CTU votes to ratify new contract with 97% approval, what’s next?

CHICAGO (WGN) — The Chicago Teachers Union voted to ratify the tentative agreement with Chicago Public Schools.

Ninety-seven percent of members who voted last week approved the contract. About 85% of the CTU’s 27,000 eligible voting members participated.

Union members released the official results Monday morning during a press conference.

“All children in every neighborhood, in every zip code is going to win because this union is committed to that. When I told you that bargaining this contract for too long was wasting our time, I wasn’t playing,” CTU President Stacy Davis Gates said during the presser.

Members said this is a historic moment. The contract is the union’s first without a strike vote in 15 years.

In 2019, 80% of members ratified a deal after an 11-day walkout.

The contract is estimated to add another $1.5 billion over the course of years.

The 2025 agreement includes:

• New staff positions
• A 4% cost of living increase in each of the four years of the deal
• Extra pay for veteran educators
• More teacher prep-time
• Additional $10 million annual investment in sports programs.
• Smaller class sizes

“These are transformational advancements for our students and their educators. I am so proud of the democratic process our union undertook to reach this outcome,” CTU Financial Secretary Maria Moreno said.

Teacher pay will increase from $86,000 to $114,000 by the 2027-28 school year. Also, raises will cost Chicagoans up to $1.25 billion.

The Chicago Board of Education will likely vote to approve the contract at its next meeting on April 24.