January 1, Teacher Union Demands Amid Alleged Improprieties and Troubling Student Stats

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is currently negotiating a new contract. They demand a $50 billion package that includes free abortion services, cash to migrants, LGBTQ concessions, and a significant pay hike. However, the CTU faces accusations of financial improprieties, complicating the contract talks.

One allegation involves multimillion-dollar contracts awarded to the mother of CTU Vice President Jackson Potter. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, since 2018, the CTU has been paying millions for legal services from a firm belonging to Robin Potter. The analysis shows that the CTU has steered two lawsuits worth upwards of $9.25 million to Robin Potter’s firm, which received $4 million in fees. Between 2018 and 2023, the firm also received $320,000 in business and a payout of $33,000 in undisclosed expenses.

In addition to these allegations, the CTU has failed to conform to its own financial reporting rules. The union is required to provide an annual internal audit of its spending to its members, but the last time it did so was in 2019. The webpage for the required audits for 2019 through 2023 appears to be missing from the CTU website.

Despite billions being spent annually on the Chicago Public Schools, students do not seem to be benefiting much from the inflated budgets. In February, it was discovered that 55 of Chicago’s public schools had zero children proficient at grade-level in reading and math. The Illinois Policy Institute also reported in 2023 that Chicago’s high school graduation rate lagged far behind the rest of the state.

The CTU has faced other controversies. Last September, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates was criticized for sending her own son to a private school. Gates attempted to frame the issue as a racial problem by claiming that “inequities” in the Chicago Public Schools led to her decision, noting that the options for Black students on the city’s South and West Sides are limited.

As our loyal readers, we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions on this issue. Let your voice be heard and join the discussion below.

Source