For Immediate Release

December 16, 2014

Contact:
Kenzo Shibata/Illinois Federation of Teachers
kshibata@ift-aft.org
Mobile - 312-296-0124
Kishwaukee College Administrators Walk Away from Negotiations with Union
Nine months into talks, school officials halt process moving both sides closer to strike
MALTA, IL Tonight, after both sides met face-to-face for only thirty minutes of a scheduled two
hour negotiating session, Kishwaukee College administrators gave the Union negotiating team its
latest proposal and walked away from the bargaining table. Union negotiators characterize this move
as representative of the bad faith the College has engaged in from the beginning of talks. The Union
has been committed to moving talks forward with as little disruption to the school year as possible,
but can only move bargaining forward with the cooperation of management.
Were truly disappointed that the Kishwaukee College administrators walked away from the table
tonight, said Union negotiator Jennifer Jossendal . We were willing to meet as late as necessary to
hammer out a deal, but the administration had no plans to take tonights talks seriously, which they
demonstrated with their pre-printed final offer they presented us forty-five minutes into tonights
session. We had an agreement that we would negotiate at the table -- not in the media -- but the
administration sent out a press release filled with half-truths before we even had time to read their
latest offer.
Despite the attacks made by the administration mischaracterizing the nature of the talks, the Union
team has vowed to continue work towards a resolution and preventing a strike.
We are dedicated to the students we serve, and we expect the College administration to honor that
dedication by negotiating in good faith," said Kishwaukee Education Association President Matt
Read. In spite of tonights roadblock, were still hopeful that a resolution can be made and life can
go back to normal for our students without a work stoppage.
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The Kishwaukee College Education Association (KCEA) represents 81 educators at Kishwaukee
College. The KCEA is affiliated with the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the American
Federation of Teachers.
Kenzo Shibata | Media Director
Illinois Federation of Teachers
500 Oakmont Lane, Westmont, IL 60559
T: (630) 468-4080 | E: kshibata@ift-aft.org
"Education is the most important weapon which you can use to change the world."
- Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)