Cook County College Teachers Union, Local 1600 (CCCTU) is a left-of-center labor union representing community college instructors in the Chicago, Illinois area. The union was founded in 1965 and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers, and the Illinois Federation of Teachers. The group has a lobbying agenda at the state, local and federal level that includes support of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act in Congress, which includes many union organizing priorities including overriding all state right-to-work laws.^{1 2}

Background and Structure

Cook County College Teachers Union, Local 1600 was chartered in 1965 as the collective bargaining representative for Cook County community college staff. Since its formation, the union has negotiated labor contracts, administered grievance processes, and provided member benefits in coordination with its state and national affiliates. The union is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers, and the Illinois Federation of Teachers. ²

The union reports representing 5,000 members across 23 chapters in Cook County. The union represents community college teachers within the City Colleges of Chicago system, which includes Malcolm X College, Harry S. Truman College, Harold-Washington College, Richard J. Daley College, Kennedy-King College, Olive-Harvey College, and Wilbur Wright College. ^{3 2}

Collective Bargaining and Strike Action

In October 2022, Local 1600 leaders announced members were prepared to strike following a stall in contract negotiations. The union set a strike date of November 2, aligning the action with Election Day in a move to exert political leverage. In February 2023, faculty at Triton College represented by Local 1600 initiated a separate strike focused on securing better contract terms for part-time instructors and staff. ^{4 4}

Political Engagement and Endorsements

CCCTU Local 1600 actively engages in electoral politics. In 2023, the union endorsed far-left Democratic candidate Brandon Johnson for Chicago mayor, promoting his candidacy as aligned with labor-union values. Johnson’s campaign received significant funding from teachers’ unions; other endorsements for Johnson came from the American Federation of Teachers, and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Chicago Teachers Union, SEIU Healthcare, and SEIU Local 73. ⁵

Legislative Advocacy

Local 1600 maintains an active legislative portfolio at both the state and federal level, focusing on tenure protections, civil service rights, and improved workplace safety for community college educators. The group supports policies that direct additional funding to community colleges, and “Support[s] legislation giving faculty autonomy in determining placement criteria and curriculum design for developmental courses.” The union also supports the far-left Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act in Congress, which includes many labor-union priorities. ¹

Leadership

Local 1600 is led by elected faculty officers, including president Tony Johnston, vice presidents for both city and suburban colleges, and a legislative chair. Leadership comprises either current or former community college employees. ²

Affiliations

Local 1600 maintains formal affiliations with the AFL–CIO, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), enabling its members to access statewide and national lobbying, training, and legal resources in addition to collective bargaining support. ²

1. “Legislative.” Cook County College Teachers Union. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://www.ccctu.org/legislative
2. “About.” Cook County College Teachers Union. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://www.ccctu.org/about
3. “College Locations.” City Colleges of Chicago. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://www.ccc.edu/menu/college-locations/
4. “City Colleges Teachers, Faculty Set Nov. 2 Strike Date.” WTTW News. October 25, 2022. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://news.wttw.com/2022/10/25/city-colleges-teachers-faculty-set-nov-2-strike-date
5. “CTU Brother Brandon Johnson Will Be the Mayor for All Chicago.” Chicago Teachers Union. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://www.ctulocal1.org/posts/ctu-brother-brandon-johnson-will-be-the-mayor-for-all-chicago/