Jan. 14--The Chicago Teachers Union and the city's school board have agreed to launch a final stage of contract negotiations Feb. 1 if they continue to be unable to reach a deal to replace a contract that expired June 30.
Under state law, the two sides must engage in a "fact finding" stage for up to 120 days before a strike could take place. Assuming the process gets underway Feb. 1, that would extend to May 30, Memorial Day, with the final day of classes set for June 21.
Fact finding involves a three-member panel, made up of a representative from each side and an impartial third person. The two sides have squabbled over when fact finding should begin after the school board rejected a union demand to move to that stage late last year.
On Wednesday, both sides wrote a joint letter to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board saying they "continue their efforts to settle their disputes" and asking the board to withdraw a recent charge by the CTU that accused the board of refusing to proceed to fact finding.
That union also has complained to the board that CPS has failed to make good on salary increases still due to teachers after its last contract expired. That matter remains unresolved.
Contract talks have been going on for more than a year and for much of that time district held out the threat of teacher layoffs because of its poor financial situation. Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool said in December that CPS can get through the year without teacher layoffs if the union buys into a district contract proposal.
CPS is expected to cut a third of its central office administrative staff, which Claypool says will save $50 million in annual expenses. CPS officials say it can save another $100 million through efficiencies in procurement and transportation.
CPS says that is unrealistic and is considering a combination of new borrowing and layoffs next year if it doesn't get state help to deal with a $500 million budget shortfall.
The fact-finding schedule does not entirely rule out the possibility of a strike this school year. CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey said in December, when CPS was pushing to delay fact finding until February, that "we might not see a strike until the very end of the school year or potentially even the beginning of next school year."
jjperez@tribpub.com
