Opt Out Today

CTU/AFT Local 1

To opt out of CTU dues:

1. Enter your information into the form below and click “submit.”
2. On the resulting page, click the link to open your customized form. You will also receive an email with a link to your form.
3. Print the form. If you check the appropriate box about needing a printed version, we’ll mail you a copy of the form.
4. Sign and date the form.
5. Mail the completed form to the address at the top of the form. We highly recommend sending it via certified mail.

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The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU)/AFT Local 1 is the designated union for over 28,000 workers, including teachers and other employees working for Chicago Public Schools.

For years, public employees in Illinois have been forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, allowing unions like CTU to take their members for granted. However, because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Janus v. AFSCME (2018), public employees can no longer be required to financially support a labor union against their will.

The court ruled that the mandatory dues requirement violated workers’ First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and association, and that public employees have the right to choose for themselves whether to pay any union dues or fees.

You can opt out of CTU dues by filling out the form above, printing it and mailing it to the union.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens after I send my resignation to the union?

You should receive some acknowledgement of your request from the union within a few weeks.

In most cases, union dues are automatically deducted from employees’ paychecks. Monitor your paychecks to make sure the dues deductions stop. If the deductions continue for more than a couple of pay periods after submitting your opt-out request, contact the union.

Finally, keep in mind:

Opting out is your constitutional right. However, unions like CTU sometimes place restrictions on when they will accept opt-out requests. If the union refuses to immediately cancel dues deductions from your pay, ask them to provide you with written documentation and contact us for assistance.

How much are CTU dues?

According to federal filings, CTU members pay between $745.19 and $1,242 per year in dues.

Will the union continue to represent me if I opt out?

Yes. CTU has arranged to be the “exclusive representative” of its bargaining units, meaning it is impossible for workers to get out of the terms of the contract, even if they cease paying dues.

In exchange for the monopoly on this particular service, CTU is legally obligated to represent all employees in the workplace, including those who choose not to join the union as members.

The collective bargaining agreement negotiated by the union and the district will continue to set the terms and conditions of your employment and the union will continue to represent you in grievances, contract enforcement, discipline assistance, or other proceedings governed by the collective bargaining agreement.

Will I lose wages, health care, retirement, or other benefits if I opt out?

No. Under state law, a union contract is binding on all employees in a bargaining unit, regardless of whether they are technically union “members.” Your compensation, health benefits, retirement, and anything else governed by the collective bargaining agreement will remain unchanged if you opt out of CTU.

How will my relationship with the union change if I opt out?

While the terms of the contract will still govern your employment, union officials commonly prohibit nonmembers from participating in internal union affairs, such as attending union meetings, voting for union officers, or participating in contract ratification votes. You’ll also be ineligible for any special “members-only” benefits, such as discounts on additional insurance, scholarship programs, or deals the union has arranged with businesses. You may no longer receive the union newsletter or similar publications.

Why do people opt out of the union?

People have many reasons for not wanting to support the union. Some simply do not believe the services the union provides are worth the dues it charges. Others may find the union’s one-size-fits-all agenda does not serve them well because they are new to the profession, have a specialty that is not acknowledged in bargaining, or believe their effectiveness is undercompensated. Some resent the union’s role in enabling and defending underperforming employees. Many find the union’s political activity and use of dues to advance partisan causes, candidates and ideology distasteful. Still others believe that union officials are corrupt and unaccountable to their membership.

Unions representing public employees are not governed by the usual consumer protection or anti-trust laws, so abuses are common. Unions can charge whatever they wish. They can spend dues money on anything they want. Often, they do not have to disclose how dues money is spent to members. They can speak for employees without consulting or informing them. They can injure some members’ interests while advancing the interests of others. Unions even have the ability to prevent employees from getting help in their workplace from other sources. They are not governed by any obligation to provide quality service, and almost never have to seek approval of the people they represent in an election to continue as the exclusive representative.

Sometimes people have a faith-based objection to unions’ expenditures. To learn more about some of the major public unions’ expenditures in light of common faith beliefs, click here.

When can I opt out of my union?

Many unions allow opt-outs at various times throughout the year. However, in their union membership contracts, a number of unions have stipulated certain times during the year (“windows”) when they will allow or process opt-out requests.

CTU/AFT Local 1 has specified an opt-out window ranging from June 1st to the 30th. Although this is the timeframe that the union has specified for processing opt-outs, you can certainly fill-out an opt-out request at Opt Out Today any time throughout the year.

How does CTU spend my dues money?

Chicago Teachers Union

According to federal filings that the union is required to file with the U.S. Department of Labor, CTU collected $36 million in dues and fees from its members in fiscal year 2025.

In fiscal year 2025:

  • $18.4 million went to affiliates like the American Federation of Teachers headquarters in Washington, D.C., to support its massive political, economic, and social agenda. AFT regularly supports a host of controversial organizations.
  • $4.2 million was spent by CTU on political activity and lobbying.
  • $99,535 was paid to or contributed to largely ideologically driven organizations.
  • $227,176 was spent on conferences, meetings, events, hotels, and catering.
  • $8.7 million was spent on total disbursements for officers and employees.

CTU paid 807 officers and employees in fiscal year 2025, with 54 receiving six-figures in compensation. CTU’s President, Stacy Davis-Gates, received the highest total compensation of $194,955.

Additionally, CTU reported having accumulated a cash stockpile of $17.5 million.

CTU’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018.

A portion of the dues paid by CTU members goes to support the Illinois Federation of Teachers.

Illinois Federation of Teachers

According to federal filings that the union is required to file with the U.S. Department of Labor, the IFT collected $27.9 million in dues and fees from its members and local affiliates in 2025.

In 2025 alone:

  • $1 million was spent by IFT on political activity and lobbying.
  • $72,795 was paid to or contributed to largely ideologically driven organizations.
  • $642,866 was spent on hotels, conferences, meetings, events, and catering.
  • $161,495 was spent on union advertising, promotional items, and printing services.
  • $730,653 was spent on rent and landlord payments.
  • $13.4 million was spent on total disbursements for officers and employees.

IFT paid 142 officers and employees, with 66 receiving six-figures in compensation. The IFT’s President, Dan Montgomery, received the highest total compensation of $274,965.

Additionally, IFT reported having $10.2 million in total liabilities at the end of the year.

IFT’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.

Lastly, a portion of the dues paid by IFT members also goes to support the American Federation of Teachers.

American Federation of Teachers

According to federal filings that the union is required to submit to the Department of Labor, the Teachers AFL-CIO (AFT) headquarters collected over $202 million from local affiliates through member dues in fiscal year 2025.

In that same year:

  • $41.5 million was spent by AFT on divisive political candidates, causes, and lobbying.
  • $4.5 million was paid or contributed to various organizations, many of which are ideologically driven.
  • $4.6 million was spent on airfare, hotels, and travel for union staff.
  • $4.3 million was spent on events, conferences, and catering throughout the year.
  • $2.2 million was spent on office expenses, promotional items, and union advertising.
  • $54.2 million was spent on total disbursements to officers and employees.

AFT paid 383 officers and employees in 2025, with 278 receiving six-figure salaries. AFT president Rhonda Weingarten received the highest compensation of $514,488, reflecting a pay increase of $14,614 over the previous fiscal year.

Additionally, during fiscal year 2025, the AFT overspent its revenue by a total of $4,415,832.

AFT’s most recent LM-2 reports are available here: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.