AFSCME promised to negotiate in ‘good faith,’ backs bill to take taxpayers out of contract talks

By Mailee Smith

05/11/2016

AFSCME Illinois contract negotiations with Rauner

AFSCME promised to play nice at the negotiating table with Gov. Rauner, but it never intended to keep that promise. The union is doing everything it can to muscle the state’s taxpayers into an outside arbitration process that will practically guarantee that AFSCME’s unreasonable demands are met.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees

AFSCME negotiations: Union shows no signs of compromise, continues pushing for unaffordable contract

By Mailee Smith

05/07/2016

The testimony of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees before the Illinois Labor Relations Board and the union’s refusal to compromise on any contract provisions reveal that AFSCME and Gov. Bruce Rauner have reached impasse.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees

Caterpillar announces it will add 600 jobs to new Arizona facility

By Hilary Gowins

05/04/2016

Caterpillar’s plans to bring new jobs to Arizona demonstrate how Illinois politicians’ planned tax hikes and failure to make needed regulatory reforms harm the state’s manufacturing sector.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing, workers compensation

AFSCME’s actions show union unwilling to negotiate contract taxpayers can afford

By Mailee Smith

04/28/2016

AFSCME’s push for HB 580, which would allow a panel of unelected arbitrators to draft a binding contract between the state and the union, is the latest power play in AFSCME’s long and uncompromising battle for pay hikes and benefits that could cost Illinois taxpayers more than $3 billion.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees

Short-term state funding won’t fix Illinois’ systemic higher-education crisis

By John Klingner

04/27/2016

Illinois’ public colleges and universities used to be affordable, but schools have increased tuition from 74-112 percent over the last decade to help pay for administrative hiring sprees and skyrocketing pensions.

TAGS: higher education, pensions, SURS: State Universities Retirement System

Labor board finds CTU’s April 1 strike likely illegal

By Jeffrey Schwab

04/27/2016

The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board determined there is enough evidence of the illegality of CTU’s April 1 walkout for CPS to pursue a court order to prevent CTU from waging any similar strikes.

TAGS: Chicago, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education

AFSCME impasse hearings: Understanding the timeline, process and potential outcomes

By Mailee Smith

04/26/2016

Given AFSCME’s and the Rauner administration’s disagreement on core contract issues – such as wage freezes and merit pay – and the likely appeal of any impasse decision reached by the administrative law judge, a final determination on whether AFSCME and the Rauner administration have reached impasse will probably not come until well into the summer – or beyond.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees

4 statements reveal that Cullerton doesn’t understand Illinois’ workers’ compensation system

By Michael Lucci

04/22/2016

Illinois has the most expensive system in the Midwest for workers' compensation.

TAGS: John Cullerton, workers compensation

Illinois House passes occupational-licensing reform bill

04/21/2016

HB 5937 prohibits the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation from barring former offenders from working in these areas unless their crimes directly relate to the occupations for which they seek licenses. A job is crucial to preventing repeat offenses: Nearly half of ex-offenders in Illinois end up back behind bars within three years, but ex-offenders who are employed a year after release can have a recidivism rate as low as 16 percent.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, occupational licensing, reentry

Bruce Rauner

AFSCME promised to negotiate in ‘good faith,’ backs bill to take taxpayers out of contract talks

AFSCME negotiations: Union shows no signs of compromise, continues pushing for unaffordable contract

Caterpillar announces it will add 600 jobs to new Arizona facility

AFSCME’s actions show union unwilling to negotiate contract taxpayers can afford

Short-term state funding won’t fix Illinois’ systemic higher-education crisis

Labor board finds CTU’s April 1 strike likely illegal

AFSCME impasse hearings: Understanding the timeline, process and potential outcomes

Jobs are the ultimate crime stoppers

4 statements reveal that Cullerton doesn’t understand Illinois’ workers’ compensation system

Illinois House passes occupational-licensing reform bill

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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