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January 9, 2010                                     
PRESS RELEASE                   
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
Contact: Brian McDaniel                               
Phone: 630-319-0715
Email: brian.mcdaniel@comcast.net

Andrzejewski Calls for Statewide Ban on Teacher Strikes in Illinois
Endorses Illinois Association of School Board's Policy Position
 
Elmhurst- Today, Adam Andrzejewski, Republican candidate for Governor, called on each of his 6 opponents for the Republican nomination for Governor to join him in supporting a new law to prohibit teacher strikes in Illinois. Support for this legislation was voted for by a majority of delegates to the November 21st Illinois Association of School Boards conference.  Over 12,400 school leaders from all over Illinois attended, representing approximately 375 school districts.
 
"Just as firefighters and police are not allowed to strike, due to the important nature of their work, we cannot allow Illinois' communities to be torn apart over a labor dispute," Andrzejewski said. "Illinois children should not have their education interrupted by a labor dispute." Thirty-seven states already prohibit teacher strikes; thirty-three of those states have strict prohibitions on teacher strikes, resulting in a total ban.
 
Andrzejewski's father, John, taught Civics and Government in the public schools for 38 years. All five of Andrzejewski's sisters earned teaching degrees and have taught for at least part of their professional careers. "I have great admiration and respect for the many good, hard-working teachers in our Illinois schools. I do believe, however, that striking is an extreme act that basically uses children as bargaining chips in contract negotiations at the expense of their education.  The current/recent situation in the Ottawa community is an example of this," Andrzejewski concluded.