The Cook County College Teachers Union, Local 1600, and the City Colleges of Chicago reached a tentative agreement late Sunday night on a new four-year contract for faculty and professionals. The agreement came just hours before faculty and professionals were set to strike on Monday, Oct. 19. The strike is off. “I am proud of our negotiating teams, of our members who were prepared to strike, and of this contract,” said CCCTU President Tony Johnston. “It should not have taken until 3:45 AM the day of a strike to get here. But we are happy to reach a fair agreement that supports students, faculty, and professionals.”

Key points of the tentative agreement:

• Salaries that keep pace with inflation. Faculty and professionals will receive annual raises over the four-year contract that keep up with the rising cost of living. Starting salaries also increase.

• Protected health insurance. The agreement keeps current health insurance contributions and caps in place. The administration had pushed to shift greater costs onto employees.

• Safeguards on artificial intelligence. The contract creates a joint AI committee to address the use of AI in the City Colleges of Chicago.

• A path toward free developmental education. A side letter creates a task force to study making developmental education free for City Colleges students.

Negotiations began in February. Members voted 96 percent to authorize a strike. The agreement must now go to the membership for a ratification vote. If members approve, the agreement will go to the City Colleges Board of Trustees for approval. For more information, visit www.CCCTU.org.