Illinois government unions kill chances for more school money, nurse prospects, police reforms

By Joe Tabor

07/07/2021

Unions put up roadblocks for bills that could have freed up more money for Illinois classrooms, expanded opportunities for Illinois health care workers and ensured police officers are subject to better accountability under state law.

TAGS: Nurse Licensure Compact, police misconduct, school district efficiency, unions

Illinois lawmakers got $15.1M before seeking constitutional power for union bosses

By Orphe Divounguy

06/18/2021

Illinois state lawmakers want voters to hand over Illinois’ economy to unions. Before voting for the measure, they received $15.1 million in campaign cash from those unions.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, right to work, unions

Illinois lawmakers seek to be nation’s first to put job-killing amendment in state constitution

By Mailee Smith

05/24/2021

A proposal in the Illinois General Assembly would prohibit right-to-work laws in Illinois, making Illinois the only state to ban worker freedoms in its constitution.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, Illinois, private sector, right to work, unions

Illinois lawmakers hand Pritzker another tax loss, pass Chicago pension hike

01/19/2021

Lame duck session was busy even when House Democrats weren’t focused on replacing Mike Madigan as speaker. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s small business tax hike died as 23 bills were passed, including one making Chicago’s pension woes worse.

TAGS: firefighter pensions, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, lame duck session, police misconduct, unions

Illinois government unions give Madigan $10 million reasons to stay together

By Mailee Smith

08/13/2020

The state’s government unions have heavily funded the election committees run by longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan – who then uses his influence to pass union-friendly bills.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, corruption, Democratic Party, Mike Madigan, unions

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

How Illinois unions re-gifted member dues to Madigan for sexual harassment settlement

By Austin Berg

12/19/2019

So who wants to fund a highly unpopular politician’s sexual harassment settlement on behalf of a disgraced political worker under federal investigation? Executives at Illinois’ largest public-sector labor unions.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Alaina Hampton, Christmas, government unions, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Janus v. AFSCME, JB Pritzker, Kevin Quinn, Mike Madigan, PAC: political action committee, SEIU: Service Employees International Union, sexual harrassment, Springfield, unions

AFSCME dues help defend Madigan in sexual harassment lawsuit

By Mailee Smith

12/13/2019

AFSCME gave $71,400 in October to Friends of Michael J. Madigan – the same election committee the Illinois House speaker used to pay legal fees in a sexual harassment lawsuit.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Alaina Hampton, exclusive representation, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois State Board of Elections, Mike Madigan, sexual harrassment, Springfield, unions

Ending dues deductions, recovering fees harder for public employees under bill passed by Illinois lawmakers

By Joe Tabor

11/14/2019

SB 1784 would hurt workers trying to stop paying union dues or trying to learn about their options. Union leaders get greater access to them and their personal information.

TAGS: Janus v. AFSCME, Jay Hoffman, labor, unions

Chicago school worker says she was assaulted for crossing picket line

By Austin Berg

10/27/2019

Yedidah Reuben said two union members attacked her for trying to work.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, labor, unions