A group of teachers at Simpson Academy show solidarity in their contract fight. One teacher kneels in front, holding a handwritten note that reads, “WE CAN’T WAIT.”
Educators rally to demand enforceable class sizes, fair pay, and key staffing needs
Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) members are escalating their efforts to finalize a long-overdue contract with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), delivering thousands of petition signatures to the CPS Board of Education today. The union asserts that its five remaining priorities—deemed “absolute must-haves”—are critical for ensuring quality education and fair working conditions.
The petition drive, which has drawn overwhelming support from teachers across the city, calls for enforceable class size limits, guaranteed prep time for educators, an end to racial discrimination in teacher evaluations, increased staffing for essential student services, and equitable pay for veteran educators.
The push for these priorities comes after months of negotiations that have yet to yield a finalized contract. CTU members, who have been working without a contract since June, argue that CPS has stalled the process while failing to properly account for key expenses in its budget. CTU leaders say CPS CEO Pedro Martinez has mismanaged negotiations, failed to include the costs of their contract in budget planning, and is now attempting to push through a budget amendment before a contract is settled.
“In previous years, the Board of Education has waited until after our contract was settled to pass a budget amendment,” CTU leadership stated. “This time, Martinez has made a mess of the process by failing to budget properly and obstructing negotiations.”
Educators from schools across the city—including Whitney Young, Hyde Park High School, Carver Military Academy, and Brentano—have voiced unanimous support for the union’s demands, highlighting the urgent need for CPS to address critical classroom issues.
CTU President Stacy Davis Gates, alongside Vice President Jackson Potter, Recording Secretary Christel Williams, and Financial Secretary Maria T. Moreno, emphasized that teachers are done waiting. The union has already won agreements on many proposals through extensive member participation and school-based organizing, but members insist that the district must commit to the final five priorities before an agreement can be reached.
Educators say the remaining issues are not just about improving working conditions but ensuring that students receive the resources they deserve. Smaller class sizes, more librarians and counselors, and adequate prep time directly impact student learning and overall school quality.
To further pressure CPS, CTU members plan to attend the upcoming Board of Education meeting and participate in precinct walks in newly established Board of Education districts. They also plan to mobilize for public hearings on March 13 and 14 regarding the proposed budget amendment, which they argue must reflect the cost of the contract and fulfill CPS’s obligation to students and teachers.
Beyond contract negotiations, the union has also addressed concerns regarding religious holiday requests. After an influx of grievances from educators denied time off for religious observances on April 18—originally scheduled as a professional development (PD) day—CTU negotiated a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with CPS. As a result, the teacher-directed PD day originally scheduled for March 31 has been switched to a principal-directed day, while April 18 will now be teacher-directed. Schools may still maintain the original schedule if agreed upon by their Professional Problems Committee.
While the union continues to advocate for its final contract demands, members stress that CPS must prioritize long-term investments in educators and students rather than bureaucratic maneuvers that prolong negotiations.
“The Board of Education must ensure that Martinez and his team do not derail progress,” CTU leadership stated. “Our students deserve safe and enforceable class sizes, adequate staffing, and respect for the experienced educators who make a difference in their lives every day.”
CTU represents nearly 30,000 educators and support staff serving over 300,000 students in Chicago Public Schools. As one of the largest teachers’ unions in the country, CTU remains committed to securing a fair contract that reflects the needs of both educators and students.
