(The National Desk | Crisis in the Classroom)—The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) was sued by four of its own members Tuesday, who allege the union has failed to produce a financial audit for four years.
CTU’s bylaws require the union to present a report on its finances at each “regular meeting of the House” for the period since the last report was shared. The union’s financial secretary is to then produce an “audited report” to be printed in CTU’s publication each year, according to the bylaws.
However, the four members claim CTU has failed to fulfill this obligation over the last four years. The union last published an audit covering just the first half of 2019, the lawsuit argues.
Phillip Weiss, a member of CTU since 1998, feels the alleged failure shows a lack of “transparency” from the union.
“CTU members deserve to know where their money is going. After four years of silence, it’s time for transparency,” Weiss said Tuesday.“This lawsuit isn’t just about us — it’s about the more than 25,000 educators across Chicago who rely on the union to uphold its commitments.”
Nonprofit legal group Liberty Justice Center, who is representing the plaintiffs, previously sent a demand letter to CTU President Stacy Davis Gates and CTU Fiscal Secretary Maria Moreno on behalf of several anonymous union members. The Oct. 1 letter demanded the release of all audited financial reports covering 2019 through 2024.
Liberty Justice Center claims CTU both failed to produce the missing audits by the letter’s deadline and asked for the identities of the anonymous union members, using the information to “publicly shame” them on a union call. Gates allegedly singled out the members on the call by name and attempted to frame their requests as a “right-wing” effort.
“We are proud to stand with Chicago educators in their fight for accountability and transparency,” Dean McGee, senior counsel for educational freedom at Liberty Justice Center, said. “CTU leadership must uphold its obligations to the teachers it represents.”
CTU did not respond to a request for comment from Crisis in the Classroom (CITC).
The lawsuit comes as Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is facing scrutiny over the recent resignations of all seven current members of the Chicago Board of Education. Some have speculated the resignations are the result of pressure fromMayor Johnson, a former CTU member, to meet certain union demands, among other things.
CTU last week blamed the resignations on Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez, saying he is more focused on “his personal PR” than delivering for the school system.