The Old Town Teachers Organization is a member of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Our union local is 909. The Illinois Federation of teachers is the union that covers charter, Montessori, private, and Chicago public schools. But OTTO is not an outside organization or a third party; it is a democratic organization run by its members who make decisions and set direction on our own behalf.
In January of 2019 the OTSFM teachers voted to form the OTTO – Local 909. The vote was a resounding 141 in favor to 7 against.
Teachers that are currently teaching and receive a paycheck. If you are not teaching this session but will teach in an upcoming session, you can be in the union.
The OTTO Steering Committee, an body elected to lead OTTO, met with representatives of IFT and felt that it was the right union for OTTO.
Specifically, the Illinois Federation of Teachers is comprised of 103,000 dedicated education and public service professionals from cities and towns of every size across Illinois. IFT is a well-respected, highly-regarded, experienced union of teachers that provides autonomy for each unit they represent. When we speak and act collectively, we have a powerful voice in our workplaces, our communities, and in Springfield to affect change. Over many years, the collective action of union members has had a substantial impact on wages, benefits, equality, and workplace protections. In fact, unions have played a pivotal role in securing important gains that benefit everyone, though we may take them for granted. Simply put, a union is a group of colleagues who come together to advance their common interests with collective power.
Think of our union affiliation as concentric circles. OTTO is a “local union.” That is the innermost circle. The next circle out is the IFT. IFT is the statewide organization that unites local unions across the state to leverage their collective power to pass pro-worker, pro-student, pro-public education legislation at the state level. The next circle out is the American Federation of Teachers. The AFT is the national organization that unites teachers across the nation. The AFT has had great success in fighting for more public funding for schools and early childhood education. OTTO, IFT, and AFT are affiliated. The outer circles are the AFL-CIO, of which the AFT is a member, and the broader global labor movement, seeking to improve working conditions and unite workers across the globe.
Dues are assessed on a graduated system based on the amount of income from OTS; they are broken down from full dues, to 1⁄2 dues. 1⁄4 dues and finally 1/8 dues. OTTO members vote on the amount of dues that will be used locally.
No, you will pay a per capita dues to IFT and AFT to offset expenses for the services that they both provide.
No, it is illegal for dues to go to any political causes or campaigns. However, you will have an option to donate to a C.O.P.E. (Committee on Political Education) fund. This fund allows people to individually put in money to benefit pro-worker candidates and issues.
As a union, we legally gain rights that previously we did not have, and a union gives us a voice!