Illinois

Chicago area sees slow jobs growth, downstate suffers continued job losses

By Michael Lucci
12/13/2016
Metropolitan jobs data shows that from October 2015 – October 2016 the greater Chicago area is up +33,500 jobs while the rest of the state is down -2,700 jobs. Measured since before the Great Recession, from October 2007 – October 2016, the greater Chicago area is up 110,100 jobs while the rest of the state is down -42,700 jobs.

TAGS: Chicago, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, unemployment

AFSCME turns to courts to delay Rauner contract, costing taxpayers millions

By Mailee Smith
12/09/2016
A judge in Cook County has issued a temporary restraining order halting a labor board decision that would allow the state to implement its contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The delay costs Illinois taxpayers over $1 million more each day in state-worker health coverage costs.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Bruce Rauner, labor

AFSCME promises to appeal after Illinois Labor Relations Board formalizes impasse ruling

By Mailee Smith
12/07/2016
A recent labor board decision means Gov. Bruce Rauner can start implementing his last contract offer to state workers. But the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees continues to obstruct progress toward a contract for state workers, vowing to appeal the labor board’s decision.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Bruce Rauner

Illinois companies announce 650 mass layoffs in November

By Brendan Bakala
12/06/2016
Employers in the Land of Lincoln announced 650 mass layoffs in November, according to the November edition of the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, report. This report marks the first time since July 2015 that there wasn’t single mass-layoff announcement in the manufacturing sector. The types of jobs lost were spread across...

TAGS: Megabus, Mondelez International, Primesource, Ryder, WARN