IFT Endorses JB Pritzker for Governor
WESTMONT – By a vote of its Executive Board today, the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) endorsed JB Pritzker for Governor in the Democratic primary election.
Elected leaders of the 100,000-member organization supported Pritzker for his commitment to strengthening public education and services, respect for workers’ rights, support for a progressive tax system, and ability to undo the damage done by Governor Bruce Rauner.
“On behalf of our Executive Board and 100,000 members across Illinois, we are proud to endorse JB Pritzker for Governor,” said Dan Montgomery, IFT President and a high school English teacher.
“For two decades, JB has been working to advance early childhood education, expand school breakfast programs, and fight back against bigotry and hatred. As Governor, we know he will continue standing up for our students from their first day of school through college graduation.
“Unlike Bruce Rauner, JB respects workers and wants to work together to find solutions to our state’s problems. While Rauner made deep cuts and caused a crisis, JB believes that to increase funding for our schools and services fairly, Illinois needs a progressive income tax where the wealthy pay at a higher rate than those who can least afford it.
We’re confident that JB, along with his running mate Juliana Stratton, will put working families first and put Illinois back on track.”
The IFT’s endorsement comes after months of extensively vetting candidates and gathering member input. Candidates submitted questionnaires, participated in interviews with elected leaders, and attended meetings with locals across Illinois. The statewide union and several local affiliates also surveyed members to better understand the issues that mattered most to them heading into Election 2018.
“I’m so proud to receive the endorsement of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the 100,000 teachers, paraprofessionals, higher education faculty and staff and public employees they represent,” said JB Pritzker. “Every single child in Illinois deserves a quality public education no matter their zip code. It’s time for a governor who works hard for our students, listens to and respects our teachers and makes fully funding public schools a priority. Unfortunately, Bruce Rauner has decimated public education in our state, forcing five public universities to downgrade to junk status and it’s time for new leadership in Springfield. I look forward to working with IFT members to strengthen public education and services in Illinois and ensure strong neighborhood public schools in all of our communities. I’m proud to support the labor movement and the rights of IFT members to collectively bargain and retire in dignity.”
Endorsements for other statewide offices and legislative races will be forthcoming in early 2018.
The Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) is made up of more than 100,000 teachers and paraprofessionals in PreK-12 school districts throughout Illinois, faculty and staff at community colleges and universities, public employees under every statewide elected constitutional officer, and retirees. The Executive Board represents all constituencies and includes officers and 40 vice presidents elected from nearly 400 locals and councils throughout Illinois.
- Fax Machine - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 9:28 am:
This really hurts the other candidates - it means a potential sugar daddy won’t be opening up their wallet to help them out.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 9:30 am:
As the Pritzker Crew moves forward and “decides” to embrace the “front-runner” mantle, the continued endorsements, be they from both US Senators, or the state teachers’ union, it’s announcements like I listed above that you must take these and start, early on, to take on and take down your primary opponents, and forcibly go after the incumbent, Bruce Rauner.
Only someone not paying any attention would not acknowledge that Pritzker is the front-runner, so embrace it, Pritzker Crew, like you forcibly did last week and begin the swamping and the attacks, because they’ve been rolling out already, and it’s only going to get more pointed.
- Arsenal - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 9:33 am:
Big get. I’d been thinking for a while that the biggest threat for JB was all the public sector unions getting behind someone else (probably Kennedy, thanks to Biss’ pension bill). That ain’t happening now.
- Roman - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 9:57 am:
Does this mean the CTU is on board with J.B.? Don’t they make up almost half of IFT’s membership?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 9:58 am:
===Does this mean the CTU is on board===
CTU has its own process.
- allknowingmasterofracoondom - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 9:58 am:
Oh wow, big surprise. Ho-hum.
- Arsenal - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 10:03 am:
==Does this mean the CTU is on board with J.B.?==
Given Lewis’ previous comments, I’d be exceedingly surprised if CTU endorsed JB.
- Real - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 10:07 am:
Well CTU better get on board or deal with Rauner for another 4 years.
- Arsenal - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 10:12 am:
==Well CTU better get on board or deal with Rauner for another 4 years.==
I’m sure they’ll fully support whoever wins the primary.
- Anonymous - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 10:28 am:
No response/whining from the Biss team yet? Shouldn’t they already have sent out something about insider politics forming a movement blah blah blah, unfair blah blah blah, soul of the party etc etc at this point?
- m - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 10:32 am:
Rauner had to win a primary and then still spend a lot in the general to lock down the R’s.
With this and Durbin and Duckworth, etc, Pritzker remains way ahead of schedule.
I guess out of touch billionaires are only bad when it’s “their” out of touch billionaire, not “ours.”
- City Zen - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 10:39 am:
“…Dan Montgomery, IFT President and a high school English teacher.”
There is no way he’s working both these jobs.
- wordslinger - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 11:26 am:
Last day for candidate withdrawal is Jan. 17. As it stands now, Pritzker, with all his money and organization support, is a prohibitive favorite in a six-way primary.
That’s what’s so wack-a-doo about the claim that the “establishment” cleared the field for Pritzker.
First of all, six candidates is not a “clear field.” Secondly, the more candidates, the better Pritzker’s chances.
- Honeybear - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 11:29 am:
Pritzker crew, great job
Now get to work
Your job with IFT just started
You must must must now
Find
Recruit
Train
The frontline stewards and activists
To organize
And take the fight door to door
Do not
Do not
Do not
Assume that IFT will take it from here
Now you
Pritzker crew
Must motivate Frontline IFTs
For
Direct Action
- Piece of Work - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 11:52 am:
Makes you want to run out and support the next school referendum now doesn’t it?
- Subsidence - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 4:11 pm:
=Makes you want to run out and support the next school referendum now doesn’t it?=
So you’re saying that IFT endorsement is such a BFD that it addresses the needs of your local school district?