Labor in Illinois

Weekly Labor Report
November 2, 2007

Illinois Senate Passes Legislation

A series of bills were passed in the Illinois State Assembly. The first provided a 4000-position landbased casino in the City of Chicago, two river boats in unspecified locations and an expansion of 6000 gaming positions made available by bid to the nine existing casinos. Another piece of legislation provides $25.2 billion to fund the construction of Illinois’ roads, bridges and new schools. Meanwhile, a long-term funding solution for the Chicago Transit Authority is still pending. Currently, unions in Chicago have not backed any of the proposed plans.—Fox Valley Labor News (27 Sept 2007): 3.

Chicago Teachers' Union Agrees to Contract

The Chicago Teachers Union reached an agreement with the Chicago Board of Education that increases teachers’ salaries by 20 percent over the next four years, and provides additional salary steps for teachers and paraprofessionals in school-related personnel. Furthermore, teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards will receive a $1750 yearly bonus. Teachers at ten Chicago Public Schools will be eligible for performance-based bonuses as part of the Recognizing Excellence in Academic Leadership program. These bonuses are available to include janitors and clerks, and range from $1000 to $15000. – Chicago Federation of Labor (November 2007): 4.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Receives Four Year Collective Bargaining Agreement

Under the terms of the newly ratified agreement the Chicago Federation of Musicians has reached with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, in the first year of the contract workers will receive a 2.7 % increase in weekly base salary for the first six months, followed by a 4.4% wage increase for the next six months. –Chicago Federation of Labor (November 2007): 5.

Senators Model Independent Contractor Bill On Illinois Legislation

Both Illinois Senators, Dick Durbin and Barack Obama, along with Labor Committee Chairman Ted Kennedy and Washington Senator Patty Murray, in collaboration with the AFL-CIO, Change to Win, Teamsters and National Employment Law Project, have drafted national legislation modeled on that recently passed in Illinois to refine the definition of an independent contractor. Dick Durbin reflected, “When you walk down the streets of Chicago, and in the suburbs and towns throughout Illinois, you can see the construction workers hard at work building new homes, office buildings and roads. These workers deserve a fair share from employers who are not trying to cheat the system. Improperly labeling workers as independent contractors is cheating of the worst kind. Companies resorting to this dishonest practice avoid paying the taxes they owe and deny their employees their legal rights, including the right to a safe workplace, the right to the minimum wage, and the right to overtime.”—The Labor Paper (18 Oct 2007):2.

Blagojevich Supports Program to Expand Racial Diversity in Construction Trades

Gov. Blagojevich announced a plan to extend $6 Million in grants to the Employment Opportunities Grant Program, a fund that works with thirteen community-based organizations and educational institutions in Cook County and statewide. It is a part of Operation Returns, the Governor’s initiative in creating new jobs within the state. The fund will be administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Capital Development Board, the state’s primary “construction management agency.” Some of the grant recipients include the Chicago Interfaith Committee on Worker Issues, Chicago Public Schools, Coalition for United Community Action, Construction Careers Council, Dawson Technical Institute, OAI, Saint Paul Church of God in CHirst Community Development Ministries, Lincolnland Community College, Neighborhood Housing Development Corporation, Peoria Educational Region for Employment and Career Training, and Southwestern Illinois College. –Lasalle County Labor News (Sept/Oct 2007): 5.

Senator Dick Durbin Co-Sponsors Bankruptcy Reform

Introduced by House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), as well as the Senate Health, Education Labor and Pension Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy, the “Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business and Bankruptcy Act of 2007” would bar a company from shielding executives’ pensions and health benefits while cutting those of wage workers. Rich Pascarella, a 19 year Local 1759 member and United Airlines Ramp Serviceman at Dulles Airport reflected, “We could have used this bill five years ago, but legislation like this wouldn’t have had a chance in the last Congress.”—IAM Journal (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO): Fall 2007, 33.

Tripartite Meeting Tackles Construction Challenges

The United Association of Plumbers, Pipe-Fittters, Sprinkler Fitters and HVACR Service Technicians joined with some of the nation’s largest corporations at a conference in Mokena, IL to address the rising demand for skilled workers in the current construction boom. One of the most important national needs, according to US Secretary of Labor Samuel Bodman, is a body of highly skilled workers to build safe nuclear plants. One noted plan for continuing to train highly skilled craftsmen is the Helmets to Hardhats program that provides returning soldiers retraining opportunities, in cooperation with unions. Currently, the Illinois Pipe Trades Association Advancement Program (IPTAPP) provides cutting edge training by collaborating with 23 local unions and 1500 union contractors in Illinois and parts of Iowa and Indiana. – The Labor Paper (18 Oct 2007): 2.

More than 300 Master Sergeants in Illinois Join Teamsters

In the Illinois State Police ranking system, master sergeants fall above sergeants and troopers and below lieutenants and captains. They have been the only non-managerial level of officers in the system without union representation. In the process of organizing these private sector workers this past year, the state of Illinois filed objections to their rights to collective bargaining, holding that they have supervisory status. Soon after, the Fraternal Order of Police tried to organize these officers. However, the Teamsters, specifically t he Teamsters Law Enforcement League, won local elections. Not only are opportunities now open for union support in the case of promotion to master sergeant, but Teamster police officers automatically qualify to participate in TeamLegal, a national program that provides legal assistance for civil and criminal incidents, as well as preparation for grand jury hearings. – Teamster (International Brotherhood of Teamsters ): September/October 2007, 16-17.

IAM Endorses Clinton and Huckaee

President Tom Buffenbarger of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) announced that the union endorses both New York Senator Clinton and former Arkansas Governor Huckabee in the presidential primaries. He explained, “Our endorsement carries with it something priceless—a blue collar union’s seal of approval. And make no mistake about this. Blue collar families are the key demographic battleground in 2008.” Because 1/3 of the IAM self-identify as Republicans, the union decided to endorse a candidate on both sides of the aisle. “I was impressed with former Governor Mike Huckabee,” he continued. “He didn’t tell us what we wanted to hear. He told us what he believed, even when not a single one of us would have agreed with him. That took guts. That took conviction—not a bad combination.” About Clinton he reflected, the IAM is “looking for a strategic partner who will work with our union over the long haul, can amass over 70 million votes in the general election, can compete for 350 Electoral College votes, and can govern this nation in a time of multiple crises.” Under the Clinton Administration, “this union had a friend in the West Wing—and a friend in the East Wing. We fought with the Oval Office on NAFTA and PNTR. We worked with the East Wing on health care reform. We worked with the White House on the Family Medical Leave Act, a patients’ bill of rights and the creation of new JOBS. ..” Endorsements were made by voting of the membership. – IAM Journal (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO): Fall 2007, 10-21.