Tentative Deal Reached In Chicago Teachers Strike [UPDATE]

By Chuck Sudo in News on Sep 14, 2012 7:20PM

Photo credit: Chicagoist/Chuck Sudo

Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. CTU attorney Robert Bloch said the union is presenting the proposal to its Board of Delegates as of post time. The Board of Delegates will vote on whether to accept the agreement. Bloch's comments marked the first time a CTU representative acknowledged an agreement is in place.

“I can’t provide assurances, but I can tell you that it is a contract that the committee will recommend to the membership,” said Bloch, “and if we have read the membership correctly, a contract that they would approve.”

Chicago School Board chief David Vitale said "the heavy lifting is over" and expressed confidence that school will be in session on Monday.

Bloch said CTU's Board of Delegates will hold another meeting on Sunday.

We'll update this post as more information becomes available.

(Update) 2:35 p.m.: Some details on the contract are being leaked via City Hall. The deal is a three-year agreement with an option for a fourth year, according to WBEZ. The new deal preserves the longer school day and year CPS wanted, while teachers will get a pay raise "generous" and "on par" to what the school district prior to the strike.

CTU's Board of Delegates, meanwhile, will not vote on the deal today. They may vote in the meeting happening at post time on calling off the strike. If that's the case, one can assume they'll vote on the deal when they meet Sunday.

Update 3:45 p.m.: CTU's Board of Delegates announced there would not be a vote to end the strike today; they're waiting for something on paper. (WBEZ)

As for the tentative deal, CPS is stepping back from calling it that. Instead, they're saying the deal is "an agreement in principle." (Chicago Public Schools)