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2 Our Path Forward Commit to strengthening our union this school year and beyond.

4 Why IFT?Learn about collective bargaining in the first article of this three-part series.

9 Worker Rights Saved! IFT members speak out to protect collective bargaining.

11 Woman of the Year Local 571 leader Jane Russell is honored for her dedication to workers.

Connecting you to your union, because together we are stronger.

SUMMER 2015

Supreme Court Unanimously Rejects Pension CutsIn a major victory for IFT members, retirees, and the rule of law, the Illinois State Supreme Court declared pension-slashing Senate Bill 1 unconstitutional in an emphatic and unanimous ruling in May. “As a leading partner in the We Are One Illinois coalition of unions, the IFT is at the forefront of the fight to uphold the state constitution and protect our members’ retirement security.”

“We are thankful that the Supreme Court has unanimously upheld the will of the people, overturned this unfair and unconstitutional law, and protected the hard-earned life savings of teachers, police, firefighters, nurses, caregivers and other public service

workers, and retirees,” our coalition said in a statement after the decision.

If enacted, the law would have slashed retirement benefits by lowering cost-of- living increases for retirees, extending retirement ages for current employees and limiting the amount of salary used to calculate pension benefits.

“Public service workers are helpers and problem-solvers by trade. With the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling, we urge lawmakers to join us in developing a fair and constitutional solution to pension funding, and we remain ready to work with anyone of good faith to do so.”

It’s hard to believe that a new school year is upon us again. For all of us – educators, children, and parents alike – this can be a stressful time. While teachers and PSRPs are anxiously readying curriculum and classrooms, school cafeterias, and buses for the upcoming year, parents worry about how their kids will adjust to a new grade, a new teacher, a new school. But it’s a really exciting time, too. As a teacher, I know that each new school

year gives kids and staff a chance to start afresh with new experiences that help us grow. As a union member, this is also the ideal time for each of us to recommit to strengthening our union to ensure that our voices are heard in the year ahead. Last year, we did just that. We demon-strated the power of our collective action and made great gains for our union by organizing new members around the state, electing new candidates to local school boards, and raising our voices to stop Governor Rauner’s attacks on our rights. Local unions and councils also forged stronger relationships with parents and community groups by establishing collaborative partnerships. These efforts

Volunteer for a union committee. Meet with your local lawmaker, and tell her about what you face every day. (Read about more that on page 8). Winston Churchill once said, “a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” There will always be challenges, and it’s a busy time of year. But I’m an optimist, because I know we’ve persevered before and can do it again if we each do our part. Back-to-school time is the perfect opportunity. Working together, we will continue to accomplish great things, this school year and beyond. I wish you all a great year.

In solidarity,

Dan

Union Link is published four times a year by the Illinois Federation of Teachers. 500 Oakmont Lane, Westmont, IL 60559.

Phone: 630/468-4080www.ift-aft.org

Daniel J. MontgomeryPresidentChief Operating Officer

Karen GJ LewisExecutive Vice President

Marcia K. CampbellSecretary-Treasurer

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Union Link, 500 Oakmont Lane, Westmont, IL 60559.

MEMBERS: To change your address, notify your local union treasurer.

Aviva BowenDirector of Communications

Beth CamplainMedia Director

Amy ExcellMedia Director Kenzo Shibata Media Director

Jennifer HillProfessional Support Staff Communications

GOING GREEN:Union Link is printed on recycled paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and printed with environmentally- friendly soy-based inks.

© 2015 ILLINOIS FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, AFT, AFL-CIO

have had a powerful, positive impact for us and those we serve. (You can read more about all these successes in this issue of Union Link and on ift-aft.org.) And we can’t let up now. Since the Governor continues to attack our families and drastically cut state pro-grams upon which we depend, there will be more fights ahead. That’s why this school year is a critical time for each of us to take a personal hand in making our unions even stronger.

We must continue to grow our power so we can stand up collectively for the values we all believe in – great schools, colleges, and universities; healthy public services for Illinois citizens; a vibrant economy that allows our communities to grow and our families to thrive; and the fundamental right of working men and women to negotiate for fair pay, safe workplaces, retirement security, and more. Each of us must play a part, and there are many ways to do that. Attend union meetings to stay informed about key issues. Talk to your colleagues about what is happening at your workplace, in your community, and in Springfield.

Back-to-School Time is a Re-Union OpportunityDaniel J. MontgomeryPresident

OUR PATH FORWARD

E-mailDanI’d love to hear from you!Please write to me at [email protected] and tell me how you and your local are working to make our unions stronger.

As a union member, this [back-to-school season] is also the ideal time for each of us to recommit to strengthening our union to ensure that our voices are heard in the year ahead.

UNION LINK | SUMMER 2015 3

portion of the budget, because it does not contain the anti-worker “reforms” he is demanding. During the past two months, numerous versions of the Governor’s “reform” proposals have been addressed by the legislature, none of which have received enough votes for passage. At this point, the critical subject of revenue has not been addressed. Most of the current budget deficit is a result of the rollback of state income tax rates that took effect on January 1. Various revenue ideas, including a millionaire’s tax, closing corporate loopholes, and others got little traction during the regular session. It didn’t have to be this way. But rather than put everyday Illinoisans and their families first, the Governor spent his first session in office advocating for big corporations and attacking our fundamental rights under the guise of his “turnaround” agenda, which would harm union and non-union workers.

The spring legislative session ended on May 31 without an agreement on some key issues, including the FY 2016 budget. As this issue of Union Link went to press, House and Senate members were convening regularly to continue their work but no budget agreement had been reached. Critical state services face suspension in the fall if the impasse continues. House and Senate Democrats passed a budget bill package in the last week of regular session that includes adequate funding for education and important services and programs, but the Governor vetoed that package of bills, except for the K-12 funding

MoreInformationFor details on bills and legislative action during the summer, visit “Under the Dome” on ift-aft.org.

Session Goes into Overtime in Springfield

Union and community members joined together at standing-room-only meet-ings statewide to speak out against his dangerous proposals and have been key to defeating them. (Read one IFT member’s experience on page 6.) Still, the Governor continues to ignore the will of the people and to threaten drastic cuts to state services and programs for children and needy citizens unless lawmakers agree to his divide-and-conquer policies. It is clear that wealthy interests – not Illinois families – are Rauner’s top priority. That’s why it is critical to stay informed. Watch for important updates, talk to friends and neighbors about these issues, and contact your lawmakers to tell them how cuts and dangerous proposals would harm those you serve.

IFT Lobbies for Key Initiatives

FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN HB 3337 would require all Illinois schools to offer full-day kindergarten by 2017-18. Parents would not be required to enroll their children in a full-day program, and districts could also continue to offer half-day kindergarten.

STUDENT AND EDUCATOR DATA PRIVACY The IFT has been in long-term negotiations with stakeholders to craft HB 810, a measure to protect student and educator digital privacy.

UNNECESSARY K-2 TESTING SB 1247 would prohibit any testing on K-2 students that is not diagnostic or intended to identify academic needs.

TIER 2 PENSION RESOLUTIONS SR 317 and HR 358 question whether the lesser Tier 2 pension plans comply with Social Security requirements.

DISTRICT INTERVENTION TRAILER BILL SB 665 requires a school district to notify its employees’ exclusive bargaining agent within five days if ISBE has named that district a ‘Priority District.’ This bill passed both chambers and awaits the Governor’s signature.

The IFT proposed several measures during the spring session, as guided by Resolutions passed by elected delegates to the IFT Convention. (View the Resolutions on ift-aft.org/your-union.) IFT lobbyists are continuing to discuss these important proposals with lawmakers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

UNION LINK | SUMMER 20154

ift-aft.org

“ The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress. Out of its bold

struggles, economic and social reform gave

birth to unemployment insurance, old-age

pensions, government relief for the destitute

and, above all, new wage levels that meant

not mere survival but a tolerable life. The captains of industry did not lead this transformation; they resisted it until they were overcome. When in the 1930s the wave of union organization crested over the nation, it carried to secure shores not only itself but the whole society.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. Speech to the state convention of the Illinois AFL-CIO, Oct. 7, 1965

IFT{ }OUR STRENGTH IS OUR MEMBERSHIP — YOU ARE

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want to silence us by restricting or eliminating it and making the rich even richer – on the backs of regular families. When Scott Walker destroyed collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin, teachers and other public employees lost: the ability to negotiate over health insurance and workplace rights; salary (most workers suffered from pay cuts of more than 10%); tenure and seniority rights; and days off.

When working people are harmed, communities and kids suffer. Collective bargaining helps everyone thrive.

LearnMoreTo learn more about the benefits of IFT membership, visit ift-aft.org/whyIFT.

How does it help?Union members can secure economic gains and employment benefits through collective bargaining. But studies show that it helps non-union men and women earn a better wage, too, by narrowing economic, racial, and gender inequality gaps.

Collective bargaining also gives union members a powerful voice to advocate for important issues like smaller class sizes, academic freedom, and safe schools and workplaces, which have a positive impact on our communities. Why is collective bargaining under attack?Collective bargaining gives you a powerful voice. Billionaire CEOs, corporations, and some politicians

You know that our union has a positive impact on our own lives and professions, but you may not realize

how the gains and protections provided by the union benefit non-union workers and our communities too.

“Why IFT?” is a three-part series that will help you understand why the union is important to us ALL.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING What is collective bargaining?Union members have the fundamental right to collective bargaining, the process by which employees negotiate with their employer to secure fair contracts. Together, we have more power as a united group than we would as individuals. How did we get it?Collective bargaining was secured by union members who came together to fight for this fundamental right. In 1935, Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act, which established collective bargaining for most private sector workers. In Illinois, public workers officially secured this right in 1983.

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In another example of the power of collective action, IFT members across the state successfully urged lawmakers on the Senate Executive Committee to vote “no” and reject legislation that would have severely restricted collective bargaining rights. The vote on the bill (SB 1046, SA 1) was 6-11 and ensured the measure would not be addressed again during the regular legislative session that ended May 31. “By speaking with one voice to lawmakers, we stopped a dangerous bill that would have stripped our fundamental rights and harmed kids, schools, and communities,” said IFT President Dan Montgomery.

SB1046, SA1 contained some of the most harmful aspects of Governor Rauner’s “turnaround” agenda. It would have restricted public employees’ fundamental rights to bargain with employers over wages and pay equity, health insurance, maternity leave and child care benefits, evaluations, privatization of services, and more. It also included a property tax freeze, which would reduce desperately- needed resources for local schools. IFT Vice President Jane Russell testified against the bill, telling legislators a personal story about how collective bargaining allowed her and her colleagues to better serve students by negotiating smaller class sizes,

professional development for teachers, and an educator voice on the curriculum committee. “In our district Board of Education’s meeting room, a sign hung at the back of the room. In large wooden letters could be seen from any vantage point in the room, ‘What’s best for the kids?’ The collective bargaining we engaged in always circled back to that question, ‘What’s best for the kids?’” Russell said. At public meetings around the state this spring, union members turned out in huge numbers to speak out against the elimination of collective bargaining

and other dangerous components of the Governor’s agenda. Counties and municipalities have overwhelm-ingly rejected these proposals. Congratulations to all who stood together and helped beat back this harmful and misguided proposal!

StayInformedFor the latest legislative developments, visit ift.aft.org.

IFT Members Beat Back Bill to Restrict Collective Bargaining

“This is a terrific victory for IFT members and all workers in Illinois, and a testament to the power of members working together.”

What’s best for the kids?


She was so energized by the experience of bonding with other people and being part of the collective action, Lowry-Fritz is planning to attend more meet-ings to help educate the community and their elected officials about the realities of Rauner’s intentions.

“If we hadn’t showed up in huge numbers and spoken out together for our common cause as union members and community members, this would have passed,” she said. “By coming together in force, we made all the difference. It was a life-changing experience.” Read the full version of her story on ift-aft.org/thewholestory.

Help Tell

MoreInformationTell #TheWholeStory! Send your story [email protected].

Lowry-Fritz was among the hundreds of union and community members who filled the city council chambers and overflowed into the Naperville City Hall lobby this spring to oppose Governor Rauner’s “right-to-work” agenda. A resident of the Naperville area, when she saw the IFT’s email alert about the meeting in her commu-nity, she simply said, “I’ve gotta go.” “Rauner’s ‘local empowerment’ ordi-nance is cloaked in a positive-sounding title, but it is a purposeful deception. When you dress up ordinances and laws by calling them ‘local empower-ment’ and ‘right to work,’ you’re trying to pull the wool over peoples’ eyes about what these proposals really do, which is eliminate workers’ right to collectively bargain. Just like I do with my students, we have to explain the realities to people.” After listening to Lowry-Fritz and more than two dozen others speak in opposition, the Naperville City Council voted to indefinitely table the resolution.

Governor Rauner is attacking everyday men and women and misleading the public about the unions that give us a collective voice. It’s time we tell #TheWholeStory.

This special new section on ift-aft.org and social media is a place to tell the real-life stories of educators and other public servants who go above and beyond for our kids and communities. For instance, check out the excerpt below from an IFT member who recently joined fellow unionists to oppose the Governor’s dangerous “turnaround” agenda. Read her story about the power of collective action, then help tell #TheWholeStory!

“It was a life-changing experience.”

Maureen Lowry-Fritz is an attorney, a mom, a college instructor, and a proud new member of the Rock Valley College Faculty Association, IFT Local 6211. Growing up in a union family, she understood the importance of unions from an early age. But until she attended a City Council meeting in Naperville this spring to speak out against the Governor’s “turnaround” resolution, she said she hadn’t really felt what it meant to be part of one. “You can understand legally. You can understand politically. You can even hear the talk about it at your family dinner table, but going to that meeting took it to a completely different level. I was suddenly not just in the union, but I was united in a common bond with electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, operating engineers, and many others. It felt like a family reunion,” she said.


Union Awards Scholarships to Outstanding Students

ROBERT G. PORTER SCHOLARSHIP

Matthew Kleinhans graduated from York High School in Elmhurst in May. He is the youngest son of Laura Kleinhans, a member of the West Suburban Teachers Union, Local 571. Matthew is the third Kleinhans to receive the award: his brothers were previous winners (Robert, 2011 and Joseph, 2013).

Kleinhans maintained an “A” average in high school. He is a member of the National Honor Society, student council, and the Economics Club. He played soccer and lacrosse, and is an active school and community volunteer.

In his scholarship application essay, Kleinhans showed a deep understanding for the positive impact unions have on society. “Simply put, unions mobilize members to positive group action, give security and support to workers’ families, and provide a voice of fairness for those who cannot be heard.” Read his complete essay at ift-aft.org/news/thewholestory.

Kleinhans will study Economics at the U of I at Urbana-Champaign.

Kaitlyn Remian graduated from Schaumburg High School in May. She is the daughter of Scott Lilley, a member of the Northwest Suburban Teachers Union, Local 1211.

Remian maintained an “A” average and is a member of the National Honor Society. She was co-captain of the speech team and participated in orchestra, the literary magazine, and other clubs. Remian also volunteers for many church and youth groups.

She will attend Illinois State University in the fall to become an English teacher.

CARL J. MEGEL SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

Antonio Hernandez graduated from East Aurora High School in May. He is the student of AFT Local 604 member Maya Raab.

Hernandez was on the high honor roll and received various awards during high school, including a leadership award, Mr. Upward Bound. He participated in student council, DECA, and cross-country, and volunteered for numerous community organizations. Hernandez will be the first member of his family to attend college when he starts school in the fall.

Nelson Santana graduated from Waukegan High School in June. He is the son of Dolores Santana, a member of the Lake County Federation of Teachers, Local 504.

Santana maintained a high GPA in his coursework throughout high school, while working seasonal jobs and volunteering at the VA hospital, a local food pantry, and his church.

He plans to pursue a degree in auto mechanics in the fall at the College of DuPage.

MoreInformationTo review all scholarship opportunities available through IFT, visit ift-aft.org/your-benefits/scholarships.

Each year, the IFT selects outstanding students to receive the Robert G. Porter Scholarship and Carl J. Megel Special Education Scholarship. Porter scholars must be high school seniors whose parent is a member in good standing with the IFT; Megel winners must be seniors enrolled in a special education program and be dependents of an IFT member or be nominated by an IFT teacher or PSRP. The IFT is proud to award these scholarships to the following students:


LearnMoreLearn more about LASR and how you can helpat ift-aft.org/legislative/lasr.

The 2014 election was the most expensive one in Illinois history. Governor Rauner spent more than $65 million during the campaign, mainly on television ads that criticized public employees and the unions who advocate for us and our communities. As lawmakers work during overtime session to reach a budget agreement that adequately funds education and essential state services, Rauner is again spending millions to demonize state government and workers. It is clear that the wealthy and corporations – NOT everyday Illinoisans – are his top priority. So, with more than $20 million in his war chest to attack teachers, support staff, faculty, and other workers, how can we fight back? We can – and must – get involved!

The power of our union comes from collective action and a unified voice.

the power and authenticity of your personal story, and LASR helps you tell it. Tennis great and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Arthur Ashe said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Today, these words couldn’t ring more true. Each of us can make a difference. Now is the time to do what we can in this critical fight to protect our fundamental workplace rights and maintain high-quality schools and public services. We are in a long, tough battle, but with this challenge comes an opportunity. I urge you to get involved! Please contact your local, council, or chapter president to volunteer, or email [email protected].

We must stand together and speak out to protect our rights and the interests of those we serve. There are many easy ways to take action, for example:

Attend union meetings Stay informed – check for email updates, watch ift-aft.org, follow IFT on social media Take action when asked – email or call lawmakers, wear a union t-shirt or button, or anything else your local or council is doing to make a difference Discuss important issues with friends, family, and community members Volunteer for a union committee Recruit other members to get involved Another way to make a big impact is by joining a local IFT LASR commit-tee. LASR (Local Action for Statewide Results) committees are groups of IFT members who meet face-to-face with lawmakers in their district. These meet-ings help develop positive relationships with lawmakers and allow us to explain how their decisions directly impact students and citizens. Rauner’s slick ads may look impressive, but they don’t have

by Michelle Federici IFT State Affiliate Political Director

Little Actions Make a Big Difference

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Union members who wish to redirect the portion ($22) of their 2015-16 IFT per capita dues that might be used for contributions to political candidates may do so using the following process:

Obtain a numbered IFT redirection request form from your local president. (Only original numbered forms will be accepted. No photocopies.)

Fill out the form and return it to your local president. The president will certify (sign) the form to indicate your membership is in good standing in your local and mail your form to the IFT.

You may designate your redirection to one of the following Executive Board-approved alternative, non-political expenditures:

Carl J. Megel Special Education ScholarshipAn IFT-sponsored scholarship awarded annually to a special education student.

Jesse White Tumbling Team Scholars ProgramThe Jesse White Tumblers is a nationally known team of young acrobats that was founded in 1959 by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. The Tumblers are children ages six and up residing in Chicago’s inner city housing projects. It serves as a juvenile delinquency prevention program; team members are required to abide by strict rules, which include staying in school, maintaining more than a C average, and staying away from gangs and drugs. Over 10,000 children have participated in the program.

IFT Robert G. Porter ScholarshipThe union offers two $6,000 scholarships annually to the children of IFT members who are high school seniors and will be enrolled in an Illinois public university. Winning students receive $1,500 per year for four years.

IFT Union Professional Development ProgramThe union’s newest program designed to provide quality, accessible professional development opportunities for all IFT members.

Your redirection of the $22 COPE (Committee on Political Education) portion of IFT dues will be good for the current dues year only and is not retroactive. You may reapply each year between Sept. 1-30. Redirection for agency fee payers (non-members) is automatic.

Dues Redirection Notice


IFT Members Act Locally to Score Important Election Wins

The North Suburban Teachers Union,

Local 1274, is the latest example of an

IFT local taking the lead to make a

positive difference in their community.

Lack of good communication from

their school board led to members of

this local in the Chicago area to form

a collaborative alliance with parents

and community members this spring

called “Progress 219.” The union

played a leading role in the group’s

well-organized campaign to recruit,

endorse, and elect candidates through

a public relations effort, neighborhood

walks, and phone banks. Through this

powerful effort, Local 1274 members

transformed their school board from top

to bottom, even replacing a longtime

uncooperative board president.

Union Partnership = Community Victory

Getting involved in elections matters, and it all starts locally. School boards make critical decisions about students, local schools, and those who work in them. That’s why endorsing and helping to elect fair, supportive representatives is crucial to ensuring their decisions are in the best interests of education and the community.

In the midst of Governor Rauner’s at-tacks on everyday men and women, IFT members stepped up and fought back this spring by helping to elect candidates for school board and forming community and

parent partnerships that will help in the fight to defend and improve education, vital public services, and our neighborhoods across Illinois.

“I am so proud of our members across the state,” said IFT President Dan Montgomery. “These tremendous victories are great examples of what we can achieve when we come together, roll up our sleeves, and work for change at the local level. It all starts there, and it’s how we win.”

progress219moving forward...together p4

CHICAGO - Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), Local 1 made a major push for progressive candidates in the spring, working with community allies and other partners to support Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia in an historic mayoral race.

Though Garcia was defeated after forcing a runoff election, he changed the conversation and inspired Chicagoans to stand up and speak out, as didthe Chicago Teachers Union, who helped lead the fight for change.

In important City Council races, CTU efforts helped to elect IFT member Susan Sadlowski Garza and support five other union-endorsed candidates.

STATEWIDE - Congratulations to the following locals and councils who helped to secure important election wins for union-endorsed school board candidates in their communities.

• Lake County Federation of Teachers, Local 504

• AFT Local 604 - Kankakee Teachers Council - Kankakee Paraprofessionals Council - Lockport Fairmont Council

• O’Fallon Classroom Teachers Association, Local 628

• Granite City Federation of Teachers, Local 743

• Peoria Federation of Teachers, Local 780

• AFT Local 943 - Orland Park #135 Council - Evergreen Park #124 Council

• North Suburban Teachers Union, Local 1274

• Champaign Federation of Teachers, Local 1925

• O’Fallon Federation of Teachers, Local 3939

• University Professionals of Illinois, Local 4100

• Peoria Federation of Support Staff, Local 6099

• Rock Valley College Faculty Association, Local 6211


20th Judicial Circuit Court Public Em-ployees, Local 4408 – The 51 employ-ees in the St. Clair County Probation Department joined the IFT’s Illinois Federation of Public Employees to increase their bargaining power over issues like salary and a say on the job. In June, members voted on by-laws and elected officers to represent them on the Local 4408 board.

Farmington Federation of Integrated Support Staff and Teachers, Local 3764 – The 16 teacher assistants in this central Illinois community wanted a voice on the job and seniority rights, so they organized and joined with their teacher colleagues in the existing local. The integrated unit is now 109 employees strong.

Homer Support Staff Council of AFT Local 604 – This group of 160 parapro-fessionals in Will County was being impacted by changes in their district, but the school board wasn’t listening to their individual concerns. By joining the IFT, they now have a collective voice and are bargaining their first contract. Teachers in the district are IFT, too. Illinois Valley Federation of Support Staff, Local 6561 – This new support staff local at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby represents 49 mem-

WhyIFTFor additional details and information on IFT membership, visit ift-aft.org/whyift.

Welcometo the IFT

bers. They joined the IFT this spring to secure the protections and benefits of a collective bargaining agreement and have a say in the workplace. Teachers at IVCC are also IFT.

Manhattan Council of AFT Local 604 – The 40 paraprofessionals in this Will County school district organized to join with their teaching colleagues in a wall-to-wall unit that now represents 132 members. The council is currently bar-gaining a first contract as a merged unit, ensuring that PSRPs and teachers will have a voice in working conditions and the impact of administrative decisions. Rudy Lozano Association of Social Justice Educators, Chicago ACTS, Local 4343 – After seeing that management was more responsive to the concerns of the unionized teachers at Rudy Lozano Leadership Academy, a Chicago charter school, the 12 support staff members there joined the IFT/Chicago ACTS Local 4343 and merged into the existing unit. The expanded unit is bargaining a successor agreement that will include language specific to the needs of the school’s PSRPs.

2015 has already been a great year for growing our union! The IFT proudly welcomes 328 new members to our family in these

local unions and councils.

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Russell Named CFL Woman of the YearAfter more than 40 years, Jane Russell shows no signs of backing down when it comes to fighting for everyday men and women. That’s one reason why the Chi-cago Federation of Labor (CFL) named the IFT Vice President and President of IFT Local 571 their Woman of the Year! Each year, the CFL recognizes extraor-dinary women whose work in the labor movement has gone above and beyond. Russell is in impressive company: the CFL awarded longtime IFT/CTU activist Bea Lumpkin with their CFL’s Lifetime Achievement award this year, and Chi-cago Teachers Union President and IFT Executive Vice President Karen Lewis was their Woman of the Year in 2014. Margaret Blackshere, the first female president of the Illinois AFL-CIO and an IFT leader, is also a previous winner. “I look at all of the strong union women who have received this award before me and find it hard to believe I am now one

of them. I have the opportunity to work in the union because many of them blazed the trail before me,” Russell said during the awards ceremony. “I am so grateful.”

Russell is a trailblazer in her own right, with a union resume dating from 1972, the year she joined IFT Local 571. After more than two decades in leadership roles in 571’s Leyden Council, she was elected local president in 1995. Since then she has helped the local flourish: it has doubled to nearly 5,700 members, established a top-notch professional development program, offers several annual student and member scholarships, and is actively involved in community programs like FirstBook.

As an IFT Vice President since 1998, Russell advocates for all IFT members, not just those in her local. During a recent Illinois Senate committee hearing, she testified against a proposal to restrict public employee collective bargaining rights, telling lawmakers how collective bargaining allowed her and her col-leagues to better serve students by negotiating smaller class sizes,

LearnMoreTo learn more about your fellow IFT members and how they get involved in the union and their com-munities, visit ift-aft.org/i-am-IFT.

IFT Vice President Jane Russell accepts the 2015 Woman of the Year award from the Chicago Federation of Labor.

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Read “I am IFT” in every issue of Union Link to learn how your fellow members are Powering Forward.

professional development for teachers, and an educator voice on the curriculum committee. The measure was soundly defeated. During the CFL awards presentation, Rosetta Daylie of AFSCME said, “Jane has never been afraid to speak up about issues that are important to her, and she is using her various leadership roles to fight for what she believes in.” What she believes in is strong unions and high-quality public education, and she understands they go hand in hand. “I am a proud union teacher,” she said. “I am not 50 percent teacher and 50 percent union, or any other percentage. I am union and I am a teacher, and they are one in the same,” Russell said. Now retired after 35 years teaching high school science, Russell is still passion-ate about education. In 2012, she was named to the Illinois P20 Council, a group established by the Illinois leg-islature to foster collaboration among education stakeholders. In that role, she helps to educate lawmakers and assess how statewide reforms are impacting students, teachers, and communities. Despite her commitment and accom-plishments on behalf of education and workers, she remains humble.

“I don’t see myself as a role model,” Russell said. “But I hope that my efforts show young women and men that our union has a powerful, positive impact on our communities and our professions. By participating in our union, we all have the power to make a difference.”

i am }}

IFT

IFT HIGHER ED CONFERENCEOctober 2-3

RMH Center, Westmont

IFT PSRP/PUBLIC EMPLOYEES CONFERENCEOctober 23-24


UNION LEADERSHIP INSTITUTEFALL SESSIONNovember 7-8


For complete course descriptions and to register, visit ift-aft.org/ULI

Illinois Federation of TeachersP.O. Box 390Westmont, IL 60559

Non-ProfitU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit no. 40

OAK BROOK, IL

CONNECTING YOU TO YOUR UNION, BECAUSE TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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Ul summer 15