Latest news with #IllinoisFederationofTeachers
Chicago Tribune
29-03-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Assistant teachers, library assistants at Francis W. Parker School unionize
A majority of assistant teachers and library assistants at Francis W. Parker School announced their intention to unionize this week. Eighty percent of the 30 assistant teachers and library assistants on staff filed paperwork expressing their intent to form a union with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, according to Lucy Wainger, an assistant teacher in a fifth grade classroom at Parker. The Lincoln Park-based school recognized the effort on Thursday. The school administration was notified with the hope that there would be a voluntary recognition of the union effort in order to proceed to collective bargaining, said Amy Excell, a spokesperson for the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Nicole Tetreault, an assistant teacher in senior kindergarten, said a smaller group began working on this effort about six months ago before going public this week. 'We're super excited that the school recognized our union willingly, and we're super excited to work with everybody and talk about ways that we can make this the best for our students and make sure that the conditions are great for the rest of the assistant teachers and library assistants,' Tetreault said. Daniel Frank, principal of Francis Parker, said in an email to the Tribune on Thursday, 'Francis W. Parker School has enjoyed a good working relationship with the Illinois Federation of Teachers Union for the past 45 years and we have agreed with the Union to take steps towards voluntarily recognizing the IFT for our assistant teachers. We look forward to our ongoing collegial relationship with this group of educators.' The faculty at Parker, about 110 teachers, has had longstanding union representation with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, and Wainger said assistant teachers and library assistants at the school decided to organize to 'allow our voices to be heard as well.' Wainger added that those in the assistant union are 'looking forward to serving as a sister union to the faculty association.' 'They've been really wonderful and supportive of our efforts, so we see ourselves as very much existing alongside them,' Wainger said. As for the next steps, Tetreault said the hope is to soon have 'open, honest, collaborative and positive dialog with the school' about the needs of assistant teachers and library assistants and how those needs can be met. Some topics to be discussed at the bargaining table include better compensation and benefits and having 'clearer, more explicit guidelines around our specific job responsibilities,' Wainger said. 'It's really just all of the things that make it possible for us to fully show up each day for our kids,' Wainger said. 'We love these jobs, and we want to keep the, and we want them to be sustainable. We want to be able to be our best selves as we are coming to work every day.'
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UIS faculty, admin reach tentative agreement; temporarily avert strike
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Non-tenure track faculty at the University of Illinois Springfield have reached a tentative deal with the university administration, temporarily averting a strike that could have started this week. The Illinois Federation of Teachers announced Thursday morning that the two parties agreed upon a tentative contract the previous night. It happened after two full days of bargaining on Tuesday and Wednesday. UPDATE: Illinois homeschool bill passes; hundreds gather at State Capitol in protest 'Our union negotiating team is glad to announce that we were able to reach a tentative contract agreement with Chancellor Gooch and her team,' said Scott Fenton, an English instructor and a member of the union negotiating team. 'It has been a long and challenging road to secure this first agreement, but we are pleased that they worked with us in the end so we can stay in the classroom with our students. That is where we want to be.' Details of the agreement will not be released until union members and UIS leaders approve it. However, the union did say it will be in effect for three years. 'Though it does not go far enough in some important areas, this tentative agreement includes basic improvements in workload and salary that better align our faculty's working conditions with those of our colleagues on other U of I campuses,' Fenton added. 'We see it is a stepping stone to critical future improvements for our members and the students we are so proud to teach. We are grateful to them both for their incredible support throughout the process.' The agreement at least delays a strike that the union filed notice for on March 7. WCIA previously reported that negotiations on a new contract have been going on for the last year, with 20 previous meetings and 11 tentative agreements on approximately 20 contract articles being negotiated. The strike could have begun on Monday, but two days later, the parties have come to an agreement. Union members are expected to vote on the proposed contract by the end of the month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pritzker targeting phone usage in school
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois public school students may no longer have their cell phones on them when they start school in 2026. At the State of the State, Governor J.B. Pritzker said he is championing a bill to ban cellphone usage in classrooms. Party leaders react to State of the State for FY 2026 'In conversations with educators and parents around the state – there is one thing they commonly cite as an impediment to learning in the classroom: cell phones,' Pritzker said in his speech Wednesday. 'Furthermore, cyber bullying has expanded at alarming rates, and it's time for Illinois to take measures to protect our kids.' Momentum to separate students from their cell phones grew last summer with several large school districts across the nation adopting new policies. Some school districts in Central Illinois that changed their phone usage rules in the classroom last summer include Decatur and Springfield. 'A revitalization of inquisitiveness': Decatur School District finds success after first week of phone ban Leaders who represent teachers and paraprofessionals appreciate the governor embracing the issue. 'Tackling student cell phone use in schools is crucial to improved student learning,' Illinois Federation of Teachers president Dan Montgomery said. 'While some districts have their own policies, statewide guidance would provide much-needed consistency.' Illinois could offer bachelor degrees at community colleges with new bill The bill allows school districts time to implement a plan, as it would not go into effect until the 2026-2027 school year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
