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Words From Your Newly Elected President

First I would like to thank the membership for electing me your Illinois Federation of Teachers, Local 4408, IL Federation of Public Employees President.

For those who don't know me I have been actively representing and lobbying for you for the past 16 years. I started my union experience as a steward for the RC-45 Bargaining Unit 1991. I was elected as a RC-45 Vice-President to the IL Federation of Teachers Local 4408 Representative Assembly in 1993 and  became involved in contract negotiations at that  time as part of the master contract bargaining team. In 2001, I became a Vice-President on the Executive Board of the Illinois Federation of Teachers representing public employees within the IFT.   In 2002 I became the Chairman of the Organizing/Locals/Elections Committee of Illinois Federation of Teachers Union in which I still chair today. In 2007 I was appointed by the IFT President to chair the Illinois Federation Public Employees Constituency Council and I was also appointed at that time to the American Federation of Teachers Public Employee Council in Washington DC.

In taking over the presidents office I find the State of Illinois in the worst financial condition in the nation with a pension debt that surpasses any other state. In this terrible  financial climate the State of Illinois has proposed to the union the opening of contracts, layoffs and furlough days for our Local 4408 members. I have been in negotiations with CMS along with other 4408 leaders actively trying to solve these financial problems without any of our 4408 members being harmed. 

Last Friday and this weekend  I attended interviews in Springfield with candidates from Illinois for the US Senate and Governor Offices.  At the interviews I tried to convey how important your quality services are to the tax payers of Illinois and that you should not be harmed in anyway.  I believe after talking to the candidates they understood the message and agreed they would do everything in their power to see that no one is harmed.  Most of the gubernatorial candidates spoke of a tax increase to solve the budget problems that directly fund your employment under the governors office and the constitutional offices.  In the weeks and months before the February primary and November of 2010 elections we will be keeping a close watch on the candidates and will be asking you to support the candidates who will address your concerns.

In closing  I would like to thank you for electing me as your president and hopefully we together can prosper in the years to come.

In Unity,

Tom Kosowski