LATEST NEWS

The Trump administration is attacking our most at-risk students. We need to stand up and sound the alarm!  For sixty years, federal TRIO programs have served as one of the most powerful tools in American higher education for helping first-generation and low-income students succeed in college. Our colleges host at least 21 TRIO grants across 10 of our community colleges — including City Colleges campuses and suburban institutions like Moraine Valley, Oakton, Prairie State, Sou

We are proud to announce the results of the Cook County College Teachers Union Local 1600 Officer, AFT/IFT Delegate, and Alternate Delegate Election, which ran from February 19 through March 19, 2026. After a successful election, the following members have been elected to lead our union. Officers will officially assume their roles on June 15, 2026 : President:  Tony Johnston Secretary:  Lesa Hildebrand Treasurer:  Rashid Carter Grievance Chair:  Roberto Guzman Legislative Cha

*Passed Unanimously during the March 20, 2026, House of Representatives Meetings RESOLUTION IN DEFENSE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, DEMOCRACY, AND OUR COMMUNITIES Declaring May 1 a Day of Civic Action WHEREAS higher education is facing an unprecedented national assault driven by anti-education coalitions, billionaire donors, and corporate interests who seek to censor educators, ban books, dismantle civil rights protections, criminalize and separate immigrant families, and weaken work

Our political work is not separate from our mission as a union. Every candidate we support, every door we knock, and every contribution we make through our COPE program advances our ability to fight for needed changes in Illinois.  Major Victories Illinois House 40th District — Miguel Alvelo-Rivera The race in the 40th District stands as our signature victory of this election cycle. Miguel Alvelo-Rivera, a proven advocate for workers' rights, defeated a thirteen-year incumben

On March 17, 2026, voters in at least 32 Illinois counties will see a deceptive ballot question about school vouchers. This question is designed to build political support for policies that harm public education, including our community colleges. The Ballot Question Is Misleading The referendum doesn't mention "vouchers." It asks about "privately donated funds" for education. Don't be fooled. These are tax credits that reduce public revenue, meaning less funding for all publi

*The below endorsements were approved by the CCCTU House of Representatives United States Congress   US Senate: Juliana Stratton US Congress 2nd: Robert Peters US Congress 5th: no endorsement  US Congress 6thy: Sean Casten US Congress 7th: La Shawn Ford US Congress 8th: Kevin Morrison  US Congress 9th: Mike Simmons Illinois Statewide Offices IL Comptroller: Karina Villa Illinois General Assembly (Senate) IL Senate 6th: Sara Feigenholtz IL Senate 9th: Patrick Hanley  IL  Senat

By Troy Swanson, Local 1600 Legislative Chair Equity can’t be achieved on a discount. In Illinois, federal policy shifts and funding threats, particularly from the Trump administration, are directly forcing the state to withhold 2% of its higher education funding, effectively reducing a promised 3% increase for community college budgets to just 1%. Illinois’s community colleges were told to expect a 3% increase in state funding this year. This promised increase keeps pace wit

By Troy Swanson, Legislative Chair At the end of 2025, the Trump administration issued a dangerous executive order, “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence,” signed December 11, 2025, aimed at undercutting state-level efforts to regulate AI. Make no mistake: this is an attack on worker protections, public safety, and local democratic control. We must remain steadfast in our efforts to regulate AI. We must move forward . This executive order stands in

The Cook County College Teachers Union, Local 1600, will hold an election in March for our eight local-wide officers and 35 delegates and alternate delegates to the AFT and IFT Conventions. Most chapters will also hold elections. NOMINATIONS: Nominations for local officers and convention delegates will be accepted during the January 16 th House of Representatives meeting to be held over Zoom starting at 4pm. Names will be accepted as individuals or as part of a slate. Any me

Our union movement in Illinois is entering a bold new chapter, and the Cook County College Teachers Union is right at the heart of it. With the election of a new Illinois Federation of Teachers leadership team and a major action planned for Springfield next Wednesday, now is the time to strengthen our collective power and show what union solidarity looks like. A New IFT Leadership Team At thte IFT convention, delegates overwhelmingly elected a new leadership slate committed t

*The following statement was unanimously approved by the CCCTU House of Representatives on September 19, 2025 The Cook County College...

*This statement was approved by the CCCTU House of Representatives on September 19, 2025 The Cook County College Teachers Union (CCCTU)...

Academic freedom and the First Amendment are not abstractions for scholars — they are the everyday conditions that make honest teaching,...

On Labor Day, members of our union proudly joined working people from across Chicago at the historic Haymarket Memorial to rally for...

By Troy Swanson, Legislative Chair Republicans just pushed through “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” which was called “the largest tax cut...

On August 15, 2025, Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 1859  into law, a landmark win for our students, our profession, and the integrity of...

On August 15 at 3 p.m., Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 3385  into law, a landmark piece of legislation that will take effect January 1,...

President Tony Johnston lauched the contract campaigns for the City Colleges of Chicago faculty and professional contracts during CCC...

On Thursday, July 31, members of the Chicago Teachers Union and the Cook County College Teachers Union held a joint press conference...

The Cook County College Teachers Union is proud to congratulate this year’s recipients of the Norman G. Swenson (NGS) Scholarship and...