Chicago Teachers Union spending on teachers down, politics up in 2023

By Mailee Smith

09/28/2023

The Chicago Teachers Union’s most recent federal report reveals just 17% of its spending in 2023 was on representing teachers, but it tripled its political spending from the previous year. Nearly 500 teachers left the union.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

Illinois Federation of Teachers spends little on representing teachers, members flee

By Mailee Smith

07/21/2023

Just 26% of IFT’s spending in 2022 was on representing teachers. IFT’s questionable spending could be why nearly 16,500 Illinois public school employees have chosen to distance themselves from the union.

TAGS: IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, teachers union

NEA, IEA spend little on representing teachers, but prioritize politics

By Mailee Smith

07/21/2023

Less than 8% of NEA and IEA’s spending in 2022 was on representing teachers, according to the unions’ federal reports. That could be why nearly 203,000 public school employees – including more than 6,000 in Illinois – have left NEA since 2017.

TAGS: IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association, teachers union

One-third of SEIU workers reject union membership

By Mailee Smith

06/07/2023

It could be because less than 22% of SEIU HCII’s spending is on representing workers – what should be the core purpose of the union.

TAGS: SEIU: Service Employees International Union

9% of Illinois government workers quit unions as more dues spent on politics

By Mailee Smith

08/31/2022

Illinois government unions admit spending very little on representing workers – the core purpose of a union. Maybe that’s why so many government workers are leaving the unions. Now government union bosses want taxpayers to pay for union failures.

TAGS: government unions

Just 19% of CTU’s spending in 2021 was to represent teachers

By Mailee Smith

08/18/2022

Only $134 of each Chicago Teachers Union member’s dues is actually spent on representing Chicago Public Schools teachers. The rest is spent on other CTU leadership priorities and on the union hierarchy.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Majority of IFT spending goes to Chicago

By Mailee Smith

08/10/2022

The Illinois Federation of Teachers in 2021 spent 190 times more on Chicago-area teachers than it did on teachers south of Interstate 80. That could be why IFT membership has shrunk nearly 18% since 2017.

NEA dues rise, spending on teachers drops for 6 straight years

By Mailee Smith

08/10/2022

Federal documents filed by the National Education Association show just 5% of its total spending was on representing members in 2021. NEA and its state affiliate – the Illinois Education Association – prioritized leadership salaries and politics over teachers.

Here’s how IEA, NEA unions said they spent teachers’ money in 2020

By Mailee Smith

08/12/2021

The Illinois Education Association and National Education Association filed federal reports showing how they spent money in 2020. Little was spent on what most assume is a teachers union’s central mission – representing teachers.

How does your teachers union spend money? Here’s what AFT, IFT reported in 2020

By Mailee Smith

08/12/2021

The Illinois Federation of Teachers and National Federation of Teachers filed federal reports showing how they spent money in 2020. Little was spent on what most assume is a teachers union’s central mission – representing teachers.

Better Business Bureau

Chicago Teachers Union spending on teachers down, politics up in 2023

Illinois Federation of Teachers spends little on representing teachers, members flee

NEA, IEA spend little on representing teachers, but prioritize politics

One-third of SEIU workers reject union membership

9% of Illinois government workers quit unions as more dues spent on politics

Just 19% of CTU’s spending in 2021 was to represent teachers

Majority of IFT spending goes to Chicago

NEA dues rise, spending on teachers drops for 6 straight years

Here’s how IEA, NEA unions said they spent teachers’ money in 2020

How does your teachers union spend money? Here’s what AFT, IFT reported in 2020

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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