Illinois Federation of Teachers promises to 'Power Forward' throughout convention in Chicago
The Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), the Illinois state unit of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) held its convention just outside Chicago in Rosemont, Illinois, over the weekend of October 19 - 21, 2013. The convention featured workshops on a large array of topics, speeches by local, state, national and international figures, and the approval of at least 36 resolutions which take the union in a decisive direction heading into the 2013-2014 school year and next years convention of the American Federation of Teachers (July, Los Angeles).
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis is also Executive Vice President of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Substance photo by Kati Gilson.The convention was chaired by President Dan Montgomery, who was re-elected without opposition. More than 370 delegates were seated, including 150 from the Chicago Teachers Union (seven Substance staff members, including this reporter, are delegates from the CTU).
Reports on the workshops and resolutions to the convention will be published here at substancenews.net under IFT REPORT during the coming week as facts are checked out and stories highlighted.