Hundreds of educators stop paying money to Chicago Teachers Union following Janus decision

By Mailee Smith

08/23/2018

At least 300 Chicago Public Schools employees have stopped paying fees to the Chicago Teachers Union after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled they could not be forced to pay the union just to keep their jobs.

TAGS: agency, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, fair share, Janus v. AFSCME, labor

Government union lobbying turns legislation against students

By Mailee Smith

05/14/2018

SB 2838 was meant to aid school districts – and students – by providing a means for schools to recruit substitute teachers. But government union lobbying transformed it into a pro-union, pro-strike bill that hinders educational opportunities for students during teacher strikes.

TAGS: AFL-CIO, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers

Illinois teachers saw union dues flow to Chicago groups, politics and Madigan

By Mailee Smith

02/05/2018

Government worker unions can use their members' dues in any number of ways. The most recent federal filings of one of Illinois' largest teachers unions reveal millions of dollars directed disproportionately to Chicago and to political causes with which their members may disagree.

TAGS: AFT: American Federation of Teachers, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, dues, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers

CTU merger with charter school union is bad for both students and teachers

By Mailee Smith

01/31/2018

The Chicago Teachers Union's hold over the lives of Chicagoans will grow through its merger with ChiACTS, the union representing Chicago-area charter school teachers.

TAGS: charter schools, Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, unions

Rauner signs school funding plan, tax credit scholarships into law

By Austin Berg

08/31/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed a school funding reform bill containing Illinois’ first-ever tax credit scholarship program.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, property taxes

Illinois General Assembly passes school funding plan, tax credit scholarships

By Austin Berg

08/29/2017

The Illinois Senate passed a school funding reform bill containing the state’s first-ever tax credit scholarship program. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, Illinois General Assembly, school choice, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Illinois House passes school funding plan, tax credit scholarships

By Austin Berg

08/28/2017

After failing to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1, which stripped a Chicago bailout from the education funding proposal, Illinois House members voted to pass a compromise bill containing the state’s first-ever tax credit scholarship program.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, Illinois General Assembly, school choice, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

3 reasons charter school teachers should vote against union merger with CTU

By Mailee Smith

06/07/2017

Unionized teachers at Chicago charter schools are voting on whether to merge with the Chicago Teachers Union – a move that would be detrimental to both teachers and students in Chicago.

TAGS: Chicago, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education

Illinois lawmakers attempt to bail out Chicago Public Schools yet again

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

05/16/2017

State lawmakers’ latest bill not only forces a failed “evidence-based” education funding program on Illinois, but also bails out Chicago Public Schools.

TAGS: budget, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education

Noble teachers beware: Unionizing invites CTU involvement in your school

By Mailee Smith

04/18/2017

Teachers seeking union representation in the Noble Network of Charter Schools may want to think again. Unions cause more harm than good for both students and teachers. The Chicago Teachers Union provides an up close and personal look at the disastrous impact unions would have on charter schools.

TAGS: charter schools, Chicago, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education

Waste Watch: Nearly $100M of waste in Illinois state and local government

Illinois taxpayers are fed up and overtaxed. Residents have little faith that their governments are spending their tax dollars well – and for good reason. The state’s most recent spending plan is out of balance by as much as $1.5 billion, and includes $54.2 million in wasteful spending and $27 million in pork-barrel spending. The...

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Waste Watch: Nearly $100M of waste in Illinois state and local government

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Adan and Cynthia Villafranca

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students