Federal bill would give more rights to workers in unionized workplaces

By Mailee Smith

07/20/2017

A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would allow workers a real say in which union represents them, require secret ballots for union voting, and ensure that all workers’ voices count – not just those who align with the union.

TAGS: labor, unions

Chicago’s inspector general suggests unions negotiate commonsense provisions in government worker contracts

By Mailee Smith

06/07/2017

Among the inspector general’s suggestions are shortening the length of contracts, allowing subcontractors to take over more services, and keeping employee compensation in line with what taxpayers can afford.

TAGS: Chicago, Joseph Ferguson, labor, unions

Illinois state worker case could bring Right to Work to public sector workers in all 50 states

By Mailee Smith

06/06/2017

The public employees in Janus v. AFSCME have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the state of Illinois from forcing workers to pay union fees as a condition of government employment.

TAGS: labor, right to work, U.S. Supreme Court, unions

In East Aurora, battle over busing is just the tip of the iceberg

By Mailee Smith

05/26/2017

In East Aurora, Illinois, the District 131 school board has approved a proposal to provide bus transportation for students, but the teachers union has balked at a quick implementation of the plan.

TAGS: Aurora, education, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, labor, unions

SB 1905 designed to ban local Right to Work in Illinois

By Jim Long

05/20/2017

The Illinois House Labor and Commerce Committee has passed a bill to prohibit municipalities in Illinois from enacting local Right-to-Work measures. The bill now heads to the full House of Representatives for a hearing.

TAGS: collective bargaining, Illinois House of Representatives, labor, local government, right to work, unions

More than 200 Cook County corrections officers call in sick for Mother’s Day

By Brendan Bakala

05/15/2017

The 206 corrections officers who called off are a significant improvement from Mother’s Day 2016, in which more than 460 corrections officers called off.

TAGS: Cook County Jail, labor, prison, unions

East Aurora teachers union puts brakes on school busing

By Mailee Smith

05/10/2017

Unionized teachers in East Aurora demonstrate that unions are willing to put their own agendas above the wellbeing and education of students.

TAGS: Aurora, education, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, labor, unions

Indiana has added five times more union members than Illinois since passing Right to Work

By Michael Lucci

05/09/2017

Indiana’s sharp rise in union members is due to its robust economic growth and increase in manufacturing jobs, while Illinois’ economy continues to lose factories and sees little growth in union members.

TAGS: Indiana, jobs, labor, manufacturing, right to work, unions, workers compensation

Illinois Senate bill intended to kill local worker freedom laws in Illinois

By Amy Korte

05/03/2017

The Illinois Senate has passed a bill to overturn municipal Right-to-Work ordinances and prevent Illinois localities from expanding worker freedom in their communities.

TAGS: Ira Silverstein, labor, right to work, unions

Kentucky to get nearly $3B in new business investments since passing economic reforms

By Joe Kaiser

05/02/2017

Companies have announced billions in new business investment in Kentucky a few months after the state passed key economic reforms. Illinois lawmakers should take note.

TAGS: Kentucky, labor, Matt Bevin, right to work, unions

Illinois’ $21 billion in school debt pushes up property taxes

Illinoisans are struggling under the highest property tax burdens in the country. Many of the reasons for those high taxes are known – too many local governments, executive pay for local administrators and rising pension costs. What taxpayers don’t know is that local school districts have billions in debt, which drives up property taxes even further....

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Illinois’ $21 billion in school debt pushes up property taxes

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Forgotten Illinois: Round Lake

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

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