Union in Action 2025 In 2025, educators reminded us that Illinois has one of the largest economies in the world, yet our students are learning in districts that the Governor and lawmakers admit are underfunded. Empty libraries. Overcrowded counseling caseloads. Special education and bilingual needs left unmet because Governor Pritzker and the Democratic supermajority have refused to fully fund the Evidence-Based Funding formula they promised to deliver by 2027. Only 36% of districts are adequate

Union in Action 2025 In 2025, Chicago educators, families, and neighbors showed what real safety looks like: collective care, rapid response, and community defense. When ICE appeared outside of Funston Elementary school, educators didn’t freeze. They organized. Teachers activated safety chats. Neighbors mobilized. Over 100 community members created safe passage so students could get home safely. No child was left alone. No family was isolated. No one faced state-sanctioned violence by themselves

Union in Action 2025 In the middle of last year’s city budget debate, when the Corporate Caucus tried to balance the city’s books on the backs of working families, our movement did what Chicago always does: we fought for people over profit. We called out what was happening in City Hall — ultra-wealthy corporations skipping their bills, fees and fines piling up on working-class families, and youth jobs put on the chopping block instead of taxing the richest companies. Budgets are moral documents