Illinois unions celebrate wins, note concerns in recently ended legislative session – St. Louis/Southern Illinois Labor Tribune

The Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) applauded increases of $75 million for early childhood education, $350 million in direct school funding, and more investment in teacher recruitment and retention. However, President Dan Montgomery also noted that the “meager increase” in funding for higher education. “A two-percent increase to our state universities is not good enough, however,” he said. “Funding for our state universities has been decimated over the past two decades and it shows.”