CTU Won't Strike, Tentative Agreement Reached, President Says

Heading into the final hours of negotiations, the CTU revealed a “tentative agreement” was reached

At the razor's edge of the midnight deadline for a threatened teachers strike, the Chicago Teachers Union announced Monday that it has come to a potential contract agreement with Chicago Public Schools.

Heading into the final hours of negotiations, the CTU revealed a “tentative agreement” was reached, though plans for a strike are not entirely off the table.

The agreement still needs to be voted on by union members.

Late last month, the union's governing body announced plans to strike on Tuesday, Oct. 11, after teachers voted nearly unanimously to authorize a strike this month.

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.

The contract battle has 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.

Monday morning, Chicago parents who support the teachers marched through Emanuel’s Ravenswood neighborhood with signs and banners in a final push to stop the strike and keep students in school.

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