The union that represents teachers at 32 charter schools in Chicago has voted to merge with the 30,000-member Chicago Teachers Union, which historically has represented educators from only traditional public schools.
The Chicago Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff is the largest union of charter school teachers in the country, according to the group. Under a merger, charter school teachers would still have separate contracts negotiated with their individual schools. But unifying would allow the two groups “to coordinate revenue campaigns, policy positions, and member outreach on key issues,” according to the CTU.
The merger will not go through until CTU members vote this fall on whether to approve it.