Illinois Education Association Decatur Region issued the following announcement on Sept. 20.
NAPERVILLE – More than 100 IEA members will mobilize for public education on Saturday, Sept. 22 for a day of action ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.
“This election is incredibly important to us because the stakes have never been higher for our students and public education in Illinois,” said IEA President Kathi Griffin. “Our elected officials consistently use public education for their own interests. Our members are working collectively to ensure that candidates that support our students and public education through their actions, not just through their sound bites, are at the forefront of this election.”
The educator day of action is a grassroots action lead by IEA members. Leading up to the event, IEA members have made over 1,300 phone calls and knocked on over 100 doors in support of public education.
“We need to turn the tide for our students and public education,” said IEA Member Erica Bray-Parker. “These midterms are a chance for us to harness the power of collective voice to do just that. Together we can right the wrongs that have been committed against unions and public education.”
“I’m honored to have the support of IEA, and to be able to fight alongside them to defend and improve public education in Illinois” said Casten. “We need to celebrate and support educators in the Sixth District. The incumbent, Peter Roskam, instead celebrated the union busting Supreme Court decision of Janus v. AFSCME. We need to uplift and help educators and students – that’s what makes our schools and teachers great, and that’s why I am running for Congress.”
The event will kick-off at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 with keynote speeches from IEA President Kathi Griffin, former NEA President Reg Weaver and IEA recommended congressional candidates Sean Casten (D-CD 6), Lauren Underwood (D-CD 14) and state representative candidate Karina Villa (D-Illinois House 49). At approximately 3:00 p.m., IEA members will head out for several volunteer opportunities: canvassing in Naperville, phone banking in support of public education and writing postcards to encourage turnout for the midterm elections.
For more information, please go to the event website.
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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest education employee’s organization. IEA represents preK-12 teachers outside of the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.
Original source can be found here.
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