Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

Open letter to Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Open letter to Mayor Rahm Emanuel

After nearly a year of collective bargaining and a seven day strike, you have reached a tentative agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union.

The blame game: Illinois’ unemployment rate jumps to 9.1 percent

The blame game: Illinois’ unemployment rate jumps to 9.1 percent

For the third straight month, Illinois' unemployment rate climbed. More than 9.1 percent of Illinoisans are now unemployed, a full percentage point higher than the national average of 8.1 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Gov. Quinn should never seek a federal bailout of Illinois’ pension debt

Gov. Quinn should never seek a federal bailout of Illinois’ pension debt

All across the country, states are grappling with pension funds that are massively underfunded. Under new accounting rules, Illinois’ unfunded pension debt stands at a whopping $209 billion. And that’s not counting the debt for retiree health insurance, pension bonds or all local retirement debt. Recent calculations have put the total level of states’ unfunded pension...

By Jonathan Ingram

A meditation on the Chicago Way

A meditation on the Chicago Way

A few parting observations, lessons to be learned, and things to watch in the future: Any positives in the contract?  Yes, but…  It is hard to find positives in the contract, but for what it’s worth: Chicago had one of the shortest school days and years in the US.  The school day is a bit longer and...

By Paul Kersey

Study Guide: Chicago Teachers Union strike

Study Guide: Chicago Teachers Union strike

Institute Experts on the Chicago Teachers Union Strike A meditation on the Chicago Way The CTU strike has ended and a lot of people are asking: “what happened?” Five things you need to know about Chicago Public Schools Five critical facts to keep in mind during the CTU strike. Cheat Sheet: Chicago Public Schools A...

By Chris Andriesen

Reuters: Tough tactics leave Emanuel bruised in fight with Chicago teachers

Reuters: Tough tactics leave Emanuel bruised in fight with Chicago teachers

There is room to debate who won the battle between Chicago and its striking teachers union but there is little disagreement the strike and the deal approved by union members on Tuesday mark a personal loss for Mayor Rahm Emanuel.