Tragedy and controversy test true values. In recent weeks, we’ve watched union leaders in multiple states fail that test. In Virginia, teachers were told to “watch what they post,” as if the problem were optics, not conduct. In Massachusetts, union officials smeared grieving supporters as “exploiters,” and warned schools against “validating accusations,” even when concerns were serious and specific.
Now, it’s unfortunately Chicago’s turn: the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) chose to honor the convicted murderer of a New Jersey State Trooper with a “Rest in Power” tribute. That was not tone-deaf. It was intentional. And it sends a chilling message to parents, students, and educators who expect moral clarity from those who claim to lead the teaching profession.
The pattern is unmistakable:
- Virginia: manage the optics.
- Massachusetts: attack the critics and shield misconduct.
- Chicago: celebrate the indefensible.
Instead of leading with compassion, responsibility, and respect for life, union bosses prioritize politics and PR for a radical ideology. Rather than holding members to the standards students deserve, they excuse, minimize, or glorify what should be universally condemned. That is not leadership. It is political spin, and it erodes trust in public education.
Chicago families, educators, and communities deserve better. Teachers should be role models inside and outside the classroom. School systems should uphold integrity over ideology. And unions should not use member dues to launder politics at the expense of decency and public confidence.
Here’s the good news for teachers and public sector workers across the country: your constitutional rights are extremely clear on this. You do not need union permission to reclaim your voice. Every day, AFFT helps people opt out of paying union dues and reject union politics in their workplace.
We will continue shining a light on these double standards in Virginia, Massachusetts, Chicago, and anywhere they appear. Families deserve safe, principled schools, and educators deserve leadership worthy of the profession.
If you or a colleague is a Chicago teacher who’s had enough, consider opting out today from paying the teachers union. Get started here.