While Pritzker talks state worker furloughs, New York delays raises

By Mailee Smith

01/14/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker could delay the $313 million in raises state workers have yet to receive, but instead he’s considering taking $75 million from their paychecks and leaving taxpayers without their services.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, deficit, government unions, JB Pritzker

Bill would give more power to CTU in fight to prevent school reopening

By Mailee Smith

01/11/2021

Illinois labor laws prevent the Chicago Teachers Union from going on strike to protest the reopening of school buildings. But the union is winning a push for legislation that places students’ return to school in jeopardy.

TAGS: COVID-19, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike

Chicago teachers refusing to return to school face discipline, up to firing

By Mailee Smith

01/08/2021

The Chicago Teachers Union is encouraging Chicago Public School teachers to “take action” against the school district, but the union’s agenda risks teachers’ jobs without backing by science or law.

TAGS: COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Government unions invested $10M in Madigan, but could that end in 2021?

By Ann Miller

12/23/2020

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has funded a lot of campaigns – and his legal defense – with money from government unions. Even if unions still back him in the New Year, members have options.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, corruption, government unions, Mike Madigan, SEIU: Service Employees International Union, teachers

CTU attempted to bully pension fund into hiring Madigan lobbyists

By Ben Szalinski

10/07/2020

Madigan already faced similar scandals alleging he asked powerful corporations to hire people at his recommendation.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, lobbying, Mike Madigan

7 misleading progressive tax claims public unions are telling Illinois members

By Mailee Smith

09/30/2020

Government unions and their PACs have spent more than $1 million pushing the progressive tax on the Nov. 3 ballot – and are using misleading information.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, fair tax, IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, progressive tax, SEIU: Service Employees International Union, Vote Yes for Fair Tax

CTU supports use of mock guillotine, ‘wherever’ it was headed

By Mailee Smith

08/31/2020

CTU members who don’t support the union’s violent rhetoric have another option: they can opt out of the union. But they must do so today if they want to stop paying dues this school year.

TAGS: Amazon, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Jeff Bezos

Illinois teachers’ unions funnel nearly $3.9 million to Madigan

By Mailee Smith

08/17/2020

Teachers’ unions have provided lots of campaign cash to Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, who’s been implicated in a bribery scandal. Teachers who don’t want their money sent to a corrupt system can opt out of the union.

TAGS: AFT: American Federation of Teachers, ComEd, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, Mike Madigan

Illinois government unions give Madigan $10 million reasons to stay together

By Mailee Smith, Abigail Holtzman

08/13/2020

The state’s government unions have heavily funded the election committees run by longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan – who then uses his influence to pass union-friendly bills.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, corruption, Democratic Party, Mike Madigan, unions

Illinois state workers receive $1,300 pay raises July 1

By Mailee Smith

06/29/2020

State workers represented by AFSCME Council 31 will see pay increases averaging $1,343 starting July 1. Total cost of the raises is $261 million as COVID-19 continues depleting state revenues.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, coronavirus, COVID-19, JB Pritzker