Illinois teachers unions call strikes 48 times in 10 years

Illinois has seen 48 teacher strikes in 10 years. None of Illinois’ neighboring states let unions use students and their educations as bargaining chips.

Illinois saw 48 teacher strikes between 2010 and 2020, according to Illinois Education Labor Relations Board data. Voters will decide if teachers’ unions should have a permanent right to work stoppages on Nov. 8 – something none of Illinois’ neighbors allow.

The General Assembly has put Amendment 1 on the Nov. 8 ballot. If voters pass it, it would grant most public unions the power to strike over virtually endless subjects. The Chicago Teachers Union has shown just how far-ranging those demands could be by pushing their social agenda on housing, immigration, “restorative justice,” wealth redistribution and defunding the police.

Even if teachers unions aren’t as radicalized as CTU, Amendment 1 would certainly increase the number of strikes and strike threats from teachers’ unions for years to come. Unlimited subjects of bargaining mean an increased likelihood of disagreement on those extra subjects, leading to more opportunities for unions to call strikes.

Teacher strikes are prohibited in all of the states bordering Illinois. They are also banned in eight of the nation’s 10 largest school districts.

What’s most dangerous about Amendment 1 is that if passed, it could never be limited or altered, even if every lawmaker and voter in the state agreed it needed changing. There’s a provision in Amendment 1 making it illegal to “interfere with” or “diminish” any of the amendment’s language.

Illinois already has too many teacher strikes. Rather than allowing more through Amendment 1, students’ educations should be protected from disruptions.