Collective Bargaining Information Page

Latest News

October 10, 2012

Teamsters Local 700 Ratifies Five-Year Contract with CPS

October 4, 2012

New Chicago Public Schools-Chicago Teachers Union Contract Puts Chicago’s Students First

September 26, 2012

2012 Successor Bargaining Between The Board Of Education Of The City Of Chicago And The Chicago Teachers Union: Tentative Agreement

September 21, 2012

CPS Prep Sports Program Resumes Following End of CTU Strike

September 18, 2012

CPS-CTU Contract FAQ

School Opens Tomorrow for Chicago Public Schools Students

August 23, 2012

Editorial: Hold firm, CPS
Chicago Tribune

August 10, 2012

CPS Announces Four-Year Contract Agreement with IUOE Local 143
Contract Ratified by Fourth Largest Union in CPS

July 24, 2012

School Year to Start on Time with the Full School Day
CPS and CTU work in collaboration to negotiate key proposal as part of ongoing contract negotiation, ensuring Full School Day moves forward as planned for students

June 14, 2012

CPS and SEIU Local 73 Announce Three-Year Contract Agreement
Contract Includes First-Ever Maternity Leave Benefits, Professional Development and Wellness Programs for 5,500 Members of Second Largest Union in CPS

June 5, 2012

A Letter from CEO Jean-Claude Brizard to CPS Teachers

CPS and SEIU Local 73 Announce Tentative Contract Agreement After Two-Month Negotiation Process
Three-year contract to be recommended for ratification by 5,500 members of second largest labor union in CPS

May 24, 2012

Setting the Facts Straight: Click here to read more about claims made by the CTU regarding their collective bargaining proposals as well as those proposed by CPS.

May 10, 2012

Setting the Facts Straight: Click here to get the Facts on Misleading Claims made by the CTU on CPS contract proposals

May 4, 2012

See photos of CEO Brizard and members of UNITE HERE Local 1 announcing the labor agreement

May 3, 2012

CPS and UNITE HERE Local 1 Reach Labor Agreement After Two-Month Negotiation Process
Contract Includes First-Ever Maternity Leave Benefits, Professional Development and Wellness Programs for 3,200 Members of third largest union in CPS.

Overview

The Chicago Public Schools has collective bargaining agreements with seven unions representing tens of thousands of employees working for the District.

This website is designed to provide the public with access to factual, accurate and timely information around the collective bargaining process and issues related to that process. CPS will update this site on an ongoing basis to continue informing the public about this process over the next several weeks and months to come.

The collective bargaining agreement that has the greatest impact on the District is with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), as its members represent the greatest number of employees in our system. The collective bargaining process with the CTU is changing significantly due to the new state education reform law known widely at Senate Bill 7 (SB7), which was passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by Gov. Pat Quinn last year. This page also contains key links and information regarding this new reform law.

Glossary of Key Terms

Collective Bargaining

The process by which a labor union that is the exclusive representative of a group of employees and their employer engage in good faith negotiations to reach agreement over wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment detailed in the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (IELRA). CPS is currently engaged in collective bargaining processes with seven different labor unions.

Mandatory (Required) Subjects of Bargaining

Section 10 of the IELRA requires CPS to engage in good faith negotiation over a variety of economic and non-economic issues with the labor organizations that represent its employees. These mandatory subjects of bargaining typically include wages and salaries, expense reimbursements, health care, paid days off leaves of absence, disciplinary procedures, health and safety, equipment, work space, etc.

Section 4.5 Subjects of Bargaining

Section 4.5 of the IELRA identifies several topics over which the employer, CPS, has exclusive decision making authority. However, when requested, CPS has an obligation to bargain with its employees' representatives over the impact of those decisions. Employees may not engage in a strike over Section 4.5 decisions or disputes or impasses. Section 4.5 subjects include layoffs, subcontracting, class size, hours and places of instruction, class staffing and assignment, the length the school year and day, and the length of work day and year.

Impasse Resolution

A method or process used to break a stalemate in negotiations or to restart constructive talks. Methods may include voluntary arbitration, mediation, fact-finding, etc. Methods are established by the IELRA and differ depending on whether the disputed issue is a mandatory subject or a Section 4.5 subject of bargaining. CPS is required to use mediation and fact-finding on mandatory subjects.

Mediation

A process by which a neutral third party (mediator) helps two parties reach an agreement on disputed terms. This process is usually applied when collective bargaining becomes difficult and the parties have trouble reaching a compromise. A mediator typically does not make recommendations but attempts to help the parties see the opposing points of view.

Fact-Finding

A process by which mandatory subjects of bargaining are submitted to a three person panel for a recommended resolution. The panel is composed of one member from each party at the negotiation table, and one neutral member (the Fact-Finder) agreed to by both parties. Members from both parties present their respective proposals, along with supporting evidence to the Fact-Finder. After 75 days, the Fact-Finder presents a private report with recommendations on the issues presented. Upon issuance of the report, both parties have 15 days to accept or reject the proposal. If either party rejects the recommendations in the report, the report becomes public.

More Information About the Collective Bargaining Process

Summary of the Illinois Education Reform Act of 2011 (SB007)

Important Issues Affecting the Collective Bargaining Process

Collective Bargaining Organizations that Represent CPS Employees

Chicago Teachers Union Local 1 American Federation of Teachers AFL-CIO
Read the agreement Between the Board of Education of the City of Chicago and Chicago Teachers Union - Local 1, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO

Overview of CPS-CTU Negotiation Process
Setting the Facts Straight: Click here to get the Facts on Misleading Claims made by the CTU on CPS contract proposals

Timeline for Collective Bargaining

Click on the chart to enlarge, download or print.

UNITE HERE - Local 1
Read the agreement Between the Chicago Board of Education and the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union UNITE HERE - Local 1

Service Employees Interational Union (SEIU) - Local 73
Read the agreement Between the Chicago Board of Education and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) - Local 73

State & Municipal Teamsters, Chauffeurs & Helpers Union
Read the agreement Between the Chicago Board of Education and the State & Municipal Teamsters, Chauffeurs & Helpers Union – Local 700

International Union of Operating Engineers - Local 143-143B
Read the agreement Between the Chicago Board of Education and The International Union of Operating Engineers – Local 143-143B

The Firemen & Oilers - Local 7, AFL-CIO
Read the agreement Between the Chicago Board of Education and the Firemen & Oilers (have since merged with the SEIU), Firemen & Oilers, Local 7, AFL-CIO

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 134
Read the agreement Between the Chicago Board of Education and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 134

To view some of the documents provided on this page, you need Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this program, click download Adobe Acrobat Reader nowand follow the instructions.