Chicago Teachers Union takes position on 59 bills, gets its way on 24
The union had a 40% success rate on bills it lobbied on during the 104th Illinois General Assembly.
The Chicago Teachers Union tries to extend its influence far beyond Chicago Public Schools. It also lobbies heavily in Springfield.
In the most recent legislative session, CTU saw lawmakers do its bidding on 2-in-5 bills on which it registered support or opposition.
That’s a lot of power over the people of Illinois for a special-interest group from Chicago.
The two-year General Assembly began Jan. 8, 2025. CTU filed its position on 59 bills, getting its way on 24.
Here is what CTU supported, what it opposed and how its lobbying affects people all over Illinois on an array of issues unrelated to union rights or education.
Chicago Teachers Union supported 51 bills, with 17 passing
CTU urged approval of 51 bills. Of those, 17 passed both chambers and were signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Those bills related to:
- Education information and disclosure: House Bill 1366, House Bill 2574
- Immigration: House Bill 3247
- Employee evaluations: Senate Bill 28
- Curriculum: House Bill 3026
- Housing regulation: House Bill 3564
- Higher education health services: House Bill 3709
- Student discipline: House Bill 3772
- Voter registration for students: House Bill 4339
- Licensure for social workers, teachers: Senate Bill 1584
- Workplace regulations: Senate Bill 1976
- Union rights: Senate Bill 1799
- Private school regulation: Senate Bill 3361
- Other education matters: House Bill 3500, Senate Bill 3051
- Other employment matters: Senate Bill 212, Senate Bill 2339
The union also supported attempts to restrict charter schools statewide. House Bill 1387 and Senate Bill 144 would have imposed additional restrictions on who could operate a charter school and how charter schools spent their budgets. Neither bill passed the first chamber, but they would have affected education options all over Illinois, not just in Chicago.
Chicago Teachers Union opposed 8 bills, with 7 failing to pass
CTU also got its way on bills it opposed.
House Bill 2971 and House Bill 5097 would have eased restrictions on charter schools. Neither passed.
Yet, despite union opposition, Pritzker did sign House Bill 5551, which made changes to school funding, special-education requirements and teacher certification initiatives.
Altogether, lawmakers did what CTU wanted on 24 of the 59 bills on which it took a position. That’s nearly 2-in-5, or 40%.
Chicago Teachers Union’s lobbying affects all Illinoisans
The union doesn’t restrict its lobbying efforts to workplace or education issues. Nor does it focus on Chicago-specific bills. Its efforts extend to bills affecting Illinoisans from Rockford to Cairo.
Many bills had nothing to do with education or its union rights. For example, House Bill 2706 would have amended current law to further restrict law enforcement cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Other bills would have prohibited landlords from requiring any fees or charges before the beginning of tenancy, changed the minimum wage for tipped workers and created an expensive “Workplace Extreme Temperature Safety Act.”
CTU even backed a legally questionable digital ad tax that was incorporated into the record-high $55.9 billion budget.
With CTU lobbying over a myriad of issues unrelated to its members and purpose, its lobbying success threatens Illinoisans statewide.