Majority of IFT spending goes to Chicago – Illinois Policy

Illinois teachers spend hundreds of dollars a year in union dues, but most of that money doesn’t stay with their local bargaining units. Instead, their money flows up the chain to the state and national affiliates, such as the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers. And in 2021, IFT spent 190 times more money on Chicago-area affiliates than it did on affiliates south of Interstate 80. In fact, IFT reported directing money to only one affiliate south of I-80.