Prominent Chicago Democrat comes out against Amendment 1

Former Democratic Chicago Ald. Michele Smith said she recommends a ‘no’ vote on Amendment 1. She said the Illinois Constitution doesn’t need another restriction to keep state lawmakers from fixing the state.

Former 43rd Ward Ald. Michele Smith endorsed voting “no” on Amendment 1.

Smith, who resigned in July, in an email to her neighbors gave three reasons why she’s voting “no” and urged her community to do the same.

“First, this amendment would tie the hands of our legislatures to make even the smallest changes on employment issues, much as our state constitution’s ‘pension clause’ has made it impossible to realistically align pensions to the real needs of our employees and the costs to the taxpayers,” Smith wrote.

Amendment 1 allows government union contracts to override state law, giving government union bosses power over elected officials.

“Second, we don’t know what the amendment covers. For example, in 2019, striking teachers wanted to require [Chicago Public Schools] to negotiate broad affordable housing policy – an arbitrator ruled that they couldn’t. But this amendment has new language about ‘economic welfare’ that is undefined,” she wrote.

Government unions in Illinois already have a right to negotiate over wages, hours and terms and conditions of employment. No other state constitution includes a right to “economic welfare” and proponents admit they don’t know what it entails.

Finally, Smith points out Amendment 1 doesn’t expand bargaining rights for 93% of Illinoisans who work in the private sector.

“Third, it is likely that amendment would apply only to public-sector workers instead of say, Starbucks employees who seek a union, because private-sector workers are already covered by the National Labor Relations Act, which would likely supersede any state law or state constitutional provision.”

Smith echoed concerns from editorial boards at The Wall Street Journal, Crain’s Chicago Business, the Chicago Tribune, the Daily Herald in suburban Chicago and the News-Gazette in Champaign. All five recommended voting against Amendment 1.

“The worst part is that there are no definitive answers to these issues,” she wrote.