West Frankfort’s local union and school board have been at the negotiation table for more than five months. If an agreement is not reached, teachers in West Frankfort could strike as soon as Oct. 26.

At least three Illinois teachers unions threatened to strike at the start of this school year. Keeping students out of class so unions can get their way should be illegal in Illinois.

The Illinois Federation of Teachers has poured more than $11 million into state lawmakers’ campaigns. Lawmakers then did IFT’s bidding on more than 2-in-5 bills in 2025, with what they wanted often hurting students’ and parents’ best interests.

District 146 Educators Council has voted to authorize a strike. If an agreement is not reached, teachers in Tinley Park could strike as soon as Sept. 22.

Teachers in the 10th-largest school district in Illinois may be on the picket lines instead of in classrooms with students on Sept. 18. Romeoville and Bolingbrook teachers are paid more than the state average but are pushing for more.

The Chicago Teachers Union is more political machine than labor union, putting nearly $1.8 million into the campaigns of 84 of 177 current lawmakers since 2010. But it may be losing its hold on Springfield.

The teachers union in the 10th-largest school district in Illinois has voted to authorize a strike. If an agreement is not reached, teachers in Romeoville and Bolingbrook could strike as soon as Sept. 15.