CTU president talks strike, says state owes $6 billion
(The Center Square) – Chicago Teachers Union leaders say they will keep pushing for more state funding of public education after Tuesday’s school board elections in Chicago, and CTU members will strike if they need to.
With a few precincts still not reported on Wednesday, CTU-backed candidates won at least nine of 21 Chicago Board of Education seats but fell short of gaining a majority.
Jessica Biggs won the election for school board president over CTU-backed candidate Hilario Dominguez, who told supporters it was one moment in a longer fight.
“We ain’t going nowhere. This campaign was something much bigger than one seat on a school board,” Dominguez said.
Biggs thanked voters in a social media post.
“So grateful for this incredible support and ready to move Chicago Public Schools forward. The work starts now!” Biggs posted.
CTU President Stacy Davis Gates said billionaires spent a million dollars a week to support candidates for an unpaid position.
Gates said CTU does not just bargain for sick time and personal days.
“See, I’m ok to negotiate when I know that this union will take it to the picket line if they need to lower class sizes,” Gates said.
Gates said state education funding is billions of dollars in arrears, and the rich should pay their fair share.
“We will be at a hearing of the House education committee to discuss, listen to this, the $6 billion that the state of Illinois, our governor, our General Assembly, owes all of the schools in the state of Illinois,” Gates said.
The Illinois House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee is scheduled to meet in Chicago on Thursday afternoon.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said last week that discussions about fiscal year 2028 would be held from now until the end of May.
The governor said he increased public education funding by $3 billion a year, and he had not heard about a move for supplemental funding during the upcoming fall veto session.
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