Teachers unions threaten to strike, then use that leverage in secret negotiations. Parents, taxpayers don’t know the contract’s price until it’s too late.
Just as students should not be used as pawns in negotiations, taxpayers and parents should not be left in the dark on what a new teachers contract promises or will cost.
Secret, backdoor dealmaking between governing bodies and government-worker unions often harms taxpayers. They must pay for whatever deal comes out of the negotiations.
At least four teachers unions in Illinois have threatened to strike since the beginning of the current 2025 school year. Only two of the four contracts that were ratified and approved have been released to the public.
Naperville Unit Education Association, an Illinois Education Association affiliate, ratified, approved and published a new contract through 2029.
Valley View Council Local 604, an Illinois Federation of Teachers affiliate, avoided a strike with a tentative agreement that was struck down by members. The second tentative agreement through 2029 has been ratified, approved and published.
Two other teachers unions affiliated with the IFT – District 146 Educators Council and American Federation of Teachers Local 817 – have avoided strikes as tentative agreements were reached before teachers walked out. Details of the ratified and approved contracts have not been published.
Students and taxpayers could be damaged by contracts ratified between local teachers unions and school districts under pressure from strike threats. The public doesn’t know about the threats until it’s too late to voice concerns.
Keeping the negotiations and contracts hidden until finalized is not uncommon or new. Across the state, negotiations with government-worker unions take place in secret, and contract provisions only come to light when it is too late for taxpayers to do anything about it.
Threats and secrecy diminish trust and transparency among teachers unions and district constituents. Neighboring states don’t give teachers the ability to strike, and Illinois shouldn’t, either.
