How government unions work against interests of private-sector unions, taxpayers

By Mailee Smith

01/08/2025

Government unions posed threats to public welfare that were recognized by founders of the labor movement and by progressive icon Franklin D. Roosevelt. Those threats have become reality, with government union power dominating – especially in Illinois.

Chicago Teachers Union president paid over $269K but hides union financial records

By Mailee Smith

11/20/2024

Public records show the Chicago Teachers Union and other union entities pay Stacy Davis Gates a very healthy salary. But union transparency ends there. CTU is refusing to show members how it spends their money, despite that mandate in CTU’s rules.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

Who is running for judge in Illinois in 2024?

By Joe Tabor

10/17/2024

On Nov. 5 Illinoisans will vote to elect two Illinois Supreme Court justices and nine appellate court justices, and whether to retain four sitting appellate court justices.

TAGS: Election Day

Report: How Illinois can give parents more choice within public school system

By Hannah Schmid

05/28/2024

Illinois has limited charter school options or open enrollment policies. Lawmakers should expand public school choice options in Illinois to give families more control over their children’s education.

How Illinois politicians allow government unions to rewrite state law

By Mailee Smith, Hannah Schmid

04/06/2023

No other state’s constitution or labor laws are like Illinois’ – broadly allowing government unions to override statutes simply by negotiating contrary provisions into collective bargaining agreements. Illinois may not be alone for long.

Illinois labor board says government unions cannot discriminate against nonmembers

By Mailee Smith

11/30/2022

Illinois government unions wrote the law that gives them a monopoly over all government employees in a unionized workplace. And that means they can’t discriminate against workers who choose not to be members.

TAGS: government unions, ILRB: Illinois Labor Relations Board

Who is running for judge in Illinois?

By Aimee Morrissey, Perry Zhao, Joe Tabor

11/03/2022

On Nov. 8, Illinoisans will vote for important judge positions, including three Illinois Supreme Court justices and 16 appellate court judges. Their decisions impact daily life, yet about 25% of voters leave their ballots blank when they get to the judges.

TAGS: election, judges

Government unions claim Amendment 1 will ‘protect nurses’ after killing pro-nursing bill

By Hannah Schmid

08/17/2022

The government unions pushing Amendment 1 on the Nov. 8 ballot in Illinois halted a popular, bipartisan bill that would have helped ease the nursing shortage made worse by the pandemic.

TAGS: Amendment 1, nurses

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

Amendment 1 would permanently enshrine Madigan union deals in Illinois Constitution

By Dylan Sharkey

03/03/2022

Amendment 1 would permanently write indicted former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s public union deals into the state constitution. If passed, neither lawmakers nor voters could ever change them.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Mike Madigan, unions

AFL–CIO

How government unions work against interests of private-sector unions, taxpayers

Chicago Teachers Union president paid over $269K but hides union financial records

Who is running for judge in Illinois in 2024?

Report: How Illinois can give parents more choice within public school system

How Illinois politicians allow government unions to rewrite state law

Illinois labor board says government unions cannot discriminate against nonmembers

Who is running for judge in Illinois?

Government unions claim Amendment 1 will ‘protect nurses’ after killing pro-nursing bill

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

Amendment 1 would permanently enshrine Madigan union deals in Illinois Constitution

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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