New report says 17% of CTU spending goes to member representation

[September 10, 2024]  By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – According to the Illinois Policy Institute, just 17% of Chicago Teachers Union spending is dedicated to representing its members.  

Members of the Chicago Teachers Union in Springfield at the Illinois State Capitol
Catrina Petersen | The Center Square

Illinois Policy Institute Senior Director of Labor Policy Mailee Smith cited the union’s federal filing documents.

Smith said most CTU members have no idea how their dues are spent, because the union has not released an annual audit in four years.

“That’s something that’s required by its own internal rules. They’re completely ignoring their own rules and keeping their members in the dark about how they’re actually spending money,” Smith explained.

Smith said teachers have started questioning CTU President Stacy Davis Gates.

“We have seen members start filing unfair labor practice challenges against the union. That is something members could potentially do. They could file litigation,” Smith said.

Smith said union members will decide next year if Gates and the current leadership stay in power.

“In the upcoming year, there is a leadership election. That is something that should be flagged for members, that in 2025, they get to decide if Stacy Davis Gates and the current leadership stay in power,” Smith added.

Gates was elected CTU president in 2022.

If CTU accepts the latest contract proposal from Chicago Public Schools, nearly 70% of CPS teachers would see a pay increase between 5 and 7.5% this school year.

According to CPS, the average teacher salary would increase to more than $110,000 by the 2027-28 school year.

CTU raised member dues by 13% for fiscal year 2024. Teachers now pay the union more than $1400 per year.

CTU reported a budget deficit of nearly $500,000 in 2023.

Illinois Policy Institute Senior Director of Labor Policy Mailee Smith said Stacy Davis Gates and other union leaders are stonewalling and not giving information to members.

“Since she’s been president, this is when we’ve seen just 17 cents of every dollar is spent on representing teachers,” Smith said.

Smith added that the union spent three times more on politics last year than in any previous year reported. CTU spent nearly $2.3 million on Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s mayoral campaign.

“So there have been a number of financial failings, things that are pretty sketchy, under Stacy Davis Gates’ presidency of CTU. That is something that members are starting to notice,” Smith said.