Chicago City Colleges Strike Called Off

To avoid a strike that was set to begin this week, City Colleges of Chicago reached a tentative contract agreement with bargaining teams representing faculty and staff, Cook County College Teachers Union President Tony Johnston said.

According to him, the agreement was reached at around 11pm on Sunday after talks started at 9am. The Union held a strike rally Thursday and a The strike was supposed to start on Wednesday.

The language of the preliminary contract is not issued; it will be sent to CCCTU members by Tuesday, Johnston said. The union’s rank-and-file workers still have to approve a new contract, but the strike has been called off, the CCCTU said.

“We are pleased with the preliminary agreement,” Johnston said.

Contracts with teachers and professional staff expired in July. According to a CCCTU news release, the new contract will last four years and will include smaller class sizes, economic wage increases and comprehensive student services.

A City Colleges spokesman said the tentative agreement “ensures our students receive a high-quality educational experience and recognizes the hard work of our faculty and staff.” Classes at seven colleges will continue as normal this week.

The next steps for the CCCTU include holding information sessions with members and then putting the contract up for a ratification vote, which Johnston expects to happen before Thanksgiving.

The contract will then be sent to City Colleges for approval by the board of trustees at its December meeting, he said.

mellis@chicagotribune.com