Labor

Noble teachers beware: Unionizing invites CTU involvement in your school

Noble teachers beware: Unionizing invites CTU involvement in your school

Teachers seeking union representation in the Noble Network of Charter Schools may want to think again. Unions cause more harm than good for both students and teachers. The Chicago Teachers Union provides an up close and personal look at the disastrous impact unions would have on charter schools.

By Mailee Smith

AFSCME blurs the lines between ‘representational’ and ‘political’ spending, to the detriment of fair share payers

AFSCME blurs the lines between ‘representational’ and ‘political’ spending, to the detriment of fair share payers

Government workers in Illinois can opt out of union membership, but they still have to pay fees to the union. Those fees are not supposed to go toward political activities, but a close look at AFSCME’s most recent union report demonstrates how unions use fair share fees for activities most people would consider “political.”

By Mailee Smith

Illinois Supreme Court’s denial of quicker AFSCME appeal means taxpayers still on the hook for millions each month

Illinois Supreme Court’s denial of quicker AFSCME appeal means taxpayers still on the hook for millions each month

AFSCME obstructed progress for months on a new contract for state workers. Whether AFSCME and the state are at impasse in negotiations now sits with the Illinois courts – and the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision not to take a direct appeal of the case means taxpayers must continue to pay an additional $35 million to $40 million each month in health care costs alone.

By Mailee Smith

Rauner seeks quicker resolution of AFSCME impasse decision

Rauner seeks quicker resolution of AFSCME impasse decision

AFSCME’s obstruction of a contract for state workers costs taxpayers approximately $35 million to $40 million a month in healthcare costs alone. Gov. Bruce Rauner is seeking a direct appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court to bring relief to taxpayers burdened by AFSCME’s stall tactics.

By Mailee Smith

Taxpayers deserve say in the teachers’ union contracts they pay for

Taxpayers deserve say in the teachers’ union contracts they pay for

Negotiations between government-worker unions and governing bodies are conducted behind closed doors, away from public scrutiny. And yet taxpayers are required to pay for whatever extravagant benefits the unions obtain. Recently a bill in the General Assembly would have brought more transparency – and accountability – to the process, but it failed to make it out of committee.

By Mailee Smith

Illinois lawmakers vote against bill to protect state workers from having their Social Security number shared with unions

Illinois lawmakers vote against bill to protect state workers from having their Social Security number shared with unions

Through collective bargaining agreements with the state, government-worker unions require access to workers’ social security numbers – even if those workers are not members of the union. A bill protecting worker privacy recently failed to get enough votes to pass out of committee.

By Mailee Smith

AFSCME’s battle with Rauner is far from over

AFSCME’s battle with Rauner is far from over

An Illinois appellate court ruled in favor of AFSCME March 1, but that isn’t the end of the court battle between the state and its largest government-worker union. The court’s order to prevent the governor from implementing his contract offer is temporary, and there is much more to come.

By Mailee Smith