Illinois General Assembly passes 3 bills boosting government union power

By Mailee Smith

06/23/2025

Government unions already hold tremendous power over taxpayers in Illinois. Three bills heading to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk will give them even more power by violating worker privacy, thwarting taxpayer protections and blocking schools in emergencies.

TAGS: Amendment 1, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, labor

Why Amendment 1 is too close to call

By Patrick Andriesen

11/11/2022

Voters can change the Illinois Constitution in one of two ways: 60% of votes on the change, or a majority of total election votes. The Amendment 1 vote is so close and so many ballots remain uncounted, that calculating those two numbers remains elusive.

TAGS: Amendment 1, labor, workers rights amendment

Amendment 1 vote too close to call

By Dylan Sharkey

11/09/2022

Votes were still being counted on Amendment 1, but the vote was very close. If approved, the change to the Illinois Constitution would expand collective bargaining powers just for government unions.

TAGS: Amendment 1, labor, property taxes

Illinois already has most extreme labor laws in U.S.

By Mailee Smith, Hannah Schmid

11/04/2022

Illinois law already allows some government union contracts to override state law. Amendment 1 would allow all government union contracts to do so.

TAGS: Amendment 1, labor, unions, workers rights amendment

Everything you need to know about Illinois unemployment

By Brad Weisenstein

09/13/2021

The Illinois Department of Employment Security was ill-prepared to handle record numbers of unemployed workers when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, was slow to distribute federal help, exposed Illinoisans' private information, then lefts thousands on hold awaiting answers. Here's the latest.

TAGS: IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, jobs, labor, taxes, unemployment

Illinois unemployment is again on the rise as Pritzker proposes business taxes

By Brad Weisenstein

02/25/2021

Unemployment claims bumped up for a second week in Illinois as Gov. J.B. Pritzker decided to push for 9 new taxes, mostly hitting businesses and job creation. Illinois ranked 49th for recovery last week.

TAGS: budget, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, jobs, labor, taxes, unemployment

In the wake of George Floyd’s death, Springfield has essential work to do

By Austin Berg

06/05/2020

Illinois lawmakers cannot afford to delay action in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

TAGS: BLM: Black Lives Matter, criminal justice reform, Curtis Tarver, Don Harmon, George Floyd, JB Pritzker, Justin Slaughter, Kam Buckner, labor, Lamont Robinson, Maurice West, Mike Madigan, police, police misconduct

Pritzker claims statewide economic growth, but these Illinois metro areas are shedding jobs

By Bryce Hill

02/10/2020

Despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker touting growth in “every major region,” Illinois shed jobs in three metropolitan areas and lagged the national average in seven more.

TAGS: Bloomington, BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, budget, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, constitutional amendment, economic competitiveness, economic growth, economics, economy, employment, fair tax, flat tax, government spending, graduated income tax, Great Recession, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, income growth, JB Pritzker, job creation, jobs, labor, Madison County, metro areas, Metro East, Moline, pensions, Peoria, population, progressive income tax, recession, Rockford, spending, spending cap, Springfield, St. Clair County, tax burden, tax hikes, tax increase, unemployment, Urbana, working-age

Lawmakers seek to place nation’s first job-killing amendment in Illinois Constitution

By Mailee Smith

02/05/2020

A proposal in the Illinois General Assembly would prohibit right-to-work laws in Illinois, making Illinois the only state in the nation to ban the policy in a state constitution.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, economic growth, graduated income tax, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, Janus v. AFSCME, job creation, jobs, labor, lawmakers, private sector, progressive income tax, public sector, right to work, Rockford, Springfield, unions

Chicago teachers who don’t want to fund CTU leadership’s politics have options

By Mailee Smith, Vincent Caruso

01/30/2020

Leaders of Illinois’ largest local teachers’ union received swift blowback after their latest push into public politics. Members dissatisfied with the priorities of their union’s leadership deserve to know they have other options.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, government unions, Jesse Sharkey, Kim Foxx, labor, Lori Lightfoot, Nicolas Maduro, opt out, public sector, Stacy Davis Gates, strike, Venezuela

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

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Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

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Allan Luzbetak

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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