Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is negotiating a new contract for its members. However, they are demanding a whopping sum of $50 billion.

When the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) started negotiations for a new contract, Nita members were happy as it could mean a huge improvement in the quality of their work and pay. However, the union shocked most people by making a huge demand of $50 billion. This proposed fee will not only give its members higher wages but also help them get complete benefits.

The negotiations by the CTU majorly started with aiming for a raise. However, they are not holding back with their demands. The union is pushing for a 9% wage increase every single year up until 2028 when it will be reviewed again. Therefore, this shows that the union is thinking long-term and trying to implement strategies that align with its vision for the future.

While wages are an important part of the negotiations, that is not the only point of focus of the union. The CTU has a wishlist that includes a couple of things, such as healthcare and employee benefits. Under its healthcare demands, the group wants fully covered abortions and fertility benefits to help its members who need these types of healthcare services.

Apart from increased wages and healthcare, the union is also concerned about its migrant students. The CTU is focusing on integrating the students into the system in a better way and also providing sources of support for them. They’re proposing a $2,000 allocation to each student to help them settle in and improve their schoolwork and mental health.

The CTU is also pushing for inclusivity in schools in the city. It hopes to create a space where social justice is deeply infused into the school curriculum. It plans to do this by creating a safe environment where LGBTQ+ members can be free and compulsory annual LGBTQ+ training for its teachers. This way, the environment will be all-inclusive, with no discrimination against anyone.

The CTU is not done taking bold moves. In fact, one of their demands is to ensure complete protection of privacy for school staff. This means total discretion for anyone who does not want to identify with their biological sex and those in transition. Therefore, the students have complete power over their true identities, further creating a new and safer space for them to thrive.

The CTU is only a union in education, but its reach extends far beyond that. One can even call it a power pawn in local politics. Its support for Mayor Brandon Johnson is proof that the union’s position in politics is significant. It has a huge influence over students, teachers, and parents and the ability to sway them in the direction that the union wants.

Chicago is resilient in making its schools a top priority. Just last year, the money the state poured into its schools was well above the national average, with each student topping $21,000. Therefore, there is no doubt that the city is highly committed to education. However, the current academic outcomes are quite low and are raising doubts about the effectiveness of all the money being spent.

Without a doubt, Chicago prioritizes education above a lot of things. In fact, the teachers in this city are one of the highest-paid in the whole of America. However, this high pay is not reflected in the performance of its students. For example, only 21% of its eighth graders are able to read proficiently. Therefore, people are raising concerns about the disconnect between high pay and low results.

As people speculated about the increased pay and low results, Stacy Davis Gates, the Union’s President, believes their demands are valid. She defended the CTU’s stance, saying that all they are asking for is an opportunity to tell their story. The CTU continues to rally support from the government and members of the public, making their demands known to better the future of Chicago’s educational system.

Policy experts in the city have also criticized the CTU’s demands. One notable example is the Illinois Policy Institute. The organization argues that the CTU’s proposals and huge demands are not about improving education but wielding political power. A member of the institute, Mailee Smith, also voiced her concerns, saying the intentions are different from what the CTU says.

The total cost of everything the CTU demands is up to $50 billion. That sum is almost equal to Illinois’ total tax receipts for 2023. Therefore, several conversations are being had about the financial implications of this huge fee, as it could lead to higher taxes in the city or cause a huge strain on the city’s resources.