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AFT LOCAL 943

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Affiliations

AFT Local 943 is The Southwest Suburban Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 943 is an affiliate of the AFT, the IFT, the Illinois AFL-CIO, and the Chicago Federation of Labor. Chartered in 1946, AFT Local 943 unites 3,272 teachers, school related personnel (PSRPs), and employees in Southwest Suburban Cook County, Illinois as well as 381 retirees, into a federated union comprised of dedicated members who articulate the needs, desires, and legitimate rights of our educational community.

AFT LOCAL 943 OFFICERS

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Elaine Barlos
President

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Alfreida Jamison
Treasurer

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Catrina Niven
Secretary

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Bob Goldsbury
Vice President of Communications & Public Relations

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Andrew Weber
Vice President of
Political Action

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Elaine Bernal
Vice President of Educational & Professional Issues

AFT LOCAL 943 COUNCILS

Council
District
Leader(s)
Willow Springs Council
108
Ann Musto
Wentworth Wilson Paraprofessionals
155
Valerie Wilhoite
Wentworth Wilson Council
155
Julie Molony-Stephan
Thornton Fractional Support Staff Council
215
James Neely - Interim
Southwest Special Education Fed Council
Karyn Kempke
Sahs Council
110
Jackie Sobczak & Christine Wendt
Ridgeland Council
122
Alison Gunner
Retiree Council
Donna Rehm
Reavis Support Staff Council
220
Alice Balandis
Posen Robbins Teachers Council
143-1/2
Bradley Radzevich-Mueller
Patton Fed of Teachers Council
133
Sabrina Hawthorne
Orland Council of Educators
135
Catrina Niven
OLCHS Teachers Union
229
Kevin Walery
Oak Lawn - Hometown
123
Elaine Bernal & Andrew Weber
Lincoln Council
156
Tavaris Kenny
Hoover Schrum Council
157
Barbara Schwartz-Martinez
Hazel Crest Council
152-1/2
Cynthia Kebr
Evergreen Park Council
124
Allison Grazevich & Leslie Mannion
Burbank Council
111
Dawn Warunek
Alsip PSRPs
126
Lisa Lopez
Alsip Teachers
126
Kelly Law & Rita McDermott

Retiree Council

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WHY JOIN?

The IFT/Local 943 Retiree Council/Northern Illinois Retiree Council Provides:

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  • Informational workshops and presentations

  • Group rates at Drury Lane musicals

  • Continued Union membership

  • IFT/AFT membership benefits and discounts

  • Local 943 and IFT publications

  • Legislative/Pension updates

  • Low $20 annual fee

Membership term: Sept. 1, 2024-August 31, 2025

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IFT LOCAL 943 RETIREE
CONSTITUENCY COUNCIL

Donna Rehm - President

Sue Mirabella - Vice President

Judy Spirakes - Secretary

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KEEP YOUR INFO CURRENT

As Members, be sure to update your address and email information. Most correspondence from Local 943 and the Retiree Council will be by email.

Send updates to Donna Rehm at DRehm@comcast.net

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RESOURCES

Retiring Wisely IFT -

Your retirement planning resource

IFT Retiree Division 

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SPRING MEETING of Local 943’s Retiree Council

Thursday April 10, 2025, 10:00 a.m. at the Local 943 office 
 

 AFT LOCAL 943
DEFENSE COMMITTEE

Alfreida Jamison, Chairperson

 

  • Elaine Barlos

  • Sue Benigni

  • Tina Thauer

  • Elaine Bernal

AFT LOCAL 943 STAFF

  • Charles Harper
    IFT Field Service Director

  • Spencer Saal
    IFT Field Service Director

  • Karen O'Dea
    IFT Support Staff

  • Sandra Quero
    Website Manager

AFT LOCAL 943 Members
Serving IFT Constituency Councils

IFT Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel (PSRP) Constituency Council
Angelita Alvarez, Lourdes Angel and Valerie Wilhoite

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IFT Next Generation Constituency Council
Kate Kosner and Andrew Weber

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IFT PreK-12 Constituency Council
Leisl Brown and Jill Decker-Doorn

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IFT Retirees Constituency Council
Elaine Barlos, Donna Rehm and Judy Spirakes

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IFT Special Education Constituency Council
Elaine Bernal and Ashley Isherwood

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IFT Racial and Social Justice Constituency Council
Elaine Barlos and Amber Jackson

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IFT Union Leadership Developement Constituency Council
Jill Decker-Doorn

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