CTU and CPS have potential deal union committee to review Monday, sources say

Leaders from the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) are on the brink of finalizing a deal that will be presented to a union committee for approval on Monday. This comes after a series of intensive negotiations, including a late-night discussion that brought both sides closer to agreement. The proposed contract offers a 4% cost-of-living increase for each of the next four years and aims to hire thousands more staff, including 30 librarians yearly, addressing critical staffing shortages in the district. The CTU also negotiated for regular pay increases for veteran teachers, who have historically faced delays in salary steps. While financial issues were addressed, the negotiations revealed deeper ideological divides, particularly over planning time for teachers and evaluation processes.

CPS officials expressed satisfaction with the progress made, emphasizing their commitment to a fair contract within budget constraints. If the proposed package is approved by the union’s bargaining team and subsequently ratified by its 30,000 members, it would mark the first time in 15 years that the CTU has secured a contract without a strike vote. This achievement reflects the union's strategic positioning following the election of supportive Mayor Brandon Johnson.