Champaign teachers union contract allows intoxicated teachers to show up for work

By Perry Zhao

09/14/2022

Inconsistent language between the teachers’ and educational support employees’ contracts highlights a two-tiered discipline system

TAGS: teachers union

Amendment 1 would give teachers unions more power over students’ health

08/01/2022

The number of students enrolling in Chicago Public Schools continues to fall as teachers’ unions impose COVID-19 policies and infringe on parents’ choices about their childrens’ health and safety. A ballot proposal would make that worse.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Chicago, COVID-19, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, government unions, mask mandate, parenting, public schools, teachers union

Longer public schools closed for pandemic, more students they lost

By Hannah Max

05/26/2022

New research shows remote learning spurred the enrollment declines plaguing public schools. Schools with more in-person instruction lost fewer students.

TAGS: COVID-19, public schools, teachers union

How Chicago Teachers Union sold $8.1M high-rise, hid cash from oversight

By Patrick Andriesen

05/19/2022

Chicago Teachers Union leaders made $8.1 million selling property paid for with union member dues, only to shuffle the proceeds to a charity with less oversight. Members are voting May 20 for transparency from new leaders.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, teachers union

Over 23,000 Illinois public school employees leave unions

By Hannah Max

04/14/2022

Membership in teachers unions has decreased nearly 10% since 2017, when public educators gained the right to stop handing their pay to unions.

TAGS: Illinois, opt out, public schools, teachers union

Illinois schools pay $8.8M in penalties for pension spiking

By Dylan Sharkey

03/25/2022

Illinois school districts paid out $8.8 million in penalties over two school years to cover salary and sick days in excess of what is allowed by law. Those are dollars taken from classrooms, but only hint at the full taxpayer cost.

TAGS: pension spiking, public schools, teachers union

Proviso teachers’ union rejects truce as strike keeps 4,200 students out for 8 days

By Patrick Andriesen

03/17/2022

The Proviso teachers’ union declared the strike over compensation March 4, canceling classes for the district’s 4,200 students for 8 days so far. The local school board tried to call a time-out to get students back in class, but the union refused.

TAGS: Proviso Township High School District 209, strike, teachers union

Illinois teachers unions call strikes 48 times in 10 years

By Dylan Sharkey

03/01/2022

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

TAGS: Illinois, strike, teachers union

Amendment 1 would give teachers unions more power over Illinois schools, parents

By Mailee Smith

02/25/2022

If voters pass Amendment 1 in November, it will give teachers unions unprecedented power over what happens in schools. That power could never be curbed.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Illinois, teachers union

Illinois teachers sue Pritzker over COVID-19 school mandates

By Patrick Andriesen

12/14/2021

A class-action lawsuit filed by 88 Illinois teachers seeks to block Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 mandates on shots, tests and vaccinations for school personnel.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, masks, teachers union

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

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Cathy Stuehmeier

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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