IEA Education Support Professional Council

Support staff are typically the first to arrive at schools/campuses as they unlock doors and turn on lights. They are some of the first people to greet students when they arrive, who give students the academic support they need to become successful scholars, who carefully assist with students’ health and nutritional needs and see to their safety throughout the day. Their work is essential.
So it’s time we start treating them that way!

Elected representatives from across the state come together monthly to drive the goals of our union. The July Board of Directors meeting is held during Summer Leadership at Illinois State University.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone who is attending Summer Leadership as we continue to grow as leaders and educators.

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

What you do matters! You make a difference in the lives of the students you serve.

Waiting on an update

Education Support Professionals are exceptional at making adjustments…and making lemonade out of lemons.

We respect the bargaining process. I’m sure an agreement will come soon.

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.

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.

I can’t wait to see you there!

The National Education Association Representative Assembly is being held in Philadelphia, PA, July 4-7th, with meetings starting on the 3rd. If you are traveling please be safe and I hope to see you there.

If you have a rESPect shirt, please bring it and wear it proudly, I know I will be!