Your daily “right to work” roundup
Monday, May 11, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Nothing yet from the governor’s office. From the Illinois AFL-CIO…
Village of Cambridge has pulled the Rauner anti-worker resolution from its agenda for Monday (May 11).
Rauner anti-worker resolution not called at Henry County committee [Friday] morning. Big turnout from labor and community. Great work. May be brought up for hearings in future. We’ll keep you posted.
Actually, Cambridge already passed the Rauner resolution back in early April.
* A union spokesman explains via text…
The agenda item was to discuss rescinding the bad resolution, which had been hurriedly passed. Apparently the item has been pulled to stifle debate. I understand that Cambridge residents are still turning out tonight to make clear they want their voices heard.
* Meanwhile, we’re coming up to an historical milestone. Almost 34 years ago on May 15, 1981 the Republican-controlled Illinois House debated and overwhelmingly defeated (138-25) a “right to work” bill sponsored by DuPage County GOP Rep. Ray Hudson. The debate transcript is here.
* From Rep. Hudson’s opening remarks…
This proposal is in a very real sense a link in the chain of American liberty. This measure does in a very real sense epitomize the age old struggle between capitalism and freedom. House Bill 831 simply provides the First Amendment right of our citizens to associate or to refrain from associating in a labor union.” […]
This seems fair. It provides freedom of choice for the worker. It not only seems fair it is fair. The worker joins or doesn’t join but either way he has a job. The union gains because its members are on the rolls paying dues, contributing to Pension Funds and all of the rest of it not because he or she is forced to but because that employee wants to. Because they see in their membership something they really believe is worth having and keeping voluntarily. Of course, this voluntary membership could test the unions’ metal. Of course, this voluntary membership would require responsive and responsible union leadership, but is that so bad? I don’t think so. Why not give the Illinois worker this fundamental right of free choice?
* From Democratic Rep. Jim McPike’s remarks during debate…
…The only thing that is required of that employee is to pay union dues. to pay his fair share. Now, why is that important? It is important because federal law requires that the union, if a union is voted in, federal law requires that that union represent everyone at the plant. They must negotiate fringe benefits, salary increases, holidays, all of their benefits. Not just for union members in good standing but for everyone at the plant. If someone has a grievance they must represent that person at grievance hearings against the employer. Since there are associated costs that the union has in negotiating contracts and representing people at grievance hearings unions feel that workers who share in the benefits of a union should pay for the cost associated with the union. And that’s all the law says. That there can be no free loaders at a given plant. That since everyone benefits from a union everyone should pay for the cost of that union.
* From Democratic Rep. Larry Stuffle’s explanation of his vote during the lopsided roll call…
“I’m happy to see this is going down the tubes where it ought to be. It’s not been here for a vote positively for 45 years and I hope it doesn’t come back in 45 years.'’
Not quite 45 years, but close.
The roll call is here. Democrats in blue, Republicans in pink.
- Demoralized - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 12:55 pm:
History is going to repeat itself if RTW is voted on again. The sooner the Governor realizes that the better off we’ll all be.
- Wordslinger - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 12:56 pm:
–… the age-old struggle between capitalism and freedom.–
Neve heard that one before.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 12:57 pm:
“Hi ‘ck’-
History is a swell teacher. It’s more fun to read history to learn, than to be taught lessons with the RTW defeats.
There has to be better things to do, but until your Shop and boss finds them, keep all of us updated.
Thanks!
ow”
- Johnny Pyle Driver - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 1:01 pm:
Big news! Altona, population 550 (and origin for my namesake), will discuss this item next month. But first, they have to figure out what it is!
- Team Sleep - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 1:06 pm:
In my younger days, one of the best pieces of advice that my dad told me (over and over again) was to pick your battles but be firm about the battles in which you choose to engage. He told me that high school, college, the workplace, marriage, fatherhood and even voluntary endeavors (like a church board or community project) require compromise more often than not. He would reiterate that very few people always get what they want. Granted, the Governor and Speaker are two people who would likely lump themselves in with the “I always get what I want!” subsection, but something that will clearly not pass given the current makeup of the ILGA (cough…right-to-work…cough) needs to be dropped like the hot potato at a first grader’s birthday party. And if Governor Rauner wants anything else on his “agenda” to be passed within 20 days, he needs to take a hint after this week and give it a rest.
- Juvenal - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 1:06 pm:
That was Speaker George Ryan voting No, and Representative Jeff Mays, now Director of IDES, voting yes.
Strange. Days. Indeed.
- BlameBruceRauner - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 1:20 pm:
Team Sleep I do agree with you for once. RTW better get punted. Most common people dont believe one bit that this helps the state
- zonz - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
Topinka voted *P*
haha
- Polls - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 1:31 pm:
Note that GOP Leaders did not vote for this junk…Speaker Ryan, future Speaker Daniels, future Sen GOP Leader Watson & future US Speaker Hastert ALL voted NO.
- walker - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 1:43 pm:
Capitalism vs Liberty? From the mouth of a Republican?
The good old time Progressive Farmers’ movement.
- Juvenal - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 1:47 pm:
Polls:
They had a lot of company.
the GOP roll call on RTW was 25-55-5.
Ouch.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 1:49 pm:
I love that roll call just for the names on it - an awesome blast from the past.
- Anonymous - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 1:51 pm:
Hastert “No”
- Norseman - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 2:07 pm:
They don’t make GOP reps that good anymore.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 2:12 pm:
===They don’t make GOP reps that good anymore.===
You ain’t whistlin’ Dixie…
… see what I did there.
To - Norseman -,
Your point also goes deeper insofar as recognizing that issues outside Illinois shouldn’t dictate policy, for either party frankly.
As the GOP GA has gotten smaller, it’s gotten too similar. Is it a chicken/egg thing, I don’t know, but candidate recruitment I know is a factor; can’t win with a candidate not recruited.
- gopower - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 2:56 pm:
An engaging piece of history.
Michigan and Wisconsin used to tell similar stories…
- Democrat Grrrl - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 3:32 pm:
I was present for this vote. At the time, the nascent Trade Union, Solidarnosc, was being formed in Poland by Gdansk shipyard workers led by Lech Walesa. It was astonishing that the establishment of rights for Polish workers was being celebrated by many Republicans, as they tried at the same time to strip those rights from workers in their own state. Many Republicans voted to support workers in 1981. In 2015, who knows what the GOP will do. Different times, very different GOP.
- Demoralized - Monday, May 11, 15 @ 3:33 pm:
==Michigan and Wisconsin used to tell similar stories==
Illinois ain’t Michigan or Wisconsin. You’re welcome.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 12, 15 @ 8:46 am:
- Holy Smokes -
I’d check what you’re smokin’…