CHICAGO — Less than a week before the mayoral runoff election between Chicago Teachers Union organizer Brandon Johnson and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, three CTU members filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the union.
Questioning the union’s approximately $2.2 million in donations to Johnson’s campaign for mayor, the complaint alleges CTU “breached its duty of fair representation to its members” in using membership dues for political purposes, contrary to a policy stated in the union’s member handbook. Hancock High School teacher Froylan “Froy” Jimenez, who recently failed to advance to the runoff in his bid to become 11th Ward alderman, is among the complainants.
“Membership dues should be used to guarantee our contract and ensure safe and fair working conditions,” Jimenez wrote in a news release. “Our hard-earned money should not be used as fuel for political campaigns without the proper consent of individual members.”
