The Chicago Teachers Union has "overwhelmingly" voted to ratify the previously tentative agreement between the union and Chicago Public Schools, union representatives announced Tuesday night.
“Preliminary results show 72.33 percent of CTU members voted to accept the agreement,” said CTU President Karen Lewis in a statement. “This has taken nearly two years to reach a fair contract settlement. Now educators can focus their full energies on their classrooms as we continue to fight for equity throughout the district. I want to commend the rank-and-file for their leadership, commitment and hard work over the course of several months. This contract goes a long way in protecting our profession and our classrooms.”
CPS said the Board of Education is expected to vote on a collective bargaining agreement on Dec. 7 in addition to a revised budget.
“With this vote, families across Chicago now know that their children will remain in school to continue their remarkable academic gains, that teachers will get a raise and that the District's finances will continue to improve,” said CPS CEO Forrest Claypool in a statement.
At the razor's edge of the midnight deadline for a threatened teachers strike, CTU officials announced last month that it had come to a potential contract agreement with Chicago Public Schools.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel held a press conference at the time after the announcement saying he was happy kids will be in school but did not answer questions.
Part of that agreement involves additional revenue in TIF money. CPS had originally offered $32 million but now the mayor's office confirms $175 million will be set aside with $88 million of it going to Chicago Public Schools.
The union said 95 percent of members voted in favor of a strike amid an ongoing contract battle with Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Board of Education.
“This should come as no surprise to the Board, the mayor or parents because educators have been angry about the school-based cuts that have hurt special education students, reduced librarians, counselors, social workers and teachers’ aides, and eliminated thousands of teaching positions,” the union said in a statement.
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The contract battle had been going on for months.
Striking points include funding for teachers and schools. The district’s latest offer included raises, but asked teachers to pay more towards pensions and health care. Instead, the Chicago Teachers Union wanted the city to use surplus tax increment dollars to fill the financial gaps.
