Labor | Illinois Policy

Video: Government Union Collective Bargaining 101

Why is it that collective bargaining for public employee unions inevitably leave taxpayers with the short end of the stick?

Institute on Chicago Tonight: Union Fight Wages On

The Institute's John O'Hara appeared on WTTW's Chicago Tonight to discuss the union battle in Wisconsin.

Anti-Union or Pro-Worker?

I was asked recently why union members are protesting in Wisconsin, but we did not see similar protests in Springfield when the lame duck tax hikes were passed in January. The answer is simple: Taxpayers cant afford to take off from work.

Wisconsin Protestors Liken Wisconsin Gov. Walker to Hitler?

First you take away the unions, then you take away the Jews, is the shocking comment one protestor at the Wisconsin state capitol told The Heritage Foundation in this video.

Institute in Rockford Register Star: Could Wisconsin’s Labor Rights ‘Ruckus’ Happen in Illinois?

Illinois Policy Institute's Collin Hitt was quoted in a story in the Rockford Register Star about whether the union battles in Wisconsin could occur in Illinois.

Illinois Not Yet Wisconsin When it Comes to State Worker Unions

John Tillman was quoted in a State Journal Register story about the unlikelihood that Gov. Quinn would take on public employee unions the way Gov. Walker is doing in Wisconsin.

Institute on Chicago Tonight: Political Chaos in Wisconsin

Illinois Policy Institute's Diana Rickert was a guest on the Tuesday night broadcast of "Chicago Tonight" discussing the union debacle in Wisconsin.

Plus 945: Why Quinn Doesn’t Fear Public Employee Unions

While governors in New York and Wisconsin are stirring up much antagonism from state and local employees after making sizable cuts to stave off fiscal calamity, Illinois's Governor is adding hundreds to the state payroll.

IDES Staffers Say Orchestrated Slowdown Exists at Agency

Amidst record demand for services, IDES agency heads say they dont know why the appeals department is handling a fraction of the cases it did at this time last year. Staffers say the delay is intentional.

Right to Work In Michigan?

Michigan is poised to pass a Right-to-Work law in the next couple of days. Union protesters are staked out at the Capitol building making their anti-Right-to-Work opinions known. This is a key point in a huge political battle that will have repercussions that go well beyond the state of Michigan. Your friendly neighborhood labor expert...

By Paul Kersey

Union Dues – Where do they go?

by Kate Piercy A lot of money comes out of union members’ pockets for dues, but how many union members know exactly what those dues are going towards? Are union bosses representing workers’ best interests? Spending reports suggest otherwise, says the Competitive Enterprise Institute, and “As union workers struggle to make their paychecks cover household costs,...

By Chris Andriesen

Cartoon Blogging: Volunteers Stealing Jobs

by Ashley Muchow Check out Chris Britt’s cartoon in the State-Journal Register. We bloggedyesterday on the absurdity of the union blacklash against volunteers participating in zoo “clean up” day.

Cartoon Blogging: Quinn & AFSCME

by Ashley Muchow Great cartoon from Chris Britt of the SJ-R today, recounting the recent deal struck between the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees labor union and Governor Quinn. Check out our blogs, response, and more blogs on the matter. As Quinn rolls over to the demands of AFSCME, Illinois has reason to question the Governor’s plan...

Leader Radogno Slams AFSCME Deal

by Kristina Rasmussen Here’s Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno’s take on the AFSCME deal: “This is wrong on so many counts that it is hard to know where to begin. At a minimum, there is the appearance that the Governor traded a favorable contract for the union endorsement. It was clearly wrong to take the state’s lead...