The Illinois Policy Institute has released a new book that examines the most problematic force in Illinois politics: government employee unions.
The book is entitled, “The Labor Book: A guide to Illinois government unions.” It highlights a key finding that has become strikingly clear as Illinois struggles to reform its massive pension problem: Until the power and political influence of government unions are curbed, Illinois will be unable to enact major reforms.
“Government employee unions stand in the way of every major reform that Illinois desperately needs,” said Paul Kersey, director of labor policy at the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute and author of the book. “Union bosses may think that by blocking reform that they are advancing their cause, but the reality is that union bosses’ tactics are driving Illinois into insolvency and ultimately will hurt the unions’ own members.”
Here are some key findings from “The Labor Book”:
At least 90 employees of the Illinois Education Association – union staff, not classroom teachers – are paid more than $100,000/year.Among the top beneficiaries of union political giving between 2002 and 2012 are: Gov. Pat Quinn, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Speaker of the House Mike Madigan and House Republican Leader Tom Cross.
The Illinois branch of the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, in 2011 reported spending more than 70 percent of its $2.5 million on politics and lobbying – and just 8.2 percent on actual membership representation.
In Illinois, government workers are forced to financially support government unions as a condition of employment. Workers must pay expensive union dues or “agency fees” whether or not they want to financially support the union.
While Illinois has long been considered a government union stronghold, neighboring states have enacted laws that promote worker freedom and worker choice. In December 2012, the state of Michigan – also considered a longtime union stronghold – became the 24th state in the nation to enact a “Right to Work” law that gives workers the right to choose whether they want to support a union in their workplace. This is a right that Illinois workers currently cannot exercise.
“It’s time to shift power from the union bosses to the workers by giving them the freedom to choose whether or not to join a union. This is the only way to hold union bosses accountable for their decisions that have put the state on the edge of insolvency,” Kersey said. “This process has already begun in neighboring states and will need to be taken up in Illinois.”
ONLINE RESOURCES:
“The Labor Book” landing page: http://illinoispolicy.org/simplereport/the-labor-book-a-guide-to-illinois-government-unions/
A PDF of “The Labor Book” is available online at: http://illinoispolicy.org/wp-content/files_mf/1378218679Labor_Book_IA_pages_11.pdf
Accompanying video, available for media use: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrMJgq_dQfU&feature=youtu.be