CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) --The head of the Chicago Teachers Union said it is still awaiting any word on an expected offer to expand the Chicago Public School's Parental Leave policy and she accuses the Mayor of being behind the delay.
CTU President Stacy Davis Gates said the Union had all but been assured that the School District wanted the teachers to have the same, expanded 12 weeks of Parental Leave granted to all city employees, but the expected offer was withdrawn.
The Union protested, and Gates says there's been NO response. This comes after their previous rocky relations seemed to be improving.
"This had the potential to reset our relationship with the school district and City Hall," she explained. "It had the opportunity to give us a shared project that we can be proud of and now we're sitting here looking at a project that was going well, and now it's in a million little pieces."
The Mayor's office said that Lori Lightfoot, who's had a stormy relationship with the Union, was NOT involved in this issue and it says she encouraged the city's sister agencies to adopt the expanded parental leave. However, Gates is doubtful.
Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman Mary Fergus has said the district is taking time to review its policies, but remains committed to expanding Parental Leave.
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