Wilmette Support Staff Union Approves Tentative Deal With District 39

WILMETTE, IL — Wilmette support staff have approved a tentative four-year contract agreement with Wilmette Public Schools District 39, ending months of negotiations between the Wilmette Support Staff Union and the District 39 Board of Education.

The union announced that members voted Tuesday to approve the deal reached last week. The agreement will take effect once the school board formally votes to approve it, which is expected this week.

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The proposed contract includes wage increases in each year of the agreement. Employee insurance costs will remain unchanged, and members will continue to receive paid holidays, according to the union.

"We are pleased to share that our District 39 Support Staff Union notified the Board of Education that its membership voted to ratify the Tentative Agreement for a new four-year contract," the district said in a statement.

The agreement follows what union leaders described as difficult bargaining over support staff pay and working conditions.

"Bargaining was difficult at times, and there were moments when an agreement seemed far away," said Michelle McGregor, transportation coordinator and WSSU president. "But our bargaining team and our members were resolved, and we are pleased that we were ultimately able to reach an agreement without having to strike. From the beginning, we were clear that our priority was aligning District 39 support staff pay with what our counterparts earn in neighboring districts. This agreement represents meaningful progress toward that goal."

The union said members see the agreement as one step toward addressing the district's ongoing recruitment and retention challenges among support staff. District 39 support staff provide classroom assistance, healthcare, transportation, meal services, and custodial support, according to the announcement.

The union said those workers help students receive both academic support and other services needed at school.

"We are hopeful that this agreement will help the District retain the outstanding support staff who are already here serving our students and families, while also making District 39 a more attractive place for new employees," said McGregor. "Our members care deeply about their work, their students, and this community. They deserve compensation that reflects the critical role they play in our schools."

McGregor also thanked teachers and parents who backed the union during negotiations.

"We want to thank our teacher colleagues and the many parents who supported us throughout this process," McGregor said. "They understood that our fight was never just about us. It was about making sure our students have access to the outstanding support and services they deserve from professionals who care deeply about their work and this community. Their encouragement meant so much."

The union said it now awaits the board's formal vote on Nov. 16 and plans to continue working under the new agreement if it is approved.