Major Split Between Chicago Teachers Union and SEIU Threatens Mayor Johnson’s Progressive Coalition
A deepening rift between two of Chicago’s most powerful labor organizations has erupted into open conflict, creating a political fracture with significant consequences for Mayor Brandon Johnson. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 has formally accused the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) of attempting to “raid” its membership through new contract proposals, an allegation that threatens to destabilize the progressive alliance that propelled Johnson to office.
At the heart of the dispute is a proposal within the CTU’s ongoing contract negotiations with Chicago Public Schools. SEIU Local 73, which represents thousands of school support staff including special education classroom assistants and custodians, claims that the CTU is maneuvering to reclassify certain support positions. According to SEIU leadership, this move would effectively transfer work—and members—from their union to the CTU. SEIU officials have publicly described the proposal as an attack on the integrity of their bargaining unit, which they have represented for over two decades.
The Chicago Teachers Union has pushed back against the characterization of their proposal as a raid. In defense of their bargaining strategy, CTU representatives argue that their demands are focused on drastically expanding staffing levels to better serve students, particularly in special education, rather than poaching members. Union leadership asserts that the proposed changes are necessary to ensure that educators have a stronger voice in school operations and that students receive adequate support services. They maintain that the goal is holistic school improvement, not inter-union warfare.
This internal labor battle places Mayor Brandon Johnson in a precarious political position. A former CTU organizer, Johnson relied heavily on the ground game and financial backing of both the CTU and SEIU to win the mayoral election. The acrimony forces him to navigate between his base at the Teachers Union and another critical ally in the labor movement. Political analysts suggest that if the fracture deepens, it could weaken the unified progressive front Johnson needs to pass his legislative agenda and navigate the city’s complex budget challenges.
The tension has been exacerbated by the protracted nature of the CTU’s contract talks, which have already strained relations between the union and the school district’s leadership. With SEIU now threatening legal action or arbitration to protect its jurisdiction, the dispute adds a new layer of volatility to an already heated negotiating environment. As both unions dig in, the once-solid labor coalition that dominates Chicago politics appears increasingly fragile.
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