Illinois union membership shrinks by 17,000 in 2022

By Mailee Smith

01/23/2023

The drop in union membership for Illinois workers follows a 33-year downward trend, moving from more than 1-in-5 workers being in a union, to nearly 1-in-8.

TAGS: Illinois, unions

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

By Mailee Smith, Hannah Max

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

Labor poll finds unions fall short improving engagement, work life

By Patrick Andriesen

09/02/2022

A poll found most nonunion respondents were not interested in joining organized labor, reporting higher levels of job satisfaction and engagement than their union counterparts. One in 4 union members reported being “actively disengaged” at work.

TAGS: unions

Fact check: Unions backing Amendment 1 killed bill to help nurses

By Dylan Sharkey

08/12/2022

A new ad falsely claims Amendment 1 will protect nurses’ rights at private children’s hospitals. The same government unions who paid for the ad ended legislation that truly would have helped nurses.

TAGS: Amendment 1, nurses, unions

‘Workers’ Rights Amendment’ website ignores tax hike

By Patrick Andriesen

08/11/2022

The government union-backed website claims Amendment 1 would put more money in the pockets of working Illinoisans, but the change could only benefit the 7% who are government employees. All families would pay $2,149 more in property taxes.

TAGS: Amendment 1, property tax, unions, workers rights

Fact check: No other state constitution has a provision similar to Amendment 1

By Mailee Smith

08/10/2022

Proponents of Amendment 1 claim other state constitutions include similar language, but that is just wrong. Amendment 1 would cement into the Illinois Constitution government union powers that no other state sees as smart.

TAGS: Amendment 1, property taxes, unions, workers rights

Misleading new ad claims Amendment 1 protects Illinois nurses

By Mailee Smith

08/10/2022

Despite proponents’ claims, Amendment 1 would give union rights only to state and local government workers. Yet a new ad by proponents implies it will help nurses in all sectors care for their patients.

TAGS: Amendment 1, constitutional amendment, property taxes, taxes, unions, workers rights

‘Workers’ Rights Amendment’ would hike workers’ property taxes by $2,100

By Mailee Smith

07/31/2022

Despite proponents’ claims, Amendment 1 would give union rights only to state and local government workers – who make up just 7% of Illinois adults. It would give $2,100 property tax hikes to everyone.

TAGS: Amendment 1, property taxes, unions

Unions spend nearly $5M to push property tax hikes through Amendment 1

By Hannah Max

06/27/2022

The majority of the support for a constitutional amendment that would raise taxes on Illinoisans comes from union coffers, with nearly $5 million donated so far. Unions also funded the failed progressive tax push in 2020.

TAGS: Amendment 1, government unions, tax hikes, taxes, unions

What Illinois businesses need to know about Amendment 1

By Dylan Sharkey

06/10/2022

Amendment 1 would enshrine permanent power for public unions in the state constitution which could mean higher taxes, higher costs, and potentially costly litigation for business owners.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Illinois, unions, workers rights