LEGISLATIVE ISSUES

2024-2025 Legislative Program ​​

Approved by the CCCTU House of Representatives on September 20, 2024.

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• Pass Legislation for an Elected Board of Trustees for City Colleges of Chicago
  An elected board would be accountable to the people, like students and the community members of Chicago. An elected board gives voice to faculty, staff, and students, enabling true partnership and shared governance.
   

• Protect Pensions & Improve Tier 2 Benefits
  Work to protect existing pensions. Support efforts to strengthen Tier 2 benefits for employees hired in 2011 or after.
   

• Advance Free Developmental Education Legislation
  Support legislation giving faculty autonomy in determining placement criteria and curriculum design for developmental courses.
   

• Advance Legislation Supporting Student Mental Health
  Ensure that all colleges have qualified counselors on campus as part of college faculty and staff.
  Read President Tony Johnston's testimony in support of HB 3385
   

• Support Legislation Establishing Artificial Intelligence Protections
  Ensure that humans are the primary decision makers in classrooms and in our colleges and that technology is used in partnership with faculty and staff to improve working conditions for all.
  Read Legislative Chair Troy Swanson's testimony in support of HB 1859
   

• Support Efforts to Eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset at the Federal Level
  Work with the AFT in working to get the WEP and GPO provisions of Social Security repealed that negatively impact our members at retirement.
   

• Support Candidates 2024 General Elections, the CPS Board Election, & 2025 Municipal Elections
  Support pro-labor and pro-education candidates. Participate in the CPS elections as a means to educate members on the possibility of the CCC Board of Trustees.
   

• Oppose Project 2025 and Those Who Support It
  We stand against this effort to erode democratic values which includes attacking essential labor protections, ending the Department of Education, limiting academic freedom, and privatizing student loans. We stand firmly against these policies and those that support it.
   

• Support Common Sense Dual Credit
  Support the IFT & AFT resolutions on dual credit supporting common-sense approaches to dual credit.
   

• Work to Pass the PSRP Bill of Rights
  Advocate at the federal level in support of Senate Resolution 450 and House Resolution 990 (118th Congress) that establishes the paraprofessionals and school-related personnel bill of rights which fights for rights such as a living wage, paid time off, and affordable healthcare.
   

• Support Efforts to Pass the PRO Act at the Federal Level.
  The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act fixes loopholes in current law that get in the way of union organization campaigns. The PRO act would ensure that all workers have an absolute right to join a union without employer interference in the decision of workers.
   

• Work to Adjust 6% SURS Penalty to Meet Inflation
  Advocate to ease the impact of the SURS penalty given that current pension recipients have faced extremely high rates of inflation following the COVID-19 pandemic.
   

• Support Legislation that Removes Barriers for Our Students
  Support efforts at the local, state, and national levels that address issues that are outside obstacles to student success. These include issues such as student mental health, lack of housing, transportation needs, and lack of childcare.
   

• Oppose Legislation Related to the Chicago Bears Relocation that Freezes or Reduces Support for Community Colleges
  The relocation of the Chicago Bears from Chicago to Arlington Heights (or other locations) should not have a negative impact on our community colleges.
   

• Empower Community Colleges to Support Asylum Seekers
  Support a comprehensive solution--at the federal, state, and local level-- to the asylum seeker crisis in Chicago, advocating for support to community colleges, advocating for the basic needs of asylum seekers. Embrace solutions that enhance our colleges’ inclusive tradition, fostering the success of future students and community members.