by Ellen McClennan, posted on Sunday, May 6th, 2012 at 10:06 pm
A group of about forty people from Northern Illinois Jobs With Justice gathered in the noon day sun outside Illinois Senator Mike Noland‘s office in Elgin on Friday, May 4th. The people wanted Senator Noland to hear their concerns about the lack of revenue and funding for Illinois teachers’ pensions. Senator Noland is one of four legislators appointed by Quinn to a task force to solve this issue. While earlier State Senator Mike Noland (D-Elgin) had informed the group he would not be present to respond to their rally, he unexpectedly showed up
John Laesch, from NIJWJ, announced the rally was about the group’s concern regarding the State’s lack of funding for teachers’ pensions, but Noland didn’t seem to understand until the end of the rally that the citizens standing before him had not been sent by the Illinois Education Association (IEA) and were instead concerned citizens and workers—about half of whom happened to be teachers.
“This is a workers’ issue. And we are concerned that our legislators have not funded our teachers’ pensions. We have a revenue problem here. This is a concern to all taxpayers and to all people who work for a living,” said Laesch.
by VideoNewsService, posted on Monday, April 2nd, 2012 at 1:31 pm
In a surprising development, REA negotiators working around the clock brokered a fair agreement with Rockford School District officials. As the strike entered its second day with thousands on the streets, Superintendent Robert Willis returned with new bargaining flexibility after the community learned that some board members had not been advised of details of previous teacher offers.
by VideoNewsService, posted on Monday, April 2nd, 2012 at 9:39 am
This is part of a VNS series that follows the teachers of Rockford through the last year of contract disputes, corporate reform and questionable administration tactics.
by VideoNewsService, posted on Saturday, March 31st, 2012 at 8:55 pm
While negotiators from both teams considered details of an eleventh hour of the eleventh month deal, teachers and concerned citizens gathered outside the district law office at Hinshaw & Culbertson. School Board members complained of not receiving timely notification regarding offers made by teachers during stalled negotiations
by VideoNewsService, posted on Saturday, March 31st, 2012 at 8:15 pm
This video shot on day one of THE ROCKFORD TEACHERS STRIKE shows the solidarity and support of the community for the teachers. Corporate reform has gripped this town for three years of brutal reprisals, firings, and school board shenanigans. One teacher’s courage is emblematic of the push back in bedrock USA! Thousands protested, and the board was forced to give a fair contract to teachers who have been 11 months without. Teachers speak as one to say, “We’re not gonna take it!”
This is a tremendous win against the corporate reform agenda which aims at destruction of teachers unions.
by VideoNewsService, posted on Thursday, March 29th, 2012 at 8:06 pm
The public are excluded from the process of administration of public funds for education. Without notice, public comment was reduced to 1 minute. Hundreds of people were kept outside. The Board acts in closed session to forward its privatization agenda without regard for students, teachers, parents or the future of Rockford. District for sale!
