Not only were there few hours to find child care for working families, but the word came as most people were asleep that the Chicago Teachers Union was forcing schools to close the next day.
The Chicago Teachers Union refused to return to classrooms Jan. 5. Teachers who recognize the failings of remote learning and want to be there for their students have options.
Chicago schools closed Jan. 5 when the Chicago Teachers Union voted to keep members out of classrooms, trying to force an end to in-person learning over COVID-19 concerns.
Government unions in Illinois have tremendous power. Most are allowed to go on strike and can bargain over virtually anything.1 It creates an uneven playing field, with unions able to demand costly provisions in their contracts and threaten to strike – denying Illinoisans needed services – to get what they want.2 Until recently, the potential...
Amendment 1 would allow unions to override provisions put in place for the protection of the children Illinois is supposed to be safeguarding.
Amendment 1 would allow union leaders to negotiate anything and everything into union contracts – including provisions that could contradict state laws meant to protect Illinois schoolchildren.
Special interest groups shouldn’t be singled out for protection in the Illinois Constitution, but state lawmakers are asking voters to change that. If passed, Amendment 1 would protect government unions at the expense of everyone else.
In 2022, Illinois voters will face the biggest union power grab yet.
Allowing teachers unions to hold students and homeowners hostage is not the norm.
“Freedom of expression is not a priority of the union.”
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is being challenged by 23 labor unions over her Dec. 31 vaccination deadline. They claimed she is infringing on union members’ collective bargaining rights.
"I didn’t realize that SEIU was taking so much money until one day I looked at some of my paystubs. SEIU takes dues from each check I receive, per child."
Amendment 1 would constitutionally prohibit Illinois lawmakers from pulling back on union power. It would give government union bosses more power than voters and than those elected to represent voters’ interests.
No other state constitutions guarantee unmitigated powers to government unions, and 28 state constitutions don’t even find a need to mention labor.