Introduction to a New Era in Illinois Teachers’ Union
Fifteen years ago, Dan Montgomery and Karen Lewis set out on a road trip to Springfield determined to force changes to a bill that they saw as an attack on teacher unions, particularly the one in Chicago. Montgomery, an English teacher in Skokie, had just been elected president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Lewis had just taken over Chicago’s Local 1 — the largest chapter under the IFT’s umbrella. Montgomery said Lewis eyed him skeptically, worried he was a complacent union leader like the one she had just defeated in Chicago.
The Road to Transformation
On that road trip, they kept the conversation light. “I had opera CDs in my car, so that’s what we talked about,” Montgomery recalls. A decade and a half later, Montgomery has worked to connect the Chicago Teachers Union with the educators in the rest of the state, and he has helped thousands of teachers unionize. With the education landscape transformed in Chicago and Illinois, Montgomery is stepping down from the IFT to take a new job and CTU President Stacy Davis Gates is running to replace him.
The Election and Its Significance
At the IFT convention, delegates from locals across the state will elect a new leader. Davis Gates is running for the top spot as part of a slate that represents Southern Illinois, the northern suburbs of Chicago, and higher education workers. Davis Gates would remain CTU president. Montgomery said he does not know of other candidates, but Davis Gates’ slate could be challenged on the convention floor. Gates, an outspoken Black woman in charge of the progressive, aggressively activist CTU, is a lightning rod for conservatives — and some have already described her possible election as a power grab.
Historical Context and Leadership Model
But up until 20 years ago, the CTU president was typically also the IFT president. IFT represents more than 100,000 teachers, support staff, and public employees at state agencies, including the Illinois State Board of Education, the comptroller’s office, and the secretary of state’s office. Montgomery said Davis Gates is planning on distributing work and power among the IFT executive board in a decentralized leadership model.
Leadership and Experience
Niles Township Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery addresses Niles Township High School District 219 teachers and support staff in 2004. Montgomery later became president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Montgomery pointed out that he came from what he calls a militant local. An English teacher at Niles North High School, he’d been on strike six times and helped to negotiate strong contracts. As head of the IFT, he wasn’t about to sit down and become a complacent leader.
Achievements and Challenges
“I had big hopes,” he said. “I wanted to make the IFT more powerful and more active.” Montgomery won Lewis and her leadership team over. “I think they realized, ‘This guy’s for real,’” Montgomery said. “‘He is one of us, he believes in the power of the union, and that we should have ambitions as a union.’” As the CTU captured the national stage with its “common good” negotiating, Montgomery was in the background holding the statewide organization together. He said one of his biggest achievements was getting every local to see the value in what CTU was fighting for.
Conclusion
Under Montgomery, IFT has grown with 30 new locals and 8,000 more members. He was at the table as the state negotiated a new funding formula and he’s been at the side of many locals as they threatened to strike or went on strike. Montgomery said this is a challenging moment for teachers and other public service employees with the federal government pulling back funding and increasing immigration enforcement. Two locals are in tough contract fights. And many school districts have had to make cuts and are looking to the state to increase funding for education. While the IFT faces external threats, Montgomery said the organization has a lot of young leaders who are ready to seize the moment.
FAQs
- Q: Who is running to replace Dan Montgomery as the president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers?
A: CTU President Stacy Davis Gates is running to replace him. - Q: What is the significance of Stacy Davis Gates’ potential election?
A: Gates’ election could be seen as a power grab by some, but it also represents a continuation of the progressive and activist approach of the CTU. - Q: What is the decentralized leadership model that Davis Gates plans to implement?
A: The model involves distributing work and power among the IFT executive board, allowing for more shared leadership and decision-making. - Q: What are some of the challenges facing the IFT under new leadership?
A: The IFT faces external threats such as reduced federal funding and increased immigration enforcement, as well as internal challenges like contract fights and budget cuts. - Q: What is the future of the IFT under new leadership?
A: The organization has a lot of young leaders who are ready to seize the moment and continue the work of advancing the interests of teachers and public service employees in Illinois.
