Chicago Teachers Union

The leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union have been reelected in the union’s most hotly contested race since their group came to power in 2010, avoiding a runoff and cementing their role atop one of the city’s most influential and progressive organizations.

Teachers rallied outside Chicago Public School headquarters Wednesday calling for funding to be fully restored.

Handing a win to the Chicago Teachers Union, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday is planning to sign into law a measure that will allow fully vaccinated teachers and other school employees to take COVID-19 related paid time off without burning up sick days.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday, seeks to “end mischievous, unlawful and deceptive interference” from staunch mayoral ally Lisa Schneider Fabes and a group she formed called Chicago Teachers United, claiming she is undermining the union’s elections taking place on May 20.

A spike in COVID-19 cases at Coonley Elementary School in the North Center neighborhood means masks are required, but only in six affected classrooms.

A state labor board has rejected the Chicago Teachers Union’s request to temporarily block Chicago Public Schools’ mask optional policy while the union’s legal challenge plays out.

A mother of a CPS student who CTU said died of COVID-19 after her daughter was quarantined due to an outbreak, did not actually die of COVID-19, the Cook County Medical Examiner confirmed Monday.

A group of parent activists said Tuesday that it was blindsided by Chicago Public Schools’ announcement to drop the district’s mask mandate — with some calling it racist, even criminal.

Chicago Public Schools is dropping its mask mandate next Monday, citing a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks and a pending court ruling while breaking an agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union to maintain universal masking through the end of the school year.

A downstate Illinois attorney is suing Chicago Public Schools over their continued face mask requirement.

As mask mandate fights have roiled districts around the state the past month, Chicago Public Schools officials and Board of Education members defended their commitment to masking Wednesday while opening the door for a relaxed policy later this spring.

Karen Lewis knew how to play hard ball when she needed to. She also had a sharp wit to help her get her point across.

The Chicago Teachers Union slammed Mayor Lightfoot's remarks, calling them hurtful, racist and unsubstantiated.

Some Chicago-area schools will not be requiring masks on Monday, after a judge issued a temporary restraining order.

CPS said the "court’s current ruling does not prohibit CPS from exercising its authority to continue its COVID-19 mitigation policies and procedures, including universal masking by students and staff and vaccination and testing requirements for staff members."

Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election as president of the CTU.