Chicago Teachers Union pays for audit, doesn’t let members see it

By Mailee Smith

10/10/2025

The Chicago Teachers Union is over five years behind in releasing its 'annual' audits, yet its own reporting shows it’s been paying accountants for those audits.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education

It’s been 1,805 days since Chicago Teachers Union’s last “annual audit”

By Mailee Smith

08/19/2025

The Chicago Teachers Union has shirked its own rules for years, causing members to sue the union to release a required annual audit. Members concerned about the union’s finances can opt out in August.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

3 things teachers unions don’t want teachers to know

By Mailee Smith

08/12/2025

Illinois public school teachers can opt out of union membership and stop paying dues in August. But union misinformation is spread to keep them in.

TAGS: teachers union

Less than 22% of voters approve of Chicago Teachers Union

By Tom Viz

08/11/2025

Less than 22% of voters approve of the Chicago Teachers Union. No surprise, considering the scandals and radical dogma pushed by its two top leaders.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois teachers can opt out of unions in August. Here’s why they should.

By Mailee Smith

07/30/2025

Just 15% to 26% of Illinois teachers union spending was on representing teachers in 2024. But public education employees can opt out of union membership and keep their hard-earned money.

TAGS: IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association

Vallas: J.B. Pritzker’s $55.2B budget fuels Illinois’ financial death spiral

By Paul Vallas

06/27/2025

J.B. Pritzker wants a third term as Illinois governor, but based on his history of boosting taxes and creating spending records, can Illinois afford him for four more years? Will the state grow even smaller as Illinoisans get fed up and leave?

TAGS: JB Pritzker, outmigration, taxes

9 things you’d likely get wrong about Illinois Federation of Teachers

By Mailee Smith

06/11/2025

The Illinois Federation of Teachers represents employees in more than 200 school districts across the state, but it does a lot that defies expectations. Here are nine things you and its members likely misunderstand, most related to colluding with the Chicago Teachers Union.

TAGS: IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers

Just 37% of Chicago Teachers Union members voted for Stacy Davis Gates

By Mailee Smith

06/03/2025

With only 10,100 of the Chicago Teachers Union’s 27,216 active members voting to retain Stacy Davis Gates as president, she doesn’t have support from nearly two-thirds of the teachers the union represents.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

By Josh Bandoch, Lauren Zuar

06/03/2025

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

Judge allows member lawsuit against Chicago Teachers Union to continue

By Mailee Smith

05/21/2025

A lawsuit challenging the Chicago Teachers Union’s failure to release mandated financial audits to its members survived CTU’s attempt to get it thrown out.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

United States Department of Labor

Chicago Teachers Union pays for audit, doesn’t let members see it

It’s been 1,805 days since Chicago Teachers Union’s last “annual audit”

3 things teachers unions don’t want teachers to know

Less than 22% of voters approve of Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois teachers can opt out of unions in August. Here’s why they should.

Vallas: J.B. Pritzker’s $55.2B budget fuels Illinois’ financial death spiral

9 things you’d likely get wrong about Illinois Federation of Teachers

Just 37% of Chicago Teachers Union members voted for Stacy Davis Gates

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Judge allows member lawsuit against Chicago Teachers Union to continue

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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