A way out: Bankruptcy authorization would give struggling Illinois municipalities options

By Joe Tabor

02/10/2025

Published Feb. 10, 2025 Even though federal COVID relief funds provided an unexpected windfall, that one-time jolt of cash could leave many Illinois localities even worse off than they were before. That boost in revenue allowed local governments to put off difficult budgeting decisions, and as that revenue dries up, municipalities will have to contend...

How government unions work against interests of private-sector unions, taxpayers

By Mailee Smith

01/08/2025

Government unions posed threats to public welfare that were recognized by founders of the labor movement and by progressive icon Franklin D. Roosevelt. Those threats have become reality, with government union power dominating – especially in Illinois.

National Education Association sees teacher exodus as political spending balloons

By Mailee Smith

12/06/2024

NEA has lost nearly 400,000 members since its peak in 2009. It could be because just 9% of the union’s spending is on representing teachers – with the rest on politics, administration and other union leader priorities.

TAGS: education, IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association

Report: Chicago Teachers Union is new Chicago political machine

By Mailee Smith

09/25/2024

Years of exorbitant political spending in Illinois – more than $24.3 million since 2010 – has secured an enormous amount of political influence for the Chicago Teachers Union. It is now the main political player not just in Chicago, but across the state.

Forced agenda: Chicago Teachers Union contract aims to dictate radical, costly worldview to Chicagoans

By Mailee Smith

07/02/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union is putting political goals in its contract demands, something not found in other large cities. It is trying to impose policy on the public without elected representatives debating whether the policies will hurt students and taxpayers.

Editorial: Illinois’ very slow COVID-19 recovery painted as a win by state leaders

By Hilary Gowins

05/20/2024

State leaders issued a report touting Illinois’ abandonment of representational government in favor of executive fiat during the pandemic as effective. They failed to take responsibility for job recovery lagging the nation by a year and seeing public schools suffer.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker

Editorial: Chicago Public Schools’ chronic absenteeism worst of 5 largest districts

By Hilary Gowins

04/18/2024

Chronic absenteeism has been bad across the nation since the pandemic, but in Chicago it’s worse. That hurts students’ futures and the city’s wellbeing.

Chicago Teachers Union political spending up nearly 3X under Stacy Davis Gates

By Mailee Smith

10/03/2023

The Chicago Teachers Union’s latest filing with the U.S. Department of Labor confirms the union is pouring more money than ever into politics.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, stacy

Chicago Teachers Union, affiliates put over $2.3M in Brandon Johnson campaign

By Mailee Smith

02/10/2023

The Chicago Teachers Union, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers have backed CTU lobbyist Brandon Johnson with more than $2.3 million in his run for Chicago mayor. The sitting mayor said CTU wants to take over City Hall.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago Teachers Union spends $17M on Illinois political campaigns

By Mailee Smith, Jon Josko

01/26/2023

The Chicago Teachers Union has funneled more than $17 million to Illinois political committees since 2010, when the militant Caucus of Rank and File Educators took over leadership. Now, one of their employees is running for Chicago mayor.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

The New York Times

A way out: Bankruptcy authorization would give struggling Illinois municipalities options

How government unions work against interests of private-sector unions, taxpayers

National Education Association sees teacher exodus as political spending balloons

Report: Chicago Teachers Union is new Chicago political machine

Forced agenda: Chicago Teachers Union contract aims to dictate radical, costly worldview to Chicagoans

Editorial: Illinois’ very slow COVID-19 recovery painted as a win by state leaders

Editorial: Chicago Public Schools’ chronic absenteeism worst of 5 largest districts

Chicago Teachers Union political spending up nearly 3X under Stacy Davis Gates

Chicago Teachers Union, affiliates put over $2.3M in Brandon Johnson campaign

Chicago Teachers Union spends $17M on Illinois political campaigns

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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