Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

By Josh Bandoch

01/25/2024

Published Jan. 25, 2024

Illinois’ excessive job licensing keeps Chicagoans in poverty

By Joe Tabor

12/01/2023

Occupational licensing is more burdensome in Illinois than in neighboring states for many professions. Those barriers are unreasonably keeping poor Illinoisans and Chicagoans from finding work.

TAGS: occupational licensing

Government union power unleashed on Illinois House speaker

By Mailee Smith

09/14/2023

Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch – who supported an Illinois constitutional amendment granting government unions unprecedented power – is reportedly refusing to meet with a union seeking to represent his own staff.

TAGS: Chris Welch

Illinois lawmakers get $4,250 raise just months after $12,000 raise

By Justin Carlson

06/29/2023

Illinois state lawmakers had tried to bump their pay by 5.5%, but that violated the state constitution. The must settle for 5%, meaning they will make nearly $90,000 a year.

5 years after Janus v. AFSCME, unions are smaller but more militant

By Mailee Smith, Patrick Andriesen

06/26/2023

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of Illinois state worker Mark Janus in 2018 gave government workers the ability to stop funding government union politics. Chastened unions could have reformed. Instead, they got extreme.

California considers misleading labor amendment modeled after Illinois’ Amendment 1

By Mailee Smith

06/13/2023

Illinois labor leaders claimed their push to enshrine public union supremacy in the Illinois Constitution was the “blueprint” for other states. Now both California and Pennsylvania are following Illinois’ lead.

TAGS: Amendment 1

Pennsylvania unions push misleading labor amendment modeled after Illinois’ Amendment 1

By Mailee Smith

05/04/2023

Pennsylvania’s House Bill 950 is worded exactly like Illinois’ Amendment 1. Illinois labor leaders recently claimed Illinois’ amendment is the “blueprint” for other states, such as Pennsylvania.

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 lawmaker pay 4th-highest in U.S. after Pritzker OKs $12,000 raises

By Bryce Hill

01/13/2023

State lawmaker pay has increased by more than $17,000 during Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration. State representatives and senators make the most for jobs considered less than full time, 4th in U.S. overall.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, lawmaker pay

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

By Mailee Smith, Hannah Schmid

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

Pennsylvania

Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

Illinois’ excessive job licensing keeps Chicagoans in poverty

Government union power unleashed on Illinois House speaker

Illinois lawmakers get $4,250 raise just months after $12,000 raise

5 years after Janus v. AFSCME, unions are smaller but more militant

California considers misleading labor amendment modeled after Illinois’ Amendment 1

Pennsylvania unions push misleading labor amendment modeled after Illinois’ Amendment 1

How Illinois politicians allow government unions to rewrite state law

Illinois lawmaker pay 4th-highest in U.S. after Pritzker OKs $12,000 raises

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

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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