The Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) represents approximately 90,000 men and women across the state of Illinois. IFT members include elementary and secondary teachers, school-related personnel and support staff teaching assistants, clerks, secretaries and bus drivers, higher education faculty and staff, and public employees.
The IFT is an AFL-CIO affiliated union and a state federation of the American Federation of Teachers, an organization of more than 1.3 million education professionals, public employees and health professionals headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Since its beginnings in 1936, the IFT and its affiliated locals have had one common goal: to improve public education and public services for Illinois students and citizens. The Illinois Federation of Teachers continually seeks ways to improve public education, through innovative programs. Recognizing the need for continued training for union and professional development, delegates to the 2001 IFT convention voted to establish Union Professional Development centers to assist members to improve both their professional and union leadership skills, no matter what their job classification.