Your turn: Celebrating 40 years of collective bargaining for education in Illinois
This Labor Day, we have the opportunity to reflect on one of the great triumphs of the Illinois labor movement. This month marks the 40th anniversary of collective bargaining for teachers and education support staff in Illinois. It is a momentous occasion, and we must take the time to acknowledge the transformative power of collective voice in education.
Four decades ago, under the direction of Republican Gov. Jim Thompson and through the intense lobbying efforts of the Illinois Education Association (IEA), the state of Illinois took a significant step toward recognizing the rights of its teachers and education support staff to negotiate fair wages, benefits, working and learning conditions by passing the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act (IELRA).
The IELRA is the Illinois law that requires school districts to recognize and bargain with education labor unions. This landmark event not only revolutionized the landscape of public education, but it also empowered teachers and education support staff, like paraprofessionals, bus drivers, nurses and secretaries, to play an active role in shaping the future of education.
Together, we continue to advocate for our students, their education and our communities.
More: 61% of Rockford students are chronically absent, more than double state average
Prior to the introduction of collective bargaining, Illinois was home to 25 strikes a year on average and more than 200 illegal strikes over the course of a decade.
Hundreds of teachers were fired for going on strike and others were arrested for refusing to agree to the contracts their school districts imposed. Educators faced innumerable challenges.
There were no limits on class sizes, far fewer supports and, sometimes, not enough textbooks and other supplies for students. There were segregated schools and inequitable learning conditions. Wages were often subpar, working conditions were inconsistent and educator voices were often ignored in policy discussions. Women were not allowed to wear pants and often earned less than their male counterparts.
The dawn of collective bargaining in 1983 marked a turning point, giving teachers and education support staff a collective voice and requiring school districts to listen. This shift gave way to public education as we know it today.
The IEA, the largest union in Illinois and the union Rockford teachers and education support staff locals are affiliated with, fought for more than a decade to win the right to collectively bargain in Illinois. The law written by the IEA, under the leadership of former IEA President Reg Weaver, and signed into law on Sept. 23, 1983, now helps improve students’ learning conditions and educators’ working conditions across the state.
Collective bargaining fosters collaboration between teachers, education support professionals, administrators, parents and community members, allowing everyone to work together for the betterment of all students. By engaging in meaningful negotiations, educators can advocate for smaller class sizes, access to resources and equitable learning conditions.
As Illinois celebrates four decades of collective bargaining, it is also celebrating four decades of improved educational outcomes and an enhanced public education experience for all students.
On this Labor Day, let us honor this milestone and remember that change is possible when we unite for a common cause.
To learn more about the passage of the IELRA go to ieacollectivebargining.org.
President of the Rockford Education Association IEA/NEA, Claudia Marshall; president of the Rockford Building Maintenance Association IEA/NEA, Scott Phelps; president of the Educational Office Personnel Association IEA/NEA, Charity Whitacre; president of the Educational Interpreters Association IEA/NEA, Cara Hoffman; and pPresident of the Illinois Education Association/NEA, Al Llorens
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Your turn: Celebrating 40 years of bargaining for Illinois education
