BENEFITS
The members of the AFT 943 have many opportunities to benefit from their union membership, including benefits through our affiliation with the AFT, the IFT, and other organizations – such as the Chicago Federation of Labor.
Experienced Staff
AFT Local 943 staff are here to help you build power at your workplace, so that you and your coworkers can win the respect you deserve.
AFT Local 943 provides experienced, professional assistance in grievances, job evaluations, arbitrations, and other work-related problems.
Legal Services
AFT Local 943 provides qualified lawyers to handle work-related injury cases and attorneys to handle labor board cases and arbitrations.
Communications
AFT Local 943 keeps union members up to date through our website and social media channels.
The IFT provides you with support at your workplace, but it also offers you and your family money savings on high-quality consumer benefits and services.
AFT Member Benefits give you a rich array of discounts, services and benefits that go beyond the workplace. Many of these programs are available to family members, too.
JOP OPPORTUNITIES
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are available every year for both Local 943 members and/or their dependents. Listed below are links to pages with more information about these scholarships.
AFT Local 943 Scholarship* -- Deadline April 3, 2025 CLOSED
Every year the Southwest Suburban Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 943 awards two scholarships in the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) each.
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2025 Local 943 winners!​​​​​
Reavis High School graduate, Kaylie Gilbert, has been named the recipient of our Local 943 scholarship to support her pursuit of a career in education at the University of Illinois. Kaylie's selection for this scholarship is particularly significant given her strong family ties to the labor movement. She comes from a long line of dedicated union members, including her mother, a member of Local 943 from High Point School, and her grandfather and great-grandfather, who were members of Operating Engineer Local 399. This legacy of union involvement undoubtedly makes her family incredibly proud as she continues this tradition through her own aspirations. Her goal of becoming a high school English teacher and her commitment to advocating for fairness, diversity, and opportunity align closely with the foundational principles of Local 943. Her dedication to cultivating critical thinking skills in her future students is recognized as a valuable contribution to education. This scholarship represents a well-deserved acknowledgment of Kaylie's dedication and ambition, and it will play a vital role in helping her achieve her dream of creating an inclusive classroom environment where all students feel empowered and respected.
Congratulations to Carl Sandburg High School Graduate Nate McGee! He has been chosen as the recipient of Local 943’s scholarship. Nate has a clear set of goals and aspirations driven by his personal experiences and observations of community, advocacy, and resilience. His goal is to become an anthropologist specializing in how people adapt to environmental changes, with a focus on assisting communities impacted by disasters such as wildfires and floods. Nate's aspirations are deeply rooted in his upbringing and personal challenges. Witnessing his father, a union president, advocate for colleagues during COVID-19 instilled in him the importance of advocacy and perseverance. His own struggles in school highlighted the critical role of supportive educators and the power of having someone "in your corner," an experience he directly links to the protections afforded by teacher unions. These experiences cultivated in him a belief in the strength of collective action and the importance of ensuring no one is left behind. McGee intends to apply the values he admires in unions—fairness, equity, and collaboration—to his anthropological work. He aims to use his studies to develop solutions that incorporate diverse voices and help communities adapt to and recover from challenges, ultimately building a more resilient future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.