No Strike For Joliet West, Joliet Central Staff: New 3-Year Agreement Goes To School Board Now

The following edited press release is from Amy Excell, media director for the Illinois Federal of Teachers.

JOLIET, IL — After averting a potential strike by reaching a tentative agreement last week with the Joliet Township High School District 204 school board, the 108 members of the Joliet Township High School Paraprofessional Council of AFT Local 604 voted Thursday afternoon to approve that agreement.

Ninety-five members cast ballots, with a strong majority voting to ratify the three-year deal.

"By winning and ratifying this new agreement, our members have made big strides toward the living wage we deserve and the support our students need to learn and be safe at school," announced Council President Sarah McLaurin, an instructional paraprofessional at Joliet Central.

Council members serve as either instructional paraprofessionals or security personnel, essential roles at Joliet’s two public high schools. Members work directly with students to enhance academic success, particularly for special needs students, and ensure the physical safety of students and school buildings.

“It shouldn’t take the threat of a strike to get a response to our concerns,” said Council Vice President LaMellis McCormick, a security officer at the district administrative office and Joliet West. “I’m so proud of our members for staying strong and refusing to back down until we won an agreement that better serves our students and better aligns our pay with comparable employees in nearby districts.”

“We are grateful to our students, families, and teacher colleagues who supported us throughout this fight,” added McLaurin. “You understood from the start that we were not only fighting for improved pay to put food on the table for our families, but to reverse the excessive job turnover rate in our district that hurts students. When our members aren’t able to have an adequate income, we don’t have the retention that allows for stable relationships for students with the school staff they rely on. We believe this agreement is a big win for them too.”

The District 204 school board is expected to vote on the agreement at its December meeting.

Once approved, it will take effect immediately and will be retroactive to July 1, the date the previous contract expired.

Details of the agreement will be released when it takes effect.