(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
Chicago education officials finalized a new contract between Chicago Public Schools and thousands of support staff that will increase wages for some of the district’s lowest paid workers.
The Chicago Board of Education unanimously approved a new four-year agreement with unionized staffers represented by Service Employees International Union Local 73.
“This union represents our custodians, our special education classroom assistants and many of our support staff professionals, all who play a critical role in advancing student learning and maintaining the safety and well-being of our city’s children,” CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said Thursday.
The sides reached a tentative agreement earlier this month, and SEIU members voted to ratify the deal last week.
The new contract ensures all full-time SEIU Local 73 members will begin with a baseline salary of at least $40,000, and includes a 4% raise for the first two years of the deal, followed by a 4-5% pay increase for the contract’s final two years, ending in 2027.
The contract also provides SEIU workers with additional professional development and will convert all seven-hour security officers to eight-hour employees.
“This contract agreement reflects the level of respect we have for our support staff professionals as well as the tremendous impact their commitment is having on the wellbeing of our students,” Martinez said.
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
