Chicago Teacher's Union announces tentative agreement reached at Instituto schools
CHICAGO (CBS) – Teachers at two Chicago charter schools reached a tentative agreement following a late-night bargaining session Saturday.
The Chicago Teachers Union announced members at Instituto del Progreso Latino reached a tentative agreement with management that "forced the charter school operator to put students first."
Teachers would receive an increase in resources and staffing for special education, as well as help in recruiting and retaining bilingual staff and allowing students to access additional support including a librarian, school nurse, counselors, and social workers.
Union members have suspended their strike pending a review of the terms and are preparing to vote on ratification, according to CTU.
In a statement from Instituto: "We are proudly announcing the end of the CTU Strike. A sincere thank you for the steadfast support by our parents and community. Throughout the duration of the strike, our parents demonstrated an unwavering commitment to education by sending their students to school - our schools averaged a combined 120 students each day. Our community values uninterrupted education! While we are relieved to see an end to the CTU Strike, it is important to acknowledge once more that this strike could have been avoided if CTU had not placed their political agenda ahead of students. With this behind, we are excited to welcome back our educators. We remain committed to fostering a collaborative and supportive environment for both our staff and students, ensuring that their educational experience remains our top priority."
Teachers went on strike last Tuesday citing low pay and low staffing levels. They also wanted sanctuary protections for immigrant students and employees.
The CTU represents 48 members and staff serving 600 students at both Instituto schools - Instituto Justice Leadership Academy and Instituto Health and Science Career Academy.