Chicago Teacher’s Union allies benefit from newly enriched union foundation

DAN MIHALOPOULOS AND LAUREN FITZPATRICK:

When the Chicago Teachers Union rallied at Grant Park one frigid night in November, protesters from Action Now were there. So were members of community groups from Brighton Park and Kenwood, showing support for the CTU in its long-running battle with Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Activists from across Chicago long have stood together with the teachers union in its bitter feuds with Emanuel. But in only the last 1-1/2 years, financial connections have added to those ideological ties.

A newly wealthy charitable foundation formed by the CTU is funding the three groups at the November rally and many other organizations allied with the union, according to records obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.