How Amendment 1 could give Illinois more arsonists as fire chiefs

By Perry Zhao

05/24/2022

An admitted arsonist was able to become a fire chief and part-time police officer thanks to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s pardon. A proposed constitutional amendment could make it easier for violent felons to work in public safety – even without a pardon.

TAGS: Amendment 1, unions

How Chicago Teachers Union sold $8.1M high-rise, hid cash from oversight

By Patrick Andriesen

05/19/2022

Chicago Teachers Union leaders made $8.1 million selling property paid for with union member dues, only to shuffle the proceeds to a charity with less oversight. Members are voting May 20 for transparency from new leaders.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, teachers union

Amendment 1 could make bad Illinois business climate worse

By Ann Miller

05/17/2022

A Rockford family and their trucking business are being driven out of Illinois by high taxes and bad public policies. If voters agree Nov. 8 to enshrining public union power in the Illinois Constitution, expect more businesses and workers to leave.

TAGS: Amendment 1, economic recovery, government unions, unemployment

Chicago Teachers Union election May 20 could affect frequency of strikes

By Mailee Smith

05/17/2022

CTU has walked out on students three times in three school years. The outcome of its upcoming leadership election pits the status quo against potential change – and could alter the political trajectory of the nation’s most militant teachers union.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, election, strike

Amendment 1 would allow secret government union contracts

By Hannah Max

05/16/2022

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act requires open access to government union contracts. But Amendment 1 would allow union leaders to override state law to make those contracts secret.

TAGS: Amendment 1, contract, government unions

AFSCME contract lets Illinois state workers miss 10 days without discipline

By Ann Miller

05/13/2022

AFSCME union members receive generous salaries and benefits from their state contract, yet union bosses are pushing to enshrine their power in the Illinois Constitution – something no other state has been willing to do.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, contract, government unions

8 reasons Illinois voters should reject Amendment 1

By Hannah Max

05/09/2022

Illinois voters will decide Nov. 8 whether to adopt a radical amendment to the Illinois Constitution that would hike taxes and empower special interests. Those are just two of eight reasons why Amendment 1 is bad for Illinoisans.

TAGS: Amendment 1, government unions, Illinois

Illinois parents, teachers sue to get unconstitutional union boost off ballot

By Ann Miller

04/21/2022

Amendment 1, billed as a “Workers' Rights Amendment,” actually covers so much more that it violates the U.S. Constitution. Parents and teachers worrying about it emboldening already militant teachers unions are suing to get it off the ballot.

TAGS: Amendment 1, government unions, Illinois Constitution, lawsuit

Over 23,000 Illinois public school employees leave unions

By Hannah Max

04/14/2022

Membership in teachers unions has decreased nearly 10% since 2017, when public educators gained the right to stop handing their pay to unions.

TAGS: Illinois, opt out, public schools, teachers union

More than 38,000 workers have left government unions in Illinois

By Mailee Smith

04/12/2022

The unions’ own federal reports show 9% of workers have chosen to break away from unions since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME.

TAGS: government unions, Janus v. AFSCME, membership