Grayslake school employees who don’t want to strike: You have options

By Mailee Smith

11/08/2019

Not all teachers and support staff at Grayslake Community Consolidated School District 46 want to be on strike. Those who are not members of the union have more options – and more freedom – in deciding whether to walk the picket line.

TAGS: grayslake, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, strike

Striking Chicago teachers have the right to go to work and get paid

By Mailee Smith

10/30/2019

Teachers in Chicago Public Schools who are not union members cannot be punished for going to work during a union strike.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike

Mendota teachers who don’t want to strike: Here are your options

By Mailee Smith

10/24/2019

A teacher strike in Mendota, Illinois has lasted more than a week – but not all teachers in the small community may want to be on strike.

TAGS: labor, Mendota, strike

Chicago teachers who don’t want to be on strike have options

By Mailee Smith

10/23/2019

The Chicago Teachers Union walked out on strike Oct. 17, but teachers who are not members of the union have more freedom to decide whether to return to their students.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike

CTU is out on strike: 6 things you need to know

By Mailee Smith

10/21/2019

The Chicago Teachers Union went on strike despite an offer that would boost average pay to nearly $100,000. Here’s who is getting hurt and the true costs of the strike.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, strike, taxes, teacher salaries

CTU’s mayoral candidate lost. Now it would rather strike than deal with the winner.

By Mailee Smith

10/19/2019

Chicago Teachers Union backed Toni Preckwinkle for mayor of Chicago, donating nearly $300,000 to her campaign. But Lori Lightfoot won – and now CTU is on strike for the third time in seven years despite her generous offer.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Lori Lightfoot, mayor, strike, Toni Preckwinkle

2 Cook County commissioners each collect over $100K from Chicago Teachers Union

By Vincent Caruso

10/18/2019

Records show two Cook County Board members representing Chicago-area districts have each collected more than $100,000 from the Chicago Teachers Union atop their $85,000 commissioner salaries.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago, Cook County, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Larry Suffredin, property taxes, strike, taxes

Illinois law makes teacher strikes easiest in Chicago out of 10 largest U.S. school districts

By Mailee Smith

10/18/2019

Teacher strikes are illegal in 8 of the top 10 largest school districts in the nation. Maybe that’s why the Chicago Teachers Union is on strike for the third time in seven years.

TAGS: Chicago, collective bargaining, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, labor, strike

Chicago teachers’ strike, salary demands ignore what Chicagoans can afford

By Bill Reveille, Adam Schuster

10/16/2019

During the past 10 years, the median salary for a Chicago teacher has grown 75% faster than the median salary for private-sector Chicago workers.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike

Chicago teachers who don’t want to strike: Here are your options

By Mailee Smith

10/07/2019

Chicago Teachers Union has announced a strike authorization vote for Sept. 24 through Sept. 26, but teachers who are not members of the union have more freedom to decide whether to honor the strike.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike

2019 Illinois corruption tracker

Illinois is the second-most corrupt state in the nation, according to the University of Illinois-Chicago. And corruption costs the state economy at least $550 million per year. But the size and scope of government corruption is nothing new for Illinoisans. What is new? Powerful Illinois lawmakers, Chicago aldermen, local mayors and business interests are involved...

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2019 Illinois corruption tracker

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Al Lashbrook

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students