Less than 22% of voters approve of Chicago Teachers Union

By Tom Viz

08/11/2025

Less than 22% of voters approve of the Chicago Teachers Union. No surprise, considering the scandals and radical dogma pushed by its two top leaders.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois teachers can opt out of unions in August. Here’s why they should.

By Mailee Smith

07/30/2025

Just 15% to 26% of Illinois teachers union spending was on representing teachers in 2024. But public education employees can opt out of union membership and keep their hard-earned money.

TAGS: IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association

Vallas: J.B. Pritzker’s $55.2B budget fuels Illinois’ financial death spiral

By Paul Vallas

06/27/2025

J.B. Pritzker wants a third term as Illinois governor, but based on his history of boosting taxes and creating spending records, can Illinois afford him for four more years? Will the state grow even smaller as Illinoisans get fed up and leave?

TAGS: JB Pritzker, outmigration, taxes

9 things you’d likely get wrong about Illinois Federation of Teachers

By Mailee Smith

06/11/2025

The Illinois Federation of Teachers represents employees in more than 200 school districts across the state, but it does a lot that defies expectations. Here are nine things you and its members likely misunderstand, most related to colluding with the Chicago Teachers Union.

TAGS: IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers

Just 37% of Chicago Teachers Union members voted for Stacy Davis Gates

By Mailee Smith

06/03/2025

With only 10,100 of the Chicago Teachers Union’s 27,216 active members voting to retain Stacy Davis Gates as president, she doesn’t have support from nearly two-thirds of the teachers the union represents.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

By Josh Bandoch, Lauren Zuar

06/03/2025

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

Judge allows member lawsuit against Chicago Teachers Union to continue

By Mailee Smith

05/21/2025

A lawsuit challenging the Chicago Teachers Union’s failure to release mandated financial audits to its members survived CTU’s attempt to get it thrown out.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Scandal recap: Stacy Davis Gates’ leadership of Chicago Teachers Union

By Hannah Schmid

05/12/2025

Chicago Teachers Union members have reason to question the leadership of President Stacy Davis Gates heading into the May 16 union election. Her many scandals have driven down the union’s reputation.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

SEIU Illinois spends just 3% of members’ money representing workers

By Mailee Smith

05/12/2025

The Illinois state affiliate of the Service Employees International Union collected over $3 million in dues from members in 2024. It spent just $57,000 of that representing them. Politics and overhead were the union’s priorities.

TAGS: SEIU: Service Employees International Union

Over 1 in 3 Illinois government workers reject AFSCME Council 31 membership

By Mailee Smith

04/21/2025

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees’ questionable spending, as revealed in its own federal reporting, could be driving members away from the union.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees

United States Department of Labor

Less than 22% of voters approve of Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois teachers can opt out of unions in August. Here’s why they should.

Vallas: J.B. Pritzker’s $55.2B budget fuels Illinois’ financial death spiral

9 things you’d likely get wrong about Illinois Federation of Teachers

Just 37% of Chicago Teachers Union members voted for Stacy Davis Gates

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Judge allows member lawsuit against Chicago Teachers Union to continue

Scandal recap: Stacy Davis Gates’ leadership of Chicago Teachers Union

SEIU Illinois spends just 3% of members’ money representing workers

Over 1 in 3 Illinois government workers reject AFSCME Council 31 membership

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