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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
At the end of the 2024 spring state legislative session, the Illinois Federation of Teachers issued a decidedly diplomatic press release.
Federation President Dan Montgomery praised the new state budget as “crucial for our state’s success” and applauded increases in K-12 and early childhood education funding.
Montgomery did criticize the “meager” increase in higher education funding and called on the state to “ensure full funding for pre-K-12, higher education, and early childhood” programs now.
“The IFT expresses our gratitude to legislators for their hard work and collaboration throughout this session,” Montgomery wrote. He warned, however, that “We are committed to intensifying our efforts and working collectively to identify sustainable revenue streams” to fund public education at all levels.”
Well, after another year of status quo funding increases, the federation’s leadership has apparently decided that diplomacy doesn’t work. Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates was elected to succeed Montgomery at the union’s convention this month in northwest suburban Rosemont. Montgomery had earlier announced he was leaving the union after 15 years at the helm.
Davis Gates said in a news release the new federation leadership is “ready to fight to finally deliver on the promises that politicians in Springfield have made but not kept to our students in every district in Illinois.”
Federation has big asks on fundingWhat they want, first and foremost, is full and immediate funding of the evidence-based funding formula, which the CTU claims would instantly send an additional $1.6 billion in state money to Chicago schools and $3 billion statewide, money the state does not have. They also want a much better, and expensive, pension deal for Tier 2 retirees.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke at the federation’s convention the day Davis Gates was elected and blistered state Democrats for not stepping up. Johnson is a former CTU staffer and is super-tight with the union.
After saying “I’ve done my part” by recently proposing his own budget plan (which relies heavily on one-time revenues and taxes that may not ever pass), Johnson demanded the state “release” the $3 billion for the funding formula, as if that money were just sitting around waiting to be spent.
“You either support public education or you do not, ” Johnson warned Springfield. “I am tired of lip service when it comes to the education of working people. You will stand for righteousness and stand for public education or get the hell out of the way,” he said to thunderous applause.
“If you believe in a millionaire’s tax, then pass it,” the mayor said, despite the fact that a graduated income tax was rejected by a majority of Illinois voters in 2020.
We haven’t had a federation president who was also a CTU president in 20 years. Chicago leadership had been the norm at the statewide union for years. Those CTU presidents, though often combative and fierce unionists, were not in the same mold as the current CTU president. Davis Gates, a progressive activist at heart, is not exactly known for public diplomatic niceties.
I’ve written before how the Chicago Teachers Union’s close progressive allies have tried using aggressive advocacy at the Statehouse, similar to what they often do at the Chicago City Council. But it has backfired whenever it was tried. All they succeeded in doing was angering state legislators.
Not surprisingly, President Davis Gates’ election caused more than a few gasps and groans among rank-and-file legislators last week. She now leads the largest union in the Illinois AFL-CIO. And the Illinois Federation of Teachers has plenty of members in school districts outside Chicago, both suburban and downstate.
Legislators who looked at what was happening in Chicago with concern from afar could very well now see that happen in their own districts.
And even though the CTU has yet to directly challenge sitting legislators at the ballot boxes, that could change as the statewide union moves into a new era.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 9:06 am
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-If you believe in a millionaire’s tax, then pass it,-
It’s hard to argue with Mayor Johnson here. Progressives claim they want progressive taxes not regressive taxes. The voters have voted for politicians who espouse higher taxes on the rich: so what’s the hold up? How many votes does former Illinois resident Ken Griffen control in Chicago’s City Council or the Illinois state legislature?
Comment by Steve Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 9:15 am
“The voters have voted for politicians who espouse higher taxes on the rich: so what’s the hold up?”
This is a bad faith question but the answer is really simple and right in front of you: how did the wealth tax do when it was put directly to voters? That’s the gap the mayor, SDG, and everyone else who wants more money for schools has been unable to bridge, so now they’re on to pretending there are secret billions under the couch cushions at the capitol.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 9:25 am
- The voters have voted for politicians who espouse higher taxes on the rich: so what’s the hold up? -
The hold up is apparently your memory and ability to read: “despite the fact that a graduated income tax was rejected by a majority of Illinois voters in 2020.”
Comment by Excitable Boy Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 9:31 am
The call for more Chicago school funding would be a lot more believable if CPS were to consolidate / downsize / rightsize their schools to match their student population.
As to more aggressive lobbying, don’t be surprised if that gets pushback also … especially from downstate where just a faction of the money CPS wants would make a huge difference to the local districts.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 9:48 am
-The hold up is apparently your memory and ability to read-
I wasn’t aware that Illinois is controlled by politicians who want to cut spending or even spend money below the rate of inflation.
Comment by Steve Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 10:06 am
Are you really that dense, Steve? We had a statewide binding referendum to increase taxes on the rich in 2020. It failed to pass.
Legislators cannot do it on their own. It requires a change in the Illinois Constitution. What part if that dont you understand?
Comment by low level Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 10:14 am
“You either support public education or you do not”
$11 billion for K-12 education. Another $7 billion for K-12 education pensions. I’d say we support public education.
These statement are always made while completely ignoring the eixsting funding that provides the foundation for the entire system. If it’s not appreciated, I’ll take a refund.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 10:27 am
=The call for more Chicago school funding would be a lot more believable if CPS were to consolidate / downsize / rightsize their schools to match their student population.=
Amen brother.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 10:32 am
=Well, after another year of status quo funding increases, the federation’s leadership has apparently decided that diplomacy doesn’t work=
If the IFT SDG uses that same strident approach/language that the CTU SDG used, she will get a harsh reception in Springfield. She won’t have protection on high like she did with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Good luck, though.
Comment by Think again Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 10:35 am
Agree with RNUG. CPS keeping sparsely attended schools open can’t work long term.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 10:38 am
CTU tactics, class warfare and frankly antisemitism moved families to the suburbs. If she tries this at AFT, it will backfire. The Burbs and downstate are different animals.
AND if there is one hint of a statewide school strike as a tactic, that would also backfire.
Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 10:50 am
=CTU tactics, class warfare and frankly antisemitism moved families to the suburbs.=
People who moved to the suburbs “because of CTU” were always going to move to the suburbs.
The real reason people are moving to the suburbs en masse is because of the city’s affordability crisis, caused by decades of regressive taxes and fees and a refusal to pass progressive revenue options.
Comment by Sox Fan Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 10:58 am
“CTU tactics, class warfare and frankly antisemitism moved families to the suburbs.”
You have no evidence for any of these claims.
Ever thought of applying for a job writing op-eds for the Tribune?
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 11:05 am
-We had a statewide binding referendum-
One set back doesn’t stop the drive for higher taxes and spending in Illinois.
Comment by Steve Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 11:07 am
As a Dem, I love it when hardcore MAGA-types go to the polls in GOP primaries and nominate candidates who are far too conservative to win a general election. It’s almost like they let us pick our opponent. I can’t help but think proponents of privatizing education feel the same glee over the elevation of SDG to a statewide post. CTU/Mayor Johnson’s stunning unpopularity make her a poor spokesperson for the cause of promoting and funding public education.
Comment by Anon404 Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 11:13 am
=You have no evidence for any of these claims=
Correct - but she is on the record in regards audacity.
“The union’s demands, she said, “will cost $50 billion and 3 cents. And so what? That’s audacity. That’s Chicago.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/03/10/editorial-stacy-davis-gates-chicago-teachers-union/
Comment by Think again Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 11:20 am
Has the IFT been faithful in releasing their third party audits? If Davis Gates has her way with those, they won’t see the light of day. /s
To be honest, she comes across like a bully that is allowed by IL media to get away with a lot of hooey. She has been under fire for not releasing audits for five years. That’s just a little sus.
It’s no wonder she was elected Pres of IFT, it’s likely that very few participating in the election were aware of that pesky fact. For some reason she hasn’t been held accountable.
Comment by 40,000 ft Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 11:31 am
==doesn’t stop the drive for higher taxes and spending in Illinois==
Show us your budget. Those of you who constantly make this complaint rarely have concrete ideas. You simply like to complain.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 11:55 am
=You have no evidence for any of these claims.=
I think the class warfare claim may have some support.
Respectfully.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 12:07 pm
Steve…
“One (step) back”… doesn’t stop Chicago City Hall under Mayor Johnson from introducing State legislation or just even a non-binding citywide referendum to, at a minimum, prove their claim progressive taxes for schools or anything else have public support.
But we’ll probably get a dozen more fiery speeches demanding billions before they’ll do either. Unfortunately.
Comment by ChicagoBars Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 12:08 pm
For those who doubt my antisemitism claim, come talk to people who left the city for some of the suburbs close in (Skokie, Glenview and more). You’ll find that answer very easily.
Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Monday, Oct 27, 25 @ 12:13 pm