The Chicago Federation of Teachers and its state and national affiliates spent nearly $6.5 million on political candidates in Chicago between February 28, 2022 and May 4, 2023.
After the Chicago Teachers Union and its allies pushed the way for Brandon Johnson during the Chicago mayoral election in February, the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune Requested“Is the Chicago Teachers Union the new machine?”
If campaign spending on politicians in Chicago is any indication, the answer is an unequivocal yes.
CTU and its state and national affiliates — the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers — spent nearly $6.5 million on Candidates for Chicago Mayor, City Council, City Clerk, and City Treasurer between February 28, 2022 and May 4, 2023.
This makes CTU and its affiliates the biggest spenders on Chicago politics.
CTU's massive spending on Chicago politics lends credence to former Mayor Lori Lightfoot's 2021 plan prediction“The Counter-Terrorism Unit will”I would love to lead not only Chicago Public Schools, but city government.
To that end, Brandon Johnson was the leading recipient of Chicago Teachers Union funds during that time period.
Johnson's deep ties to the CTU should worry Chicagoans. Johnson, the CTU's former “legislative coordinator,” will sit at the table with his former CTU colleagues when they negotiate a new contract in 2024. Their close relationship effectively puts the CTU on opposite sides of the negotiating table.
What's at stake if he continues to toe the CTU's line? There are a large number of expensive contract requirements, the costs of which are borne by taxpayers. Includes past demands Defund the police – Johnson himself once said he would Cuts Chicago police budget of at least $150 million – and Creating affordable housing. These potential provisions are not typically negotiated in teachers union contracts, but could be under Johnson. While the union focused on demands not related to education, Most students Within Chicago Public Schools, they cannot read or do math at grade level.
The CTU's political spending should worry its members as well. Among other poor financial decisions, the union spent Nearly three times as much in politics In 2023 compared to the previous year, so far Only 17% Of its spending was on representing teachers. It was also run for the first time Deficit budget Since I started reporting to the US Department of Labor. It has happened ever since Dues raised on its members by 13%.
And all of this comes under the leadership of its president, Stacy Davis Gates – who chairs it herself Default on her utility bills and owes the city about $5,600 for water, sewer and trash services.
CTU is clearly more interested in being a political player in Chicago than in representing teachers. Chicago Public Schools employees interested in opting out of union membership — and stopping dues to the union — can learn more at Leave CTU.com.
