Teachers union rejects CPS contract offer

The Chicago Teachers Union's "Big Bargaining Team" voted unanimously on Monday to reject a four-year contract offer, the union announced Monday afternoon.

At a news conference Monday, union representative Monique Redeaux-Smith said the union rejected the offer from Chicago Public Schools in part because it was "not convinced" the CPS board would approve "vague and unclear" proposals. The CTU bargaining team also was concerned about what it called "undue pressure" being put on veteran teachers to resign.

As the team of 40 negotiators - made up of teachers, social workers and other school staffers - discussed the proposal, it also became clear there was a lack of trust in Mayor Rahm Emanuel to follow through on commitments to setting limits on charters, as well as promises about school funding, that had been made in the offer, a source told the Sun-Times.

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