The contract of the Chicago Teachers Union is scheduled to expire in June, leading to upcoming negotiations between educators and the school board.
Teachers Union Seeks 9% Annual Cost of Living Raise
The teachers union is requesting a nine percent cost of living adjustment annually. Based on data from Indeed, the average salary for teachers in Chicago Public Schools is $67,718.
According to Daily Mail, over the course of four years, teachers can expect to see consistent raises that will result in a salary of approximately $95,000 per year by 2028.
Despite Chicago Public Schools spending over $21,000 per student, which is significantly higher than the national average of $14,347 according to the Census Bureau, a demand for $50 billion has been made.
Despite the additional $7,000 that Chicago invests in its students, it seems that the increased cost does not translate into improved academic outcomes.
In early March, Union President Stacy Davis Gates stated that her proposed contract for 2024 to 2028 would amount to a total cost of $50 billion and 3 cents.
New Contract: Enhanced Training, Expanded Holidays, Longer Shifts
The new contract also includes extra training for special education classroom assistants, expands certain holidays to union members that were previously only for teachers, and converts seven-hour security officers to eight-hour employees, according to the union.
It is being requested by the union that every one of the 646 public schools should appoint a 'newcomer liaison' to assist new and migrant students.
Additionally, the union is advocating for the school board to work together with the City Colleges of Chicago to establish opportunities for late-arriving migrants who may not graduate high school before the age of 19, in order to support their success.
The union strongly emphasizes the importance of counselors, clinicians, social workers, and psychologists being well-versed in LGBTQ+ issues and receiving annual training as part of their job requirements.
Moreover, the union is advocating for a requirement that every school in the district provide a gender-neutral bathroom.
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