A comprehensive review of the most absurd benefits in the AFSCME collective bargaining agreement

By Mailee Smith

08/10/2016

AFSCME does all it can to perpetuate the myth that it is the “little guy” – the victim – in any contract negotiations with the state. The evidence paints a different picture.

AFSCME stays silent regarding generous benefits, continues to demand $3B in pay raises, lavish perks

By Mailee Smith

07/05/2016

More than a year without a contract, the state’s largest government-worker union is requesting unreasonable and unaffordable perks, even though the governor has already offered several extravagant benefits.

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

Unemployment 101: How to understand an Illinois jobs report

By Michael Lucci

04/15/2016

Monthly reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security allow the public to see Illinois’ record for job creation and unemployment. Understanding the components of the reports, what they measure, and the significance of the data are key to assessing the state’s economic health.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, unemployment

Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2015

12/14/2015

November saw Chicago’s City Council let the term of the legislative inspector general, who is tasked with overseeing City Council, expire without hiring a replacement, as well as several other instances of breach of public trust and influence peddling around the state.

TAGS: corruption

What’s the SEIU hiding?

By Chris Andriesen

05/13/2015

Dues-paying members have a right to know how their union is spending their money, and who’s getting a cut.

TAGS: SEIU: Service Employees International Union

Amid dues hikes, AFSCME opt-outs left in the dark on union spending

By David Giuliani

02/23/2015

If people are forced to pay money to unions, they should at the very least have easy access to a detailed account of how their money is spent.

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

Governments unions veer from mission in Illinois

By David Giuliani

02/11/2015

Big spending at hotels, holiday parties and retirement events is financed by forced dues.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, labor, SEIU: Service Employees International Union, unions

Government unions bloated with overhead

By David Giuliani

02/09/2015

Illinois’ biggest public-sector unions fail to meet the standard for nonprofits.

TAGS: IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, labor

How unions spend workers’ money

By David Giuliani

02/09/2015

In 2013, SEIU Healthcare Illinois-Indiana spent a total of $1.5 million on such things as hotels, air travel, rental cars, and restaurants and catering. These “extras” represent the money of 3,092 members and nonmembers, or 3.3 percent of the union’s total membership.

TAGS: labor

IEA continues wasteful union spending

By Paul Kersey

10/10/2014

The Illinois Education Association, or IEA, has gotten even more wasteful, according to new LM-2 spending reports filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. IEA has a history of being a very wasteful union. In my review of union spending, I went through IEA operations spending – money that went into representation, politics and lobbying,...

TAGS: labor, unions

United States Department of Labor

A comprehensive review of the most absurd benefits in the AFSCME collective bargaining agreement

AFSCME stays silent regarding generous benefits, continues to demand $3B in pay raises, lavish perks

Unemployment 101: How to understand an Illinois jobs report

Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2015

What’s the SEIU hiding?

Amid dues hikes, AFSCME opt-outs left in the dark on union spending

Governments unions veer from mission in Illinois

Government unions bloated with overhead

How unions spend workers’ money

IEA continues wasteful union spending

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