CPS and CTU leaders conflict over stalled contract negotiations

CHICAGO – Tons of of 1000’s of Chicago Public Colleges college students are set to return from winter break, whereas CPS and CTU leaders proceed negotiations on a brand new deal. 

Each side held dueling press conferences on Friday, signaling little progress regardless of ongoing talks.

CTU President Stacy Davis Gates accused CPS of stalling progress, claiming CPS just isn’t prioritizing an settlement. “We must always have an settlement,” Davis Gates stated at a day press convention. “We must always’ve had one months in the past.”

She additionally criticized CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, calling him “the supreme being” for blocking faculty board involvement in contract talks. 

“We need to recruit and practice Black educators. Our ‘supreme being’ has to conform to that,” she added.

Martinez countered, saying the 2 sides have made progress, assembly 23 instances in December alone. He additionally stated CTU refuses to formalize verbal agreements and stays rigid on wage calls for, which have been decreased from 9% to between 5% and 6%. Martinez is providing 4-5%.

“As we transfer towards a ultimate settlement and we enter new finances season with a $500 million structural deficit, we have to keep our present proposal for the fiscal well being of the college system,” Martinez stated.

Chicago lecturers are among the many highest paid within the nation, incomes $96,000 per yr. CTU has additionally demanded the hiring of 14,000 further employees, which Martinez says would value the district $5 billion. 

Davis Gates contends Martinez has refused to attend negotiations.

“Pedro’s not on the desk, so while you converse to him, he’s talking from a spot of politics and holding his job,” she stated.

Martinez, nonetheless, pressured his dedication to reaching an settlement that rewards lecturers with out overburdening taxpayers already dealing with large CPS debt.

“We’re negotiating in good religion, and we’ll proceed to barter, however the eventual settlement should align with our strategic plan and be sustainable. If we overextend at this time, it will likely be our youngsters and employees that pay the value tomorrow,” Martinez stated.

With lower than two weeks till the brand new hybrid elected faculty board is sworn in, it seems unlikely {that a} new contract will likely be in place by then.