What Noble charter teachers need to know before unionizing
What Noble charter teachers need to know before unionizing
A group of teachers in the Noble Network of Charter Schools are seeking union representation. Here’s what Noble teachers need to know before voting to unionize.
By Mailee Smith
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
SB 19: A bill preserving union jobs at all costs
SB 19: A bill preserving union jobs at all costs
A bill sitting on Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk is all about preserving union jobs – placing union priorities above the people of Illinois.
By Mailee Smith
General Assembly passes SB 19, which would hinder care for IDOC inmates and saddle taxpayers with unnecessary costs
General Assembly passes SB 19, which would hinder care for IDOC inmates and saddle taxpayers with unnecessary costs
Senate Bill 19 could prevent the state from providing the best, most cost-effective medical services for inmates in the Illinois Department of Corrections, and it forces the state to pay for employees that may not be necessary.
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
Illinois AFSCME workers receive, on average, nearly $110,000 in total compensation
Illinois AFSCME workers receive, on average, nearly $110,000 in total compensation
The highest state worker salaries in the nation, overtime pay, generous state pensions, taxpayer-subsidized health care coverage and free retiree health insurance for career workers combine to give the average Illinois AFSCME worker six-figure annual compensation.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Chicago Teachers Union seeks more negotiating power, strike authority in HB 1253
Chicago Teachers Union seeks more negotiating power, strike authority in HB 1253
While states surrounding Illinois are enacting labor reforms that benefit residents, Illinois remains a bastion of labor power. Now the Chicago Teachers Union wants even more power – including the broadened right to go on strike and strand parents and students.
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
Illinois Supreme Court won’t hear state employee pay case immediately
Illinois Supreme Court won’t hear state employee pay case immediately
The Illinois Supreme Court refused to hear Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s request to stop state employees from getting paid until a budget is passed.
By Brendan Bakala
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
According to AFSCME’s numbers, fewer than half of Illinois state workers voted to authorize strike
According to AFSCME’s numbers, fewer than half of Illinois state workers voted to authorize strike
In a recent strike-authorization vote, fewer than half of state workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees cast ballots in favor of a strike, despite union leaders’ characterization of the outcome as majority approval.
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