A lawsuit demanding financial transparency from the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) can proceed after a Cook County Circuit Court judge denied the union’s motion to dismiss the case. The ruling, handed down by Judge David B. Atkins in the case of Weiss v. Chicago Teachers Union, marks a significant step for union members seeking access to audit reports.
The lawsuit was filed by CTU members represented by the Liberty Justice Center. It centers on allegations that the CTU has failed to provide its members with legally mandated audit reports for the past five years, which the plaintiffs argue violates the union’s own constitution and members’ right to understand how their dues are spent.
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According to the Liberty Justice Center, they attempted to resolve the matter outside of court by sending a letter to CTU leadership before filing the lawsuit. However, they allege the union responded with “intimidation tactics” and failed to address the core issue of providing financial transparency.
Judge Atkins’ decision allows the case to move forward. In his ruling, he observed that the CTU “does not even directly dispute” that it has “failed to [furnish audit reports] since 2020.” The judge rejected arguments presented by the CTU leadership, including claims that the constitutional provision requiring audits was “outdated” or that access to a “summary” of an audit report was sufficient.
Furthermore, Judge Atkins denied a separate CTU motion to “strike” portions of the plaintiffs’ allegations. The court noted that the CTU itself had previously accused its members of having “dubious motives” for seeking the audits, deeming this extraneous to the legal arguments.
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Dean McGee, Senior Counsel and Educational Freedom Attorney at the Liberty Justice Center, welcomed the ruling. “This ruling lets us move forward to get the facts,” McGee said. “CTU members have a right to know how their dues are spent—this case is about enforcing that right, nothing more.”
McGee emphasized that the union’s own constitution entitles members to fiscal transparency and stated the Liberty Justice Center is committed to helping members secure it.
The decision means the lawsuit will now advance, allowing the plaintiffs to pursue their claim for access to the detailed financial audit reports from the union.
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