Geneva teachers union strike leaves 5,800 students in the lurch

By Janelle Cammenga

12/05/2018

Six years after last threatening to strike, the teachers union walked the picket line – a collective bargaining tactic not allowed in any of Illinois’ neighboring states.

TAGS: education, IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association, pensions, strike, teacher salaries

Union dues at work: AFSCME gives $1.4 million to Madigan

By Mailee Smith

11/06/2018

State records show AFSCME has funneled at least $1.4 million to Michael Madigan and Madigan-controlled committees in the past five years – including at least $823,200 just this year.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, dues, Mike Madigan, unions

How to make an extra $3 billion, the Illinois way

By Austin Berg

10/25/2018

AFSCME – the largest government worker union in the state – may pull off one of the most insulting waiting games in state history. The payoff? More than $3 billion, courtesy of Illinois taxpayers.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Bruce Rauner, collective bargaining, income tax, state worker pay, taxes

AFSCME funnels union dues to Mike Madigan

By Mailee Smith

09/27/2018

State records show AFSCME Council 31 funnels membership dues into its political action committee, which just gave a record-breaking $767,800 donation to Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, campaign finance, Janus v. AFSCME, Mike Madigan

New Mexico stops deducting unconstitutional union fees from state employees

By Mailee Smith

08/27/2018

The state of New Mexico has taken steps to comply with the Janus v. AFSCME decision by stopping all union dues and fees until members sign new authorizations. Illinois should follow suit.

TAGS: agency fees, fair share, Janus v. AFSCME, New Mexico

Hundreds of educators stop paying money to Chicago Teachers Union following Janus decision

By Mailee Smith

08/23/2018

At least 300 Chicago Public Schools employees have stopped paying fees to the Chicago Teachers Union after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled they could not be forced to pay the union just to keep their jobs.

TAGS: agency, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, fair share, Janus v. AFSCME, labor

New Jersey school district stops deducting unconstitutional union fees from all employees

By Mailee Smith

08/14/2018

One school district in New Jersey has stopped deducting union dues and fees until it has new authorizations from employees to do so – a step in line with what the U.S. Supreme Court demanded of state and local government employers and government unions in Janus v. AFSCME. Illinois governments should follow suit.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, agency fees, fair share, Janus v. AFSCME, labor, New Jersey

Missouri’s right-to-work vote: Boon or boondoggle?

By Austin Berg

08/09/2018

Without right-to-work protections currently offered in 27 states, you pay the union or lose your job. It’s very simple.

TAGS: eric greitens, labor, missouri, right to work, unions

Chicago, Cook County employees will see more money in their paychecks

By Mailee Smith

07/19/2018

At least 730 Cook County and 646 Chicago employees have been freed from paying forced union fees following the Janus v. AFSCME decision.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, agency fees, fair share, income tax, Janus v. AFSCME, taxes

Janus decision means some Illinois state workers effectively see 2017 tax hike reversed

By Adam Schuster

07/19/2018

The 2017 permanent income tax hike took $732 from the median Illinois household, roughly the same as the $737 that will be returned to state workers who were previously forced to pay “fair share” fees to government unions.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, agency fees, budget, fair share, income tax, Janus v. AFSCME, taxes