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‘That was our intention’: Chicago Teachers Union contract negotiations continue
The CPS system faces a stormy future headed into the new year.
CHICAGO - Leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union say there's been a shift since Tuesday's court ruling that prevents Chicago Public Schools board members from interfering with the authority of CEO Pedro Martinez to negotiate a deal.
"We attempted to go into this negotiation from a position of 'yes,'" union president Stacy Davis Gates said after talks had concluded on Thursday. "That intention has not been met with co-equal intention by Pedro's team."
"What we witnessed today at the bargaining table were the courts, Pedro Martinez slowing things down to a crawl, trying to run out the clock before Trump takes office on the 20th of January," said union VP Jackson Potter.
Tuesday's ruling came after three board members showed up to negotiations urging a quick resolution. The ruling also says Martinez' duties cannot be diminished – this after Mayor Brandon Johnson's handpicked interim school board voted 6-0 last week to give Martinez six months notice of his firing.
CTU says the two sides are hung up on class sizes for pre-K and staffing levels.
"To come to the table today and see a slowing down of that momentum does not give me a lot of hope today," Davis Gates said.
CTU leaders are under the gun to get a deal before January 15th, which is when the newly elected school board takes office. Seven of the incoming elected members have asked that the process slow down until they're sworn in.
"Voters of Chicago have elected ten people to be their representatives," said school board member elect Angel Gutierrez. "They should allow us to sit at the table that is being led by the superintendent."
CTU says both sides will be back at it on Friday.