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CHICAGO
TEACHERS WHO DON’T WANT TO STRIKE HAVE OPTIONS
Illinois Policy Institute/
Mailee Smith
Chicago
Public Schools teachers face a tough decision in the coming days: While
the district is set to reopen K-8 schools for the first time since March
2020, the Chicago Teachers Union is calling for teachers to take
collective action and refuse to return to classrooms. Whether refusing
to work in person would constitute an... |
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 Chicago Public Schools teachers face a tough decision in the
coming days: While the district is set to reopen K-8 schools for the first time
since March 2020, the Chicago Teachers Union is calling for teachers to take
collective action and refuse to return to classrooms.
Whether refusing to work in person would constitute an official “strike” is a
gray area under Illinois labor law, which allows teachers to go on strike only
when there is no contract in place.
That means CTU’s current refusal to work in person while under a contract with
CPS could be considered an illegal strike.
Teachers who participate could be disciplined by the school, including loss of
pay. On the other hand, CTU can discipline members who don’t participate. It did
so following the 2016 strike, which was also determined to be likely illegal.
Teachers who don’t want to engage in the strike have other options. They can opt
out of the union while keeping all of the benefits provided in the contract.
They can also join another professional organization and obtain liability
insurance and job protection coverage at a fraction of the cost of union
membership.
CPS teachers can opt out of the union
CPS teachers do not have to be members of CTU.
They can opt out of union membership and retain all benefits provided by CPS in
the union contract. Those benefits include, but are not limited to, salary,
raises, health care plans and seniority.
In other words, if a benefit is in the contract, it is guaranteed to teachers
regardless of union membership.
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While CTU requires teachers to pay dues through the
year, anyone who opts out now will be considered a nonmember
immediately. Dues deductions should stop in August, per
communications some teachers reported receiving from the district
after opting out.
In the meantime, CTU cannot punish teachers who opt out of
membership and report to their classrooms.
Teachers interested in opting out can learn more and obtain the
appropriate paperwork at leavectu.com.
CPS teachers can join another professional organization
Teachers are free to join other organizations promoting
professionalism and collaboration in the teaching profession.
One example is the Association of American Educators, which is not
only the largest non-union educators’ organization in the nation,
but also provides liability insurance and job protection coverage to
teachers at a fraction of the cost of union membership.
That means teachers can keep their jobs, benefits and liability
insurance without being members of CTU.
Teachers who disagree with CTU and its stance on reopening have real
options. Opting out and joining another organization sends a message
to CTU that it needs to start listening to the teachers it
represents.
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