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IFT Recap: Local News Update, Keeping Schools Safe, and Legislative Preview

  • Writer: IFT
    IFT
  • 3 days ago
  • 4 min read

 

PSRP Day was this week! IFT celebrated our members on social media all week long and want to say one more time - thank you for all that you do.


We have good news from our Joliet High School Paraprofessionals and Security Council of AFT Local 604, who just ratified a new agreement. Members fought - almost to the brink of strike - for a wage that recognizes the value of their work. At a time when costs are rising and federal benefits for working families are being cut, a fair union contract is more important than ever. 


Food Drives and Mutual Aid


The Peoria Federation of Teachers took shifts to raise money for the Salvation Army.
The Peoria Federation of Teachers took shifts to raise money for the Salvation Army.

In a union, we support each other and know we must hold districts and lawmakers accountable to do better and ensure that every worker across the state earns a living wage.


IFT members across the state are collecting food for their communities amid rising prices, federal benefits in limbo, and the holidays just around the corner. 



If your local is organizing food drives or other mutual aid, let us know with a photo and details via email to info@ift-aft.org, or tag @iftaft on social media.


 

Know Your Rights, Keep Your Schools Safe

Last week, due to increasing and violent federal agent activity in and around schools (see: Aurora, Gurnee, Chicago, Staunton, Cicero, Franklin Park), we held an emergency Know Your Rights training for IFT members. Keeping our schools, neighbors, and communities protected, supported, and informed is essential in this moment. Contact us to learn more, get resources from last week’s training, and take action.



Legislative Preview

As we get closer to January, we’re looking ahead at our main priorities in Springfield that affect IFT members and the students and communities we serve. Our top priorities include full funding for schools and services across the state and fixing the Tier 2 pension system.


Tax the Rich, Fully Fund Our Schools

We’ve already made clear to lawmakers in Springfield that more revenue is needed to adequately support our schools, higher education, and public services. We need to ensure schools and universities are adequately funded, that support staff receive a living wage, that state workers have the support and job security they deserve, and that teachers have what they need for students to thrive. 


The way we fully fund our schools and protect against Trump cuts is by taxing the ultra-wealthy who have never paid their fair share and who can afford to pay more. We will need all of you to raise your voice to make it happen. For now, you can write a letter to your legislator and call on them to commit to our schools and state workers by changing our tax system and finally making the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share.


Fix Tier 2

When it comes to fixing the Tier 2 pension system, we know that the system as it exists currently forces employees to work longer for less in retirement, and it is a hindrance to recruiting and retaining public workers. 


Senate Bill 1937 was passed out of a house committee during the veto session. This spring, we and our partners in the We Are One Coalition will be strongly advocating for a full house vote. Stay tuned!


Keep the Public in Public Schools, No Privatization Schemes in Illinois

We will also be defending Illinois public schools by working with lawmakers to reject school vouchers and federal attacks to education and our communities. The spending bill passed at the federal level offers a voucher program for states to adopt. We’ve already driven out the state-sponsored voucher threat in Illinois because we know they divert taxpayer dollars to private schools that can discriminate against certain students and provide no accountability. We will stay vigilant to ensure the federal scheme stays out of Illinois.


There are a number of other issues we’ll be looking into as well, including health insurance affordability and the impacts of A.I. in the classroom and in our workforce. Keep an eye out for ways to engage and take action this winter and spring.


IFT Voices

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