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This Wednesday legislators are bringing our bill, HB2784, on raising the ESP minimum wage up for a vote. Create a witness slip to show support and help push this forward.

Last night the rESPect Legislative Team had a very informative meeting regarding creating witness slips to support legislation. The IEA Lobbyists Unique Mickens and ShiAnne Shively walked us through step-by-step directions for creating a “Witness Slip” on the Illinois General Assembly website. The attached video and PowerPoint show’s how you can help us support House Bill 2784. Please share this with your members. This is IEA’s Legislation that would set a minimum ESP hourly rate at $20 for the 2023-24 school year, $21 for the 2024-25 school year and $22 for the 2025-26 school year.

Click here – Click Create Witness Slip, Scroll to HB 2784, click the pencil on the right. Review attachments for additional supports to complete.

Need your help and support now

HB2784 will be in committee on Wednesday, March 8th. In order to show a LOT of interest in this bill we need YOUR help TODAY or by the end of session TOMORROW. It was mentioned in the meeting that this is normal to collect witness slips a couple days before the proposal.

You can copy the recording information below and share with others

https://ieanea-org.zoom.us/rec/share/_TvKeRr5punx71gEVXEyzNs65yWOpPKm_tsqF6a97dBU_YsWnUcEzeVbFtYtdLtj.5tixXrC3y6Phbopi
Passcode: 1.mCtH8Q

Urgent Action Needed!

This Wednesday, legislators are bringing the IEA’s bill, HB2784, up for a vote in House Commerce & Labor Committee. We need YOUR help to get this bill passed! Join IEA lobbyist Unique Mickens for a training on how to fill out witness slips and support this critical legislation.

Congratulations to three new Education Support Professional locals!

• Red Bud Education Support Professionals (Region 4)
• Minooka Education Association (Region 51)
• Brussels Support Staff Association (Region 6)

Congratulations to a growing local!

• SPEED Education Support Association (Region 55), is now more than 120 members strong!

When was the last time you visited the Education Support Professional page on the IEA website?

This site has so many resources and so much information to support you and your local…from:

• Organizing Toolkit
• Privatization/Subcontracting and the Law
• Professional Development
• ESP Bargaining Resources
• ESP Star and ESP of the Year awards
• My favorites…connecting you with the ESP Council and rESPect Campaign
• SO MUCH MORE!!

Spring officially begins on March 20th

Happy Friday!!!!

Wow, this has been a crazy, but amazing week! 4 rESPect presentations (3 in-person and 1 virtual). I love advocating for education support professionals. It’s time we all get rESPect!

Join today

If you would like a member from the rESPect Campaign to come to your region or local association and present on rESPect, please contact, Dave Vitoff at dave.vitoff@ieanea.org

With teacher shortages all over the state and nation, education support professionals have been stepping in to help fill the gap yet again. This time as we step up it may have negative affects on our future by affecting our pensions. Join the webinar this Saturday to learn how and what we’re doing about it.

Time/Virtual

Saturday, February 25

10 – 11am CST

Join from anywhere

I can not express how important it is for ALL IEA educational support professionals to receive this newsletter. You should be receiving it in your email inbox regularly. It is filled with important information, including celebrations, trainings, updates, and so much more. Do you ever wonder what your union does for you? This is a great place to see. If you aren’t getting your ESP Insider, please check your spam folder. Then contact IEA Connect to further assist you. It could be as simple as updating your email address in their system.

I try to share as much as I can on this site…but truth is, sometimes I may miss something and I do NOT want you to miss out on ANYTHING!

We would love to hear from you and the exciting things you do in your local. Let’s celebrate your members/local accomplishments. If you would like to post something in the Insider please send it to Arlene.Criglar@ieanea.org .

We have three webinars scheduled specifically for education support professionals. Join us as we discuss important issues, learn how we are advocating for members, and celebrate the amazing things that you do every day. Click the links below to register.

• Scheduling ESP Council virtual meeting/Roundtables:
  • February 25, 2023 RESPECT Campaign/Sub Certification and the impact on IMRF
    • https://www.mobilize.us/ieanea/event/550175/
  • April 3 IEA RA Recap/RESPECT Campaign
    • https://www.mobilize.us/ieanea/event/550178/
  • May 6, 2023 10am-11am Respect Campaign/ESP Celebrations
    • https://www.mobilize.us/ieanea/event/550181/
• Upcoming council meetings
  • April 15, 2023 – Springfield PDC 
  • June 3, 2023 – Naperville Office

RESPECT | Raising Education Support Professionals by Elevating Careers Together is a statewide effort by ESPs, with the support of IEA staff, to improve working conditions by focusing on four areas:

Wages – A minimum salary, fair substitute teaching compensation and unemployment insurance

Health insurance – Affordable health insurance for the currently employed and the retired

Pensions – Making the Tier 2 pension system equitable for all education employees

Retention, recruitment and job duties – Tuition reimbursement, Grow Your Own Teacher from ESP to certified, paid family leave, licensing fees relief, quality job-related professional development, “hold harmless” language for assigned duties, appropriate access to IEPs and suitable job duties for ESPs.