CHICAGO, IL — Today, the staff employees of Cook County College Teachers Union (CCCTU) proudly announce that they are forming a union and seeking to be a part of the Chicago NewsGuild, TNG-CWA Local 34071. The dedicated team supports more than 4,000 faculty members across Cook County’s public community colleges.
Strengthening Our Values Through Collective Action
“We, the staff employees of Cook County College Teachers Union Local 1600, are organizing to improve our working conditions, strengthen workplace democracy, and secure fair wages, benefits, and respect on the job,” reads the staff’s mission statement. “We recognize that we are organizing in a time of widespread economic hardship, skyrocketing inflation, and growing attacks on labor, progressive values, and working-class institutions. In response, we assert that the most effective tool the working class has to defend itself is the union.”
Understand what we want:
- Fair Wages and Stable Benefits
- We want to ensure Cook County College Teachers Union prioritizes the retention of its employees.
- Respect on the Job
- We are seeking the same respect and voice on the job that we help secure for our union’s members.
- To Strengthen the Union
- When staff are supported and protected by a union contract, they can stay, grow, and deepen their commitment to the work.
“These improvements aren’t just about us,” says one staff member. “They’re about stability for the entire local so that we can better serve our members when they need us most.”
Quote from Juan Ramos, Organizer
“If we expect our members to fight for equity and justice at their institutions, we must first ensure those same values are protected in our own workplace.”
Next Steps
The CCCTU staff union has filed for formal recognition and hopes to begin collective bargaining this summer.
About Cook County College Teachers Union Local 1600
CCCTU Local 1600 is the professional union representing full- and part-time faculty across Cook County’s public community colleges. Affiliated with the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) and the AFL-CIO, CCCTU negotiates contracts covering wages, benefits, workload, and shared governance on behalf of more than 4,000 members.
Media Contact:
Alex Schuler
Phone: 813-400-9053
Email: alexschuler.inc@gmail.com