# City Colleges of Chicago reach late-night tentative contract

> City Colleges of Chicago and teachers union agree to four-year contract to avoid strike.
- Title: City Colleges of Chicago reach late-night tentative contract
- Summary: City Colleges of Chicago and teachers union agree to four-year contract to avoid strike. City Colleges of Chicago reached a late-night tentative four-year…
- Keywords: city colleges of chicago, cook county college teachers union, local 1600, four-year contract, inflation, health insurance, ai safeguards, free developmental education, strike avoidance, tentative agreement, news, local
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/10/19/city-colleges-of-chicago-reach-late-night-tentative-contract-agreement-to-avoid-strike
- Published: 2026-10-19T14:18:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: city colleges of chicago, cook county college teachers union, local 1600, four-year contract, inflation, health insurance, ai safeguards, free developmental education, strike avoidance, tentative agreement, news, local
## City Colleges and union reach tentative deal
City Colleges of Chicago and the Cook County College Teachers Union Local 1600 reached a late-night tentative contract agreement to avoid a strike.
## Contract covers four years
The agreement is for four years and includes salaries that keep pace with inflation, protected health insurance, safeguards toward AI, and a path toward free developmental education.
## Tony Johnston speaks
CCCTU President Tony Johnston said the contract should not have taken until 3:45 a.m. the day of a strike to reach.
## City Colleges confirm classes continue
City Colleges stated classes are in session Monday and all student services will continue as scheduled.
## Ratification vote needed
The agreement must now go to the membership for a ratification vote before it goes to the City Colleges Board of Trustees for approval.
## Key takeaway

City Colleges of Chicago reached a late-night tentative four-year contract with the Cook County College Teachers Union to avoid a strike.