PRESS RELEASE from the
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE

CONTACT: Micky Horstman (312) 607-4977

“LOCAL 1: The Rise of America’s Most Powerful Teachers Union”
A new documentary from the Illinois Policy Institute explores the Chicago Teachers Union’s rise to political power and the consequences

CHICAGO (Feb. 13, 2023) — A new documentary from the Illinois Policy Institute scheduled for release today exposes how the Chicago Teachers Union’s radical leadership and its prioritization of politics over education led to an ongoing decline in student outcomes.

“Local 1: The Rise of America’s Most Powerful Teachers Union” will be released to the public at 7 p.m. at chicagoteachersunion.com.

“The film educates viewers on how CTU became the most powerful political force in Chicago and Illinois, just as the 2023 Chicago mayoral race heats up,” said Matt Paprocki, president of the Illinois Policy Institute. “Our documentary aims to open audiences’ eyes to the unstable learning environment CTU’s radical leadership has created as they have consistently prioritized their own political agenda above the needs of the district’s 322,106 students.”

Since the Caucus of Rank-and-file Educators, CORE, took over CTU in 2010, the Chicago Public Schools district has seen a significant decrease in student enrollment and academic performance, and a staggering increase in per-student spending, strikes and work stoppages. Meanwhile, under CORE’s leadership, CTU has donated nearly $17.2million to political committees since 2010. The union’s contributions included donations to Brandon Johnson, a CTU organizer and current Chicago mayoral candidate, and to 34 of the 50 sitting Chicago aldermen.

“Despite CORE’s political spending and influence, very few Illinoisans know about the CTU leadership’s activities or their far-reaching consequences for Chicago’s education system,” said Mailee Smith, senior director of labor policy at the Illinois Policy Institute. “We hope this documentary will inform more taxpayers about a special interest that subverts democracy under the radar and whose misguided priorities lead to negative outcomes for students, teachers and the public – far beyond the classroom.”

To learn more about the Chicago Teachers Union or watch “Local 1,” visit www.chicagoteachersunion.com.

For bookings or interviews, contact media@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 607-4977.