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* Tribune…
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to double down Thursday on his efforts to deal with a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic’s delta variant as schools reopen by requiring all educators from kindergarten through college to be vaccinated.
Additionally, Pritzker plans to require a statewide mandate of masking of people age 2 and above in indoor locations, according to two sources familiar with the governor’s actions, as the variant has led to increasing hospitalizations among younger people and the unvaccinated, along with increasing reports of “breakthrough cases” among those who are vaccinated.
* Sun-Times…
The Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Education Association, the two statewide teachers unions, welcomed the vaccine mandate to help “provide the greatest possible level of safety” for in-person school.
“The surge of COVID-19 cases in our state reminds us that this vaccine mandate is a public health imperative,” the unions said in a joint statement. “To implement it properly, widespread education and access to vaccines will be essential. For members who cannot, or will not, get vaccinated, we are glad to see the governor has implemented twice weekly COVID testing.”
The labor organizations said they would work with their locals to negotiate the terms and implementation of the mandate in districts, colleges and universities.
…Adding… Now that we have details, let’s move this conversation here
AFSCME discussion is here
Teachers here
GOP responses here
Other responses here
Comments on this post are now closed.
* Related…
* Two District 300 students hospitalized, 48 test positive for COVID-19
* GOP bans on school masks draw federal civil rights challenges: The legal challenges — filed separately in recent weeks against Texas, Florida and South Carolina — argue that those states‘ bans on universal masking in schools run afoul of federal anti-discrimination laws meant to protect children with disabilities.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:07 am
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Very encouraging to see the teachers union leadership embracing vaccines. Many, many other union “leaders” have badly embarrassed themselves on this topic.
Comment by Tammy Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:13 am
To all the anti-vaxers and anti-maskers: we are doing this for your benefit and for those who will need access to hospitals for non-COVID reasons. The rest of us will be just fine.
Comment by Just Me 2 Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:13 am
==greatest possible level of safety==
Kudos to IFT & IEA.
AFSCME??????????
Comment by Out Here In The Middle Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:15 am
These are necessary if we are going to combat this variant. The past week, McLean County had 395 new cases, mostly unvaccinated persons. Every age group (except 100+) had new cases with young children 0-11 39 cases, 12-17 39 cases, 18-19 32 cases, and school just started last week. It makes no sense for these age groups to be masked during school and then go without during the rest of their day while indoors in stores, etc.
Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:16 am
Good. AFSCME, take note.
Comment by LakeCo Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:18 am
Anyone paying attention who doesn’t have their heads firmly entrenched in their posterior saw this coming months ago.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:21 am
Very proud of my union (IFT) for taking this stance. Very happy that the governor is moving forward to protect the health and safety of everyone.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:21 am
Saw this on the news this morning. Will be difficult to enforce. Expect many arguments as businesses attempt to switch back to requiring a mask.
Sheba and I have been wearing a mask whenever we left the house.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:24 am
Unions that support mask mandates. What a novel concept. AFSME need to open their eyes and see which way the wind is blowing.
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:25 am
Oops AFSCME
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:26 am
Kudos to IFT/IEA/CTU.
Shame on the other union leaders who know vaccination requirements are the right way to go but are too timid to stand up to a vocal minority of their membership. Hate to say it, but it appears getting re-elected to their leadership posts is more important to them than the health of their members.
Comment by Roman Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:28 am
For the teachers. Glade your thinking of the kids saftey and not the low pay some of you,s get. To keep your self safe and the kids safe to THANK YOU. Now for the teachers refusing to get the the shots quite beleiveing the TRUMP BIG LIE that this is just a hoxes. THIS IS REAL
Comment by Quincy Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:28 am
“the two statewide teachers unions, welcomed the vaccine mandate”
They must not have right wing elements to pander to, or if they do, they refuse to take the side of those who voted for Trump and Janus.
It’s a bloody pandemic that’s badly damaged the world. We need stringent rules that will pull us out of this. There is a potential way out to satisfy both sides when it comes to reluctant unions: mandatory vaccination or regular testing. There’s no reason on earth workers can’t undergo the responsibility of fulfilling either one of these, if it’s properly negotiated to help them do these things.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:28 am
Initial Teacher Vaccine Mandate is decent start but doesn’t go nearly far enough. All high schoolers age 16+ in public schools should be mandated to take Vaccine. That and every state worker as well.
Comment by Hot Taeks Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:29 am
I’m only a public servant but I never thought I’d be jealous of belonging to the wrong union.
Comment by Lurker Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:38 am
This is great news. NEA and IFT are coming into this with allowance for regular testing if they choose not to take the jab, something that other unions are pressing for. We will have to see how this plays out as other unions negotiate terms for compliance. Different jobs have different exposure/transmission risks, but testing instead of vaxxing has its own share of issues. Hopefully we can get a big percentage of school workers in the vax rather than test category.
Comment by NotSoCivilEngineer Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:42 am
This is great news. I’m wondering, at the university/college level, is the vax mandate for all employees/staff or just faculty?
Comment by Tony DeKalb Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:45 am
Hey AFSCME how about you do a rally at one of the Gov’s public events. You know scream and yell and shout about your mistreatment. Remember how that worked out for you before? Bruce Rauner says hello.
Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:47 am
While I agree that union leaders need to lead on the importance of vaccination, at the same time I would observe that one of the factors driving vaccine resistance/refusal among their membership is education level.
Teachers unions, by definition, have a far more educated membership than does AFSCME (which is a mix of education levels, but plenty with no or partial college) or certain of the construction unions (whose members are skilled and educated, but not in the way of university liberal arts or science graduates).
The education differentials are playing out in society as a whole, so it makes sense that they are also at issue among union members.
Comment by Moe Berg Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:48 am
Now THAT’S how a union responds to a health mandate designed to protect workers. Big ups to IFT/IEA for making the very quick and responsible decision.
Comment by Leap Day William Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:49 am
=== This is great news. I’m wondering, at the university/college level, is the vax mandate for all employees/staff or just faculty? ===
Here at UIUC it’s all employees, with exceptions for bonafide medical and religious reasons. Although the employees in the bargaining units (largely trades, police, and clerical workers) are still negotiating out specifics, even though we already have 10 bonus sick days set aside solely for Covid-related illness so I don’t know what they’re negotiating for in excess of that.
Comment by Leap Day William Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:57 am
The anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers are gonna lose their damn minds.
Comment by Southern Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 9:59 am
Time to require vaccinations for all state employees and get them back to work. Why single out education?
Comment by Magic Dragon Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 10:00 am
==Time to require vaccinations for all state employees and get them back to work. ==
I have said this many times at least the past month. Mandatory vaccinations for all or face termination. Not weekly testing.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 10:06 am
I would like for the Guv to extend this to all school employees.
Comment by Stix Hix Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 10:09 am
I think weekly testing has to be an option as an accommodation to the tiny fraction that have an allergy to an additive in the vaccines or other medical reason for not getting a vaccine. Plus sincere religious believers (i.e. Church of Christ Scientist, not the Church of I don’t want to). I think the courts would insist on that. I also think that’s going to be less than 1% of state workers.
Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 10:13 am
===gonna lose===
Those done been lost.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 10:17 am
The Governor and ISBE also needs to permit schools to again offer all-remote learning or hybrid to students who prefer it. Until Delta subsides and/or young children can get vaccinated.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 10:18 am
Vaccines, and masks are the main tools we have to defeat this pandemic and reopen our society, schools, and businesses. Anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers are extending the pandemic, and directly harming children and the rest of our society. I cycle between anger and pity for their abject foolishness.
Comment by walker Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 10:22 am
AFSCME needs to get out of the way on this….
That being said. I wonder if the Governor will start pulling all the levers he can.
All prisoners under IDOC get vaccinated. All residents of long term care facilities get vaccinated.
Apply for benefits from IDES, prove your vaccinated.
Want to continue SNAP and other programs from IDHS, prove your vaccinated.
Want to apply for rent assistance or any other pandemic benefit, prove your vaccinated.
Most of these are probably already on the table, but at this point I think nothing can be off the table.
Comment by 618er Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 10:26 am
I feel like I’m involved in some epic struggle.
“J.B. Pritzker, years ago you served us (AFSCME) to bring an end to the Rauner Wars. Now I beg you to help us in the Vaccine struggle against AFSCME Leadership. In this time of need, we desperately cry out for a mandatory vaccine. Help us J.B. Pritzker. You’re our only hope.”
Comment by Steve Polite Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 10:31 am
==AFSCME needs to get out of the way on this….
That being said. I wonder if the Governor will start pulling all the levers he can.==
==Most of these are probably already on the table, but at this point I think nothing can be off the table.==
I agree. If AFSCME doesn’t change their stance on mandatory vaccinations, then maybe the Governor should do what Quinn did and cancel the next round of AFSCME raises. And maybe call for the current contract to be renegotiated.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 10:32 am
FOP President yesterday: ===“We’re in America, [banned word] it. We don’t want to be forced to do anything. Period. This ain’t N-zi [banned word] Germany, [where they say], ‘Step into the [banned word] showers. The pills won’t hurt you.’ What the [banned word]?” he said.===
As someone who just last week buried his grandfather who actually fought N-zis (not sure if that’s a banned word) in intense combat (he was one of about a dozen of his company of ~150 men who were not a casualty): [BANNED WORD] YOU, Catanzara! You are not a tenth of the man my grandfather was. He volunteered to serve his country at great peril, and you cannot be bothered to take the slightest bit of effort at minimal risk to save hundreds of thousands of lives of your fellow citizens.
Comment by thechampaignlife Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 10:42 am
“If AFSCME doesn’t change their stance on mandatory vaccinations, then maybe the Governor should do what Quinn did and cancel the next round of AFSCME raises. And maybe call for the current contract to be renegotiated.”
First, many members are for a mandatory vaccination. It’s AFSCME Council 31 and leadership that is against it. Second there is no need to cancel raises or renegotiate the contract. The governor has the ability now to implement a mandatory vaccine for all state employees. The only bargaining required is impact bargaining. Impact bargaining is essentially how the policy will be implemented. AFSCME wouldn’t be able to stop the policy from being implemented.
Comment by Steve Polite Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 10:43 am
Now that we have details, let’s move this conversation here: https://capitolfax.com/2021/08/26/details-of-pritzkers-vax-mask-mandates/
AFSCME discussion is here: https://capitolfax.com/2021/08/26/afscme-says-it-wants-same-vax-deal-as-teachers/
Teachers here: https://capitolfax.com/2021/08/26/iea-and-ift-on-new-vax-mandate-it%e2%80%99s-the-best-course-of-action-for-the-education-of-our-state%e2%80%99s-youth/
GOP responses here: https://capitolfax.com/2021/08/26/durkin-criticizes-pritzker-for-laying-out-new-plan-without-input-from-legislature/
Other responses here: https://capitolfax.com/2021/08/26/huge-retailers-group-supports-statewide-mask-mandate/
This post is now closed.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 26, 21 @ 10:54 am