bosses’ power
ABC 7 Chicago: CTU contract negotiations start with union delivering demands to Chicago Public Schools officials
Fox 32 Chicago: Chicago Teachers Union reveals demands-here’s what they’re asking for
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of peoplesworld Flickr Page-Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Bartosz Brzezinski Flickr Page-Creative Commons License
