Amendment 1 would guarantee Illinois’ sky-high debt, taxes would rise faster

By Adam Schuster, Justin Carlson

01/13/2022

Unfair advantages for public sector unions are already driving Illinois’ massive debt and high taxes. Enshrining their power in the Illinois Constitution would make it worse and give voters less say about government costs.

TAGS: Amendment 1, debt, government unions, Illinois Constitution, taxes

Chicago-area firefighters battle to kick out union

By Mailee Smith

01/12/2022

Carpentersville firefighters collected enough signatures to trigger the removal of SEIU as their union, but SEIU is fighting back against their freedom to choose.

TAGS: Carpentersville, firefighters, government unions, SEIU: Service Employees International Union

Amendment 1 could undermine 11 DCFS provisions aimed at protecting children

By Mailee Smith

12/20/2021

Amendment 1 would allow unions to override provisions put in place for the protection of the children Illinois is supposed to be safeguarding.

TAGS: Amendment 1, DCFS: Department of Children and Family Services, government unions

38 provisions in Illinois School Code could be undermined by Amendment 1

By Mailee Smith

12/17/2021

Amendment 1 would allow union leaders to negotiate anything and everything into union contracts – including provisions that could contradict state laws meant to protect Illinois schoolchildren.

TAGS: Amendment 1, government unions, public schools

Illinois police, firefighters push back on state control of pensions

By Patrick Andriesen

12/06/2021

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill to consolidate local police and firefighter pensions from across downstate Illinois, but beneficiaries are suing because the state is notorious for poor pension management.

TAGS: consolidation, government unions, Illinois, pensions

Voters being asked to change Illinois Constitution to benefit one group

By Dylan Sharkey

11/24/2021

Special interest groups shouldn’t be singled out for protection in the Illinois Constitution, but state lawmakers are asking voters to change that. If passed, Amendment 1 would protect government unions at the expense of everyone else.

TAGS: Amendment 1, government unions, Illinois Constitution

Government unions dictate when Illinois Constitution needs changes

By Dylan Sharkey

11/24/2021

In 2022, Illinois voters will face the biggest union power grab yet.

TAGS: Amendment 1, government unions, Illinois Constitution

Amendment 1 could make it harder to root out corruption in Illinois

By Joe Tabor

11/08/2021

With additional protection in the Illinois Constitution, state employees and even public officials could be shielded from discipline and corruption reforms thwarted.

TAGS: Amendment 1, corruption, government unions, Illinois

Union bosses, not voters, will decide how to run Illinois if Amendment 1 passes

By Mailee Smith

11/03/2021

Amendment 1 would constitutionally prohibit Illinois lawmakers from pulling back on union power. It would give government union bosses more power than voters and than those elected to represent voters’ interests.

TAGS: Amendment 1, government unions, Illinois, voting

What you need to know about giving unions special treatment in Illinois’ constitution

By Mailee Smith

10/13/2021

If passed by voters in November 2022, an amendment to the Illinois Constitution would allow collective bargaining agreements to override state law forever. That gives more power to union bosses than to state lawmakers – and voters.

TAGS: Amendment 1, collective bargaining, government unions, Illinois

Unions flood politicians with cash: How it buys clout in Illinois General Assembly

Government unions in Illinois have tremendous power. Most are allowed to go on strike and can bargain over virtually anything.1 It creates an uneven playing field, with unions able to demand costly provisions in their contracts and threaten to strike – denying Illinoisans needed services – to get what they want.2 Until recently, the potential...

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Unions flood politicians with cash: How it buys clout in Illinois General Assembly

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Toni Larocco

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students