Teachers Strike Averted

By Matt Ramsey
Staff Writer

City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) students can breathe a sigh of relief as a tentative teacher’s contract is accepted by both sides. 

Disruptions have been a major hurdle over the past two years. CCC students have had to adjust and adapt to an ever-changing and often unpredictable landscape of getting an education with the added stress of a global pandemic.  

In November, the City Colleges Of Chicago avoided strikes in the final days before a planned 15,000 professional faculty and support staff walkout across all CCC campuses, which would have resulted in significant disruption to the fall semester. 

The City Colleges of Chicago Teachers Union (CCCTU) has been negotiating with CCC's administrative officials since October 2021. Teachers and staff have been working on an expired contract since July of this year. 

Among the initial demands from the CCCTU included expanded support services to students, such as “Drop In” childcare, affordable housing, and immigration support, as well as comprehensive remote learning support and instruction for staff and students, reduced class size, more laboratory class support, and better wages.

"We're so happy to announce that our union bargaining team was able to secure a tentative agreement and avert a strike," Local 1600 President Tony Johnston said in a statement. “We've secured the additional support we have been fighting for on behalf of Chicago's most marginalized students and communities." 

A new four-year contract has appeased CCCTU demands and is poised to include smaller class sizes, increases in salary, and a plan for wraparound services available through the union's Common Good initiative. 

With the tentative agreement in place, students can focus on their finals without worrying about the potential disruption of a teacher's strike at CCC. The faculty and support staff will be available to provide the necessary support and guidance.