Teachers’ rights: What if someone doesn’t want to participate in CTU’s 1-day strike on April 1?
Teachers’ rights: What if someone doesn’t want to participate in CTU’s 1-day strike on April 1?
CPS teachers who are unsure about their options on April 1 can call 312-805-0969 for information or assistance.
Madigan’s middle class: Pain for the many, perks for the few
Madigan’s middle class: Pain for the many, perks for the few
Middle-class Illinoisans who aren’t employed by the government are suffering, but Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan stands in the way of solutions.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
61% of Illinois voters support Right to Work, poll finds
61% of Illinois voters support Right to Work, poll finds
A new poll conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute in February 2016 reveals that a clear majority of voters – including 55 percent of Democrats and 51 percent of union members – support or lean toward supporting Right-to-Work laws.
By Mailee Smith
Chicago Teachers Union’s threatened April 1 strike date isn’t legal
Chicago Teachers Union’s threatened April 1 strike date isn’t legal
The Chicago Teachers Union has threatened to strike as early as April 1 over Chicago Public Schools’ announced plan to stop paying a portion of teachers’ required contributions to their pension fund. Under Illinois labor law, however, CTU cannot legally strike before mid- to late-May.
By Jeffrey Schwab
Illinois Democrats revive union arbitration legislation that would cut Rauner out of contract negotiations
Illinois Democrats revive union arbitration legislation that would cut Rauner out of contract negotiations
Through House Bill 580, Democrats in the General Assembly take a second run at removing Gov. Bruce Rauner from contract negotiations with AFSCME.
By Hilary Gowins
West Virginia takes first step toward becoming 26th Right-to-Work state
West Virginia takes first step toward becoming 26th Right-to-Work state
West Virginia’s Senate has passed legislation to protect a worker’s right to choose to join a union, or to opt out entirely.
By Michael Lucci
Rauner moves to declare impasse in negotiations with AFSCME
Rauner moves to declare impasse in negotiations with AFSCME
Lacking signs of progress after 24 bargaining sessions with Illinois’ largest government-employee union, Gov. Bruce Rauner says that “further negotiation is no longer worthwhile.” AFSCME continues to ignore the fact that the people who pay its members’ salaries and benefits, Illinois taxpayers, continue to struggle in a difficult Illinois economy. Illinois workers, faced with stagnant earnings, are now paying for AFSCME salaries that are double their own.
By Ted Dabrowski
AFSCME worker salaries grew 5 times faster than Illinois worker earnings from 2005-2014
AFSCME worker salaries grew 5 times faster than Illinois worker earnings from 2005-2014
Illinois could have saved a cumulative $3.5 billion had AFSCME salaries simply grown at the rate of inflation since 2004.
By Ted Dabrowski
Supreme Court to hear arguments on forced union fees
Supreme Court to hear arguments on forced union fees
On Jan. 11, lawyers for the plaintiffs in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association will argue before the U.S. Supreme Court that the First Amendment prohibits the government from forcing its employees to pay union fees.
Jim Andersen
Jim Andersen
AFSCME's demands would cost Illinois taxpayers an additional $3 billion over the course of the contract.
AFSCME: Rauner has declared impasse in contract negotiations
AFSCME: Rauner has declared impasse in contract negotiations
Without a strike fund, AFSCME – which represents 60,000 state workers in Illinois – has avoided a strike. But since the union announced that the governor has walked way from contract talks, a strike could be on the horizon.
Lincolnshire voters overwhelmingly support Right to Work
Lincolnshire voters overwhelmingly support Right to Work
In the face of strident union opposition, Lincolnshire’s Village Board voted 5-1 to pass a worker-freedom ordinance.
By Jim Long
Standing up to unions
Standing up to unions
If the unions really think it's so unfair that they have to represent everyone, then how about we change the law to "one or none" so that they only have to represent union supporters?
By John Tillman
Village of Lincolnshire becomes first Illinois municipality to protect worker choice
Village of Lincolnshire becomes first Illinois municipality to protect worker choice
No worker should be forced to pay a union in order to have or hold onto a job. Workers in Lincolnshire are now the first in Illinois to be guaranteed this basic right, as the Village Board voted Dec. 14 to adopt local Right to Work.
By Michael Lucci