IFT Recap: Convention, Lobby Day, and Statewide News
- IFT
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Convention Round-up: Inspire, Fight, Transform
Two weeks ago, 400 IFT members gathered in Rosemont to inspire, fight, and transform, and unanimously elected new officers. Here are the highlights:
Gov. JB Pritzker recognized the importance of educators and committed that there’s more to do to make Illinois #1 in education. Watch the speech here.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, our union brother, spoke about the need for us to unite and organize. Watch the video here.
AFT President Randi Weingarten sent an urgent message to members, urging us to stand in solidarity and fight back. Watch the video here.
Outgoing President Dan Montgomery shared his last State of the Union speech (spoiler: more members, better contracts, and results from our investment in organizing). Watch the speech here.
In her acceptance speech, newly elected IFT President Stacy Davis Gates shared her personal story and spoke about the importance of defending our democracy. Watch the video here.
We created a new fourth elected officer position: the Membership Secretary, charged with the duties of recording secretary of the union and supporting the organizing and mobilization of members.
We elected the unity and power slate of officers and new executive board members.
For an overview of the resolutions passed during the convention, please refer to this link.
We rallied together on the largest day of protest in the history of the country to say No Kings.
Springfield Lobby Day - Contact Your Legislator
On Wednesday, more than 400 IFT members from across the state lobbied their legislators to demand full funding for education, from pre-K through higher education.
Until the Governor and the IL General Assembly fulfill the promised but yet-to-be-delivered funds for our schools, each of our locals and the students we serve will face preventable and unnecessary cuts and challenges.
West Frankfort teachers just settled their contract after five months of bargaining and a strike vote that resulted in real movement at the negotiating table. With resounding community support, the Valley View and District 146 Councils of Local 604 both recently settled contracts at the last moment - only after being forced to authorize a strike. And Joliet Township High School Paraprofessionals and Security Staff are having to come together to fight for a living wage - enough to barely make ends meet - as are our members at the University of Illinois Springfield.
We shouldn’t have to organize over and over in every town, on every campus, to counter the consequences of statewide underfunding when there’s a statewide solution: full funding now.
Sign-up for Know Your Rights Training
At the convention, we presented the opportunity for Know Your Rights, Migra Watch, and Mass Mobilization trainings. If you haven’t had the chance to sign up, you can do so here.
Read the News from the Past Two Weeks
Newly Elected Officers
October 29 Lobby Day
Locals
