The Chicago Teachers Union already pays about $4,300 less than families whose taxes should support their health benefits. They will be looking for a sweeter deal this summer.
Health insurance will likely cost your family about $7,000, but if you're a member of the Chicago Teachers Union, coverage costs about $2,700.
More lucrative health benefits are needed, according to CTU. That's what they are Demanding In current contract negotiations.
They want paid surrogacy leave, 100% coverage for infertility and abortion, and opt-outs of physical therapy and mental health services. They want a “Personal Medical Release Day” every year to use for annual health checkup appointments in addition to their 12 sick days. They want money to address racial disparities in health care. They want to cover bariatric surgery and weight-loss medications.
Before they get too far ahead in 2025-2028 contract negotiations with their former co-worker, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and the school board who appointed him, it's worth taking a look at what CTU already has in place in terms of health insurance benefits.
The average Midwestern resident contributed $7,051 annually to their family's preferred provider organization plan, according to a reconnaissance By the Kaiser Family Foundation. The same coverage costs a CTU member $2,703, or 2.5 times less.
The average CTU member also has much more income to cover these expenses: $88,609 on average in 2023 compared to $61,102 For the average worker in the Chicago area in the private sector.
They want more salary too. If their salary demands are met, their average will rise $144,620 By the end of the contract.
The reason CTU members get a much better deal than Chicago citizens in the private sector is because 2019-24 a contract It guaranteed them a 2.8% health insurance contribution rate for three years, until their rate rose marginally by 0.25% in 2023. The burden of contributing to health insurance premiums falls primarily on Chicago Public Schools, i.e. taxpayers.
CTU members also enjoy cheap co-payments for health services. The common hospital fee is $100 per admission while Americans Face The average combined wage is $404.
The new contract seeks no co-payments for physical therapy and mental health services, full coverage of “abortion care” and embryo storage, and medical benefits for absences related to verbal abuse.
As contract negotiations continue, Chicago taxpayers should be concerned that the man charged with representing their interests is in office thanks to his CTU buddies and former co-workers largely bankrolling his run for president. Johnson should recuse himself from CTU contract negotiations. CTU benefits must be consistent with those that taxpayers are required to fund.
