Illinois House passes bill making it easier for Chicago teachers to strike

By Mailee Smith

04/03/2019

Two of the nation’s largest government union strikes in the past decade happened in Illinois – both by the Chicago Teachers Union. And now a bill in the General Assembly would give Chicago teachers more chances to go on strike.

TAGS: Chicago, collective bargaining, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike, unions

Worker freedom: More than 3,700 Illinois state workers stopped paying money to a union in 2018

By Vincent Caruso

12/23/2018

Of the more than 3,700 Illinois state workers who stopped sending part of every paycheck to a union, 2,800 stopped sending their money to AFSCME.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, dues, fair share, Janus v. AFSCME, unions

Union dues at work: AFSCME gives $1.4 million to Madigan

By Mailee Smith

11/06/2018

State records show AFSCME has funneled at least $1.4 million to Michael Madigan and Madigan-controlled committees in the past five years – including at least $823,200 just this year.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, dues, Mike Madigan, unions

Missouri’s right-to-work vote: Boon or boondoggle?

By Austin Berg

08/09/2018

Without right-to-work protections currently offered in 27 states, you pay the union or lose your job. It’s very simple.

TAGS: eric greitens, labor, missouri, right to work, unions

Illinois state workers who opted out of union membership see pay increases

By Mailee Smith

07/13/2018

State workers previously paying “fair share” fees no longer have money deducted from their paychecks on behalf of a union.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, agency fees, fair share, Janus v. AFSCME, unions

How an Illinois mom set the stage for monumental Janus decision

By Austin Berg

06/28/2018

What Harris has in common with Janus is immense courage. Both show the power of a single individual, an Illinoisan, to change the course of the state and the nation.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, agency fees, fair share, Harris v Quinn, Janus v. AFSCME, labor, pam harris, unions

Janus v. AFSCME ruling confirms that government unions are inherently political

By illinoispolicy

06/27/2018

Illinois Policy Institute research finds government unions often spend more on politics than representation, and political giving skews Democrat

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, collective bargaining, free speech, Janus v. AFSCME, unions

John Tillman: Statement on the Janus v. AFSCME decision

By John Tillman

06/27/2018

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision today in Janus v. AFSCME, confirming that forced union fees are unconstitutional.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, collective bargaining, Janus v. AFSCME, john tillman, labor, unions

U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of Janus, restores First Amendment rights to government workers

By Mailee Smith

06/27/2018

In a landmark labor case, the court ruled that forced union fees are unconstitutional. The decision marks the first step toward worker freedom for 5.5 million government employees across the United States – including 370,000 in Illinois.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, free speech, Janus v. AFSCME, unions

Meet the Illinoisan at the center of a historic Supreme Court case

By Austin Berg

06/26/2018

A Janus victory would end forced fees for government workers nationwide.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, collective bargaining, Janus v. AFSCME, unions