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The
report was produced by the Illinois Policy Institute and looked
into how the Illinois Federation of Teachers has been spending
union dues from teachers across the state.
"Illinois teachers spend hundreds of dollars a year in union
dues, but most of that money doesn’t stay with their local
bargaining units," the report by Illinois Policy's Mailee Smith
opens. "Instead, their money flows up the chain to the state and
national affiliates, such as the Illinois Federation of Teachers
and the American Federation of Teachers."
The report shows a vast difference in funding between schools
north and south of Interstate 80, Smith said.
"In the latest report, it shows that the IFT spent 190 times
more on Chicago area teachers than it did on teachers located
south of Interstate 80," Smith said.
Smith said the funding numbers show no concern for the IFTs
down-state teachers.
"The Chicago numbers compared to the downstate numbers last year
demonstrates that the IFT is not considering the needs of its
downstate members," Smith said.
The report shows that IFT directed more than $4.1 million to its
affiliates in 2021, but more than $3.4 million of that went to
affiliates in Chicago and its suburbs.
Just $18,164 went to affiliates along or south of I-80, and that
entire sum went to just one affiliate in the city of Quincy.
AFT's federal report shows it spent over $241.7 million in 2021.
However, less than 31% of that was on representing workers in
their union.
The Illinois Teachers Federation has seen a drop in its
membership since 2017 by 18 percent.
Andrew Hensel has years of experience as a reporter
and pre-game host for the Joliet Slammers, and as a producer for the
Windy City Bulls. A graduate of Iowa Wesleyan University and
Illinois Media School, Andrew lives in the south suburbs of Chicago.
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