Educators were back in class at schools operated by Instituto del Progreso Latino Monday, after the nonprofit and Chicago Teachers Union members reached a tentative agreement to end the union’s strike.
Launched last week, the strike was motivated by teachers’ demands for better pay and increased staffing, particularly in bilingual and special education programs, the union said.
On Sunday, CTU posted on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, “The tentative agreement won by educators will significantly increase resources and staffing for special education, help recruit and retain bilingual staff, and allow students to access additional supports including a librarian, school nurse, counselors and social workers.”
The strike, at Instituto Health and Science Career Academy and Instituto Justice Leadership Academy, is suspended while members “review the terms and prepare to vote on ratification” of the agreement reached with Instituto, the union added.
In an emailed statement, Instituto said, “After thorough collaboration amongst both parties, we feel confident that we have presented a fair and comprehensive offer to our educators. We believe this offer reflects our firm commitment to providing quality education while addressing the various needs and concerns from our educators.”
Among Instituto’s two schools, CTU represents a total of 48 employees, cumulatively serving 600 students, according to the union. Around 120 students attended classes during the duration of the strike, according to Instituto.
“With this behind [us], we are excited to welcome back our educators,” Instituto said. “We remain committed to fostering a collaborative and supportive environment for both our staff and students, ensuring that their educational experience remains our top priority.”