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It’s Time To Celebrate!

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New Local Growth Announcement

Education Support Services Organization (Elgin U-46) (Region 63)

Additional support staff at Elgin SD U-46 have organized to fight for better pay and working conditions. The Education Support Services Organization now includes employees in the positions of Auditorium Manager and Auditorium Manager Tech! Congratulations U-46 Education Support Services Organization!

Assisting with this successful effort were:

  • Timothy Sheahan, ESSO President
  • Cathy Wyzykowski, Region 63 UniServ Director
  • Carri Bonine, UniServ Associate
  • Ursula Gruber, IEA Organizer
  • Colin Burns, IEA Associate General Counsel
  • Stephanie Winston, IEA Paralegal
  • Amanda Plebanski, IEA Legal Services Secretary

New Local Growth Announcement!

Oak Grove Education Association (Region 60)

In a campaign started 2 years ago, support staff at Oak Grove SD 68 Green Oaks have organized to fight for better pay and working conditions. The newly mixed unit of the Oak Grove Education Association now includes 32 new employees in the positions of Secretaries, Maintenance, Technology, Paraeducators, and Extended Day Program Assistants! Congratulations Oak Grove Education Association!

Assisting with this successful effort were:

  • Erin Smith, OGEA President
  • Melissa Deboor, Region 60 UniServ Director
  • Ursula Gruber, IEA Organizer
  • Deniece Hopkins, IEA Organizer
  • Sarah Ludford, UniServ Associate
  • Rachel Clark, IEA Associate General Counsel
  • Stephanie Winston, IEA Paralegal
  • Patrick Armstrong, IEA Legal Services Secretary
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National Education Association Representative Assembly held in Philadelphia

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Day 1

Each summer, nearly 7,000 educators gather to discuss the crucial issues influencing public education, establish National Education Association policies, and propose new business items for the upcoming year. These delegates represent the 3 million members of the NEA across the nation.

The days are long…about 12 hours today…but the work is essential! Starting early with a steering meeting and Illinois caucus discussions and debates, then heading to the main hall where delegates from across the country discussed and voted on NEA Resolution and Constitutional amendments. We then started on New Business Items (NBIs) to determine the direction of this next year. Some of the best time is making new friends and seeing old ones.

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Undo Tier 2 Informational Webinar or Union Members

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We all know that fixing Tier 2 pensions won’t happen overnight. This is a problem that has been growing for years. But we also know that it is critically important for all of us to understand the causes and consequences of the broken Tier 2 system as we fight for changes.

That’s why we are holding an informational webinar for union members to better understand the recent history of Illinois public employee pensions, the key differences between Tier 1 and Tier 2, and the path to fixing the broken Tier 2 system. This webinar is open to active or retired union members on Tier 1 or Tier 2 pension plans.

Please join us on July 16 at 6 p.m.
for our We Are One Illinois Tier 2 webinar.

Register here
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Wow, did you know? I just learned of another member benefit!

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Benefit Highlight – CustomGuide Interactive Training Courses (I’ll definitely be checking these out!)

Did you know IEA members and staff have access to the interactive online CustomGuide training library for free? Brush up your Google Skills with the Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Forms, and Google Meet courses!

Self-register for an account then login to access these courses and more. Questions? Reach out to Kelsey.Harms@ieanea.org P.S. I have to say, Kelsey is A M A Z I N G!!

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What is Juneteenth? Why do we celebrate?

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Click to learn more

The First Juneteenth

On June 19, 1865, nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln emancipated enslaved Africans in America, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas with news of freedom. More than 250,000 African Americans embraced freedom by executive decree in what became known as Juneteenth or Freedom Day. With the principles of self-determination, citizenship, and democracy magnifying their hopes and dreams, those Texans held fast to the promise of true liberty for all.

“The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”Gordon Granger

Union General, June 19, 1865

Juneteenth Today

In 2021, Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday, opening it to symbolic and global interpretation and providing a better understanding of the evolution of our nation and its people. Juneteenth celebrations then, like now, recognize the ongoing fight for human rights and equality and are commemorated through family cookouts, faith services, musical performances and storytelling. Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American resilience and achievement while aiding in the preservation of those historical narratives that promoted racial and personal advancement since Freedom Day.