Mayor calls on CPS, Chicago Teachers Union to resolve contract dispute before crucial budget vote

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Mayor Brandon Johnson and top education officials had a special meeting Wednesday, ahead of a crucial Chicago Public Schools Board meeting Thursday.

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates and fired CPS CEO Pedro Martinez were seen walking into City Hall Wednesday afternoon.

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CPS Board President Sean Harden was also in attendance.

The mayor also invited his Finance and Budget committee chairs.

The goal was to try to bring all sides to the table ahead of a budget decision Thursday.

The meeting was all about trying help resolve a new contract for the CTU.

"So, today's conversation, the convening of today's conversation, was to get both sides of the table to discuss the differences within settling in this contract with just a couple of issues, just to understand that. Today, I got that understanding, and as a part of our conversation, there are pathways to settle those differences," Johnson said.

Mayor Johnson spoke after a meeting with Chicago education leaders Wednesday.

Johnson wants to see the contract settled before Thursday's vote.

The two sides are close, according to the mayor and Martinez, with three unresolved issues, including teacher evaluations.

The mayor called this a productive meeting.

Both sides are hoping to avoid a teacher strike.

"I see no remote possibility of a strike because none of these areas are we're just that close. I definitely, you know, you'll hear it. Mayor was very direct. He wants a deal done today. Hey, I wanted it a month ago. So, join the club. So again, they asked us if we could stay today. I didn't feel comfortable because, again, this was not a negotiation session. My team is ready to meet tomorrow morning," Martinez said.

"So, the message to the Board of Education, my message to CPS leadership, my message to the people of Chicago that these issues can be resolved and there are pathways to get there," Johnson said. "And of course, I'm going to do everything in my power to avoid a work stoppage."

The mayor said that he would like to see the two sides negotiating Wednesday night and get the deal done, but that does not appear like it's going to happen.

Davis Gates spoke to reporters, expressing frustration with the meeting and with Martinez, who she accused of being disrespectful to the mayor.

The city is asking the school district to make a $175 million payment to cover pensions.

Without the payment, the city's budget would be unbalanced.

Johnson was joined by seven senior cabinet members, including his finance and budget directors Tuesday, to lay out options for CPS in its budget battle with the city: at issue is a $175 million pension payment for non-teacher employees at CPS.

The city already made the payment, and now is demanding CPS repay the money before the end of the month.

"We're recommending a short-term borrowing to serve as a bridge to working out a more fulsome budget solution for CPS," Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski said.

CPS is in the middle of a five-year plan to assume full responsibility for its employees pensions. During this time, the city is helping the cash-strapped district make those payments.

On Thursday, the Board will vote on an amended budget that calls for paying for teacher and principal contracts, but not making the pension payment, because it doesn't have the money to do both.

"Well, look, there's a responsibility the Board of Education has. They have to do both. They have to do both," Johnson said.

In a report just completed for the Board of Education, a consultant offered numerous options.

Budget cuts were considered "highly challenging at best."

And refinancing debt, the report warned, could result in "additional interest costs ... and thus potential future budget shortfalls."

The mayor criticized Martinez for not including the $175 million payment in the budget that was passed last August.