Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools near contract agreement, but hurdles remain

CHICAGO — The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) appear to be close to a deal on a new contract, but they’ve hit some bumps in the final stretch.

The CTU says it is just inches away from reaching an agreement with CPS, but now, the Chicago Board of Education has to figure out how to pay for that contract, on top of reimbursing the city for a $175-million pension payment for non-teacher staff.

On Thursday the school board canceled a vote on that budget amendment, citing negotiations.

“We are extremely extremely close to settling the teachers’ union contract so as a result the budget amendment and related items have been withdrawn from today’s agenda,” Board of Education President Sean Harden said.

The budget amendment includes $139 million dollars in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds. CPS wants to use that money for the CTU’s new contract, while Mayor Brandon Johnson is pushing for CPS to reimburse the city for the pension payment.

After a meeting with Johnson at City Hall Wednesday, representatives from both CPS and the CTU met again Thursday to keep bargaining. Their progress was noteworthy after nearly a year at the bargaining table.

“We are closer than we have been to a deal. And I know we have heard from both sides that we’ve been close. But we are done. We are done and we need a deal,” CTU Organizing Director Casey Sweeney said.

“Board members have expressed a desire for clarity on the final cost of the contract before voting on the budget amendment. The Board President is confident that the two sides are very close to coming to an agreement, and I share his confidence. A contract agreement is critical to the stability of our schools and communities,” Johnson said in a statement.

Johnson added that it is even more important as President Trump begins carrying out his plans to dismantle the federal Department of Education.

“And the number one responsibility that this school board could do right now, and this superintendent could do right now, to tell the world we are stepping up is to finalize a contract, a fair contract with the Chicago Teachers,” American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said.