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The Chicago college board is pushing district CEO Pedro Martinez to rapidly wrap up contract talks with the Chicago Lecturers Union.
In a letter despatched Friday obtained by Chalkbeat, board members demanded “a totally executed contract within the coming days” — a unprecedented ask on condition that the 2 sides stay far aside on key points and are gearing up to herald a impartial fact-finder to evaluate the district’s monetary scenario and the potential impression of union proposals in December.
Board members wrote to Martinez to hurry up the negotiations the identical day the union despatched the board a letter asking them to place strain on district directors to settle. The talks have been underway since April.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, an in depth CTU ally, appointed the seven-member board in October after your entire earlier board stepped down amid strain to fireside Martinez.
The union has mentioned its bundle of proposals will assist the district meet the targets of a five-year strategic plan it accepted earlier this fall — a sentiment the college board echoed in its letter to the colleges chief. CPS officers have countered {that a} district dealing with ballooning deficits can’t afford to decide to a significant enlargement in staffing and different investments the union is looking for.
Some aldermen and board members elected earlier this month have referred to as on the present board members to not take any consequential actions till the brand new hybrid 21-member board is seated in January. However the board rejected the plea to “sit on our palms” in its letter to Martinez.
“Let’s attain a swift settlement in order that our faculty communities and educators could achieve peace of thoughts and in order that our district management can redirect capability taken up by bargaining, to enhance our colleges and scholar outcomes, as quickly as attainable,” board members wrote.
Member Debby Pope, who labored for the academics union till this previous summer time, didn’t signal the letter.
The academics union, which final week additionally referred to as on Johnson to intervene within the talks and held a downtown rally in help of its proposals, wrote college board members decrying a letter to households and a press briefing that district leaders held final week. On each events, the district mentioned that the union’s calls for would add about $10 billion in prices over the contract’s 4 years. However union officers argued that they’ve since narrowed down and revised their proposals, leading to smaller prices.
The bargaining has been one subject that spurred a conflict between Martinez and Johnson, resulting in months of CPS turmoil — and a push to oust the CEO. The faculties chief and mayor have disagreed over methods to pay for the price of the contract, with Martinez and the previous largely Johnson-appointed board arguing it could be irresponsible to take out a mortgage and add to the district’s important debt burden.
Reema Amin contributed to this report.
Mila Koumpilova is Chalkbeat Chicago’s senior reporter overlaying Chicago Public Faculties. Contact Mila at mkoumpilova@chalkbeat.org.