Chicago Teachers Union members rejected a proposal that would have raised dues, in part to bolster political spending ahead of school board elections.
With 80% of schools counted, roughly 60% of members voted against the proposal, according to a Saturday email from union leadership obtained by the Tribune.
“The results seem clear – a majority of CTU members have elected not to implement the proposed dues restructuring at this time,” union leaders wrote.
The proposed 1.75% dues rate would have raised dues by an average of $18 per paycheck
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, netting about $8.5 million in additional revenue for the union.CTU has not had a structural dues increase in more than 40 years, according to internal documents obtained by Tribune in April. The proposal was intended to make dues proportional to income: Under the current structure, members pay a flat annual fee of $1,476, which means higher-earning members pay a smaller share of their income than their lower-paid counterparts.
CTU represents more than 30,000 teachers, paraprofessionals and clinicians across Chicago Public Schools.
It’s unclear how the vote will affect the union’s financial picture. Dues account for nearly 90% of CTU’s revenue, which is expected to exceed $40 million this fiscal year. Without the change, the union is facing a $4.2 million deficit, according to the April documents. A union spokesperson declined to comment on the shortfall.
Meanwhile, fundraising is heating up in the race for Chicago’s first fully elected school board. CTU was the top spender in the 2024 election, which largely pitted the union against pro-school choice groups. The union has yet to endorse or make contributions to candidates this election cycle.
In 2024, CTU-backed candidates won 4 out of 10 contested seats, but the union still holds the majority on the school board. Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former CTU organizer and close ally of the union, appointed the remaining 11 seats. This year, all 21 seats will be up for grabs.
“We must win a majority of the first 21-person, fully elected school board in November,” CTU officials wrote in documents outlining the dues proposal. “Millions in dark-money donations are trying to ensure record school board closings and austerity instead of a fully funded district.”
The citywide race for board president alone is expected to draw millions in spending. Hilario Dominguez, the union’s political director, announced his run last week, joining a slate of four other competitors.
Large public-sector unions, including teachers unions in other major cities, routinely spend on school board and state-level races to influence education and labor policy. In addition to political spending, dues cover a slew of other expenses for CTU, including lobbying efforts, staff salaries, legal representation, training and workshops.