Disagreement over contract proposal arises between Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Teachers Union, SEIU

CHICAGO (WLS) — Two of the unions that helped get Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson elected are now at odds.

The Service Employees International Union said it’s under attack by the Chicago Teachers Union.

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There’s concern about the impact that could have on jobs.

The two unions are now at odds over a CTU contract proposal that SEIU said would take thousands of members away from Local 73.

Stacia Scott Kennedy, executive vice president of SEIU Local 73, expressed concern about the impact of the situation on the integrity of their bargaining unit that they have represented for more than 20 years. She described the current state of affairs as a threat, often referred to as a raid in such cases.

Despite efforts by her union to engage with the CTU regarding contract negotiations with Chicago Public Schools over several months, Scott Kennedy highlighted that these attempts have not been successful. Consequently, the SEIU State Local Council recently approved a resolution, stating that the organization feels “under attack” by the CTU.

The situation has escalated to the point where 40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez expressed disappointment and described it as unfortunate that the SEIU had to resort to drafting, voting on, and passing a resolution to address the issue at hand.

Progressive Alderman Vasquez and others say for the sake of union solidarity in Chicago, the dispute must be worked out.

“It is extremely unusual for unions to be in a public fight like this and for one union challenge another, especially if they’re politically aligned,” ABC7 Chicago political analyst Laura Washington said.

The conflict is over CPS special education classroom assistants, known as SECAs. SEIU has jurisdiction over 7,200 aides.

“SECAs are there to service students with disabilities, and they are not there to make copies or do bulletin boards or teach or recess or lunch monitoring,” Scott Kennedy said.

Scott Kennedy said the union wants to diminish special education assistants’ roles in helping students with personal hygiene and feeding. CTU’s contract demand calls for teaching assistants to help with the education part of it. CTU originally turned down jurisdiction over SECAs.

“In 1999, the position was created. CPS decided that there was a need for the position. They first went to the Chicago Teachers Union, and the Chicago Teachers Union said they weren’t interested,” Scott Kennedy said.

Scott Kennedy said if CPS agrees to CTU’s contract demand, SEIU Local 73’s membership could possibly dwindle to 500 people.

In a statement, CTU said all they are asking for is before assigning a SECA to every special ed student, CPS should evaluate the needs of the student, on whether a SECA or teacher’s aide is necessary.

CTU said it will continue to collaborate closely with SEIU.