Your daily “right to work” roundup
Wednesday, May 20, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Nothing yet from the governor’s office. But here’s the AFL-CIO…
Charleston City Council rescinds the Rauner resolution it passed weeks ago.
Rock Island County unanimously passed a pro-worker resolution tonight.
Franklin County Board unanimously passes a pro-labor resolution and unanimously votes down the Rauner anti-worker resolution tonight in Benton.
* Take it off the board…
Six weeks after the original resolution was passed and two revisions later, City Council members voted down the local government relief resolution 3-2 during their meeting Tuesday.
The resolution, which was changed from “Supporting Local Government Empowerment and Reform” to “Supporting Local Government Relief and Reform,” went up for a vote after Mayor Larry Rennels opened the item to public discussion. Ultimately, Rennels and councilman Jeffrey Lahr voted in favor of the resolution while councilmen Brandon Combs, Matthew Hutti and Tim Newell voted against it.
The council reopened the resolution for discussion May 5 after a crowd packed the council chambers April 21 and addressed members concerning the measure. A different version, which removed portions of the resolution including a paragraph focused on who has control over what topics go into collective bargaining and also removed the term “prevailing wage,” was placed on file for public inspection.
The document was revised again before the final vote, this time taking out sections including a portion focused on right-to-work zones. Rennels said he wanted to focus specifically on areas of the resolution that affected Charleston. The resolution wouldn’t have enacted any changes; rather, it would send a message to Springfield that the city wants the state government to examine issues such as unfunded mandates, Rennels said.
* From RICO…
Union supporters on Tuesday cheered Rock Island County Board Democrats who issued a defiant rebuke to what they say is Gov. Bruce Rauner’s efforts to weaken organized labor.
The board voted 17-0, all Democrats, for a resolution to “protect the middle class” that opposes Gov. Rauner’s proposals to allow right-to-work zones in Illinois communities and repealing rules that protect union wage rates on public projects. The board’s six Republicans abstained. […]
Rather than oppose it, Republican members abstained with Drue Mielke, R-Coal Valley, head of the board’s Republican caucus, reading from a prepared statement.
“This resolution is partisan, and although it does not mention him by name, it is a public repudiation of the governor of the state of Illinois,” Mr. Mielke said. “We should not be taking up this resolution, nor should we be taking up a resolution that supports the governor’s agenda.”
Not exactly a ringing GOP endorsement, that.
* On to Franklin County…
The “Resolution to Protect the Middle Class” was adopted unanimously by the board at its meeting Tuesday night.
The document, which calls the labor movement “a historic cornerstone of the American middle class,” asserts that right-to-work zones are not within the authority of local governments, and that the repeal of prevailing wage requirements on construction projects will drive down wages and benefits and hurt the local economy. […]
Following the roll call vote in Benton on Tuesday night, the standing-room-only crowd in the courtroom — where the meeting had been moved because the usual county board meeting room would have been too small to hold everyone — stood and applauded.
* Related…
* Morton Grove elaborates on response to proposed state cuts: During the May 11 meeting, the board approve a resolution stating that the village would oppose any initiatives that would hurt the middle class.
- How Ironic - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:04 pm:
Hi Rich,
The New Berlin Elementary School civics club voted for the resolution in a non-binding forum. The teacher playing ‘Bruce Rauner’ told all the children that if they didn’t vote for the resolution that recess would be canceled for the remainder of the year.
Best,
ck!
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:10 pm:
The later in the day these are posted, the worse it is for the governor’s office. Any time there is some Smalltownsville of 351 to trumpet they do it early. Whenever they are getting hammered, we get an afternoon post of “Nothing yet from the governor’s office” followed by a string of union victories.
- Weekly Reader - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:11 pm:
Of the unions, by the unions, and for the unions…our great state of Illinois, locked up. Taxpayers are doomed.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:15 pm:
WR, try not to be such a victim. It’s unbecoming.
- Weekly Reader - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:19 pm:
Sorry that the truth is unpleasant. We taxpayers are tapped out. Of course AFSCME called out its forces for these local meetings. Were any non-union residents/voters present?
- From the Stateline - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:22 pm:
Weekly Reader @ 3:19 pm:
In northern Illinois, many of the union members who have turned out are from private sector unions and are residents of the particular municipality. Don’t assume that the state-level organizations are just sending the same group of activists everywhere.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:22 pm:
==- Weekly Reader - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:19 pm:==
Isn’t that a damning indictment of Bruce Rauner as a manager of public policy if he can’t organize “non-union residents/voters” and get them to show up? Never mind that that supposes that “non-union residents” are opposed to unions rather than simply people who are retired or in industries or professions that are not unionized, but that still support unions.
- Weekly Reader - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:22 pm:
P.S. Doesn’t the “middle class” include taxpayers who work in the private sector?
- JS Mill - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:23 pm:
=We taxpayers are tapped out.= Clearly hyperbolic and exaggerated.
+Of course AFSCME called out its forces for these local meetings. Were any non-union residents/voters present?=
Democracy, even a representative republic, is an active pursuit and it is called freedom of speech and assembly. Have you gone to any of these meetings to express support or opposition for the Governor’s agenda?
- dfgz - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:26 pm:
@ Weekly Reader
Doesn’t the middle class include those who support labor instead of bashing those who disagree with them?
- chi - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:26 pm:
Union wages bring up the wages of non-union workers, WR.
- Norseman - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:34 pm:
That scream out of the Rauner Resolution War Room came from Schrimpf yelling at the superstar staffers for the bad news from Charleston.
- ash - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:36 pm:
WR — I’m not in the union and I was there supporting them…
- Weekly Reader - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:36 pm:
I shan’t monopolize the thread here as I’m not a regular commenter. Conservatives don’t organize as the Left does in general; the rise of the Tea Party was new to the Right. Most are busy raising families and working. I know our local unions have folks regularly volunteer to attend school board, etc. mtgs. We citizens filled rooms when the city was attempting to take over our n-hood’s private property for public trails. We shut them down pretty well, I’d say.
My profession is economics. Unions don’t raise wages across the board. In fact, profs at my alma mater were opposed to unionizing as it tended to lower salaries.
- How Ironic - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:43 pm:
@ Weekly Reader -
“Conservatives don’t organize as the Left does in general…Most are busy raising families and working.”
I stopped reading after that. As if no one on the left has a job, or a family.
I’m sure you were also referring to ‘those people’?
- chi - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:46 pm:
This game could be fun…
“Conservatives don’t organize as the Left does in general…Most are busy flying “Don’t Tread on Me Flags” on the Cass Ave. bridge over I-55.”
- JS Mill - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:46 pm:
WR- I am management, not labor or union. But I respect the right of every citizen to act.
If a cause or issue needs my attention it gets it.
=Most are busy raising families and working.=
the proper response is banned so I will simply say that your response provides a rich canvas for my brain to formulate amusing responses while I labor to provide a living for my family.
Typically an “economist” can bring some “data” to the discussion. I don’t see any in your last post
- Jack Stephens - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:49 pm:
@weekly
How exactly do “Conservatives” organize?Is there a secret handshake?
- From the Stateline - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:56 pm:
Weekly Reader:
Have you heard of organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce and the NRA? Unless we’re going to pretend that the 20th century never happened, I’m pretty sure they predate the Tea Party…
- railrat - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:57 pm:
more important than this hyperbole did “we all” stay up to watch the Hawks win ??? I admit I fell asleep in the lazy boy …and what the h double hockey sticks is going on at U of I ??? sheesh
- Not quite a majority - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:00 pm:
Maybe the RTW crowd should read about the vote in Missouri http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/05/20/the-conservative-case-against-picking-on-unions-courtesy-of-missouri-republicans/?wpisrc=nl_wnkpm&wpmm=1
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:01 pm:
==- From the Stateline - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:56 pm:==
Not only that but there was a well organized group of conservatives that had a few major eras of organization.
- Anon. - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:01 pm:
Has there been a Right to Work vote in Peoria or Tazewell counties?
- zonz - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:05 pm:
were you in a frat … at The College For Wilful Ignorance & Myth?
———————
- Weekly Reader - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:36 pm:
I shan’t monopolize the thread here as I’m not a regular commenter. Conservatives don’t organize as the Left does in general; the rise of the Tea Party was new to the Right. Most are busy raising families and working. I know our local unions have folks regularly volunteer to attend school board, etc. mtgs. We citizens filled rooms when the city was attempting to take over our n-hood’s private property for public trails. We shut them down pretty well, I’d say.
My profession is economics. Unions don’t raise wages across the board. In fact, profs at my alma mater were opposed to unionizing as it tended to lower salaries.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:10 pm:
Do not feed trolls.
- Anon - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:15 pm:
Hi Rich,
Weekly Reader and his or her family passed the Turnaround Agenda.
Thanks,
ck!
- JS Mill - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:25 pm:
@Anon- priceless!
- Weekly Reader - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:26 pm:
Here is some comprehensive testimony from a Heritage Foundation economist James Sherk before a WI legislative committee on RTW. The testimony includes much data and cites to other economic studies in addition to what he did himself. I know, Heritage is inherently disqualified b/c conservatives can never say anything valid or worthy of intellectual consideration. We’re all neanderthals of course.
http://www.heritage.org/research/testimony/2015/how-unions-and-right-to-work-laws-affect-the-economy
There may be some small wage differential w/RTW, but under union shop fewer people can be employed so that those employed may enjoy (purportedly) greater bennies and wages on (finite?) public sector budgets.
Public demonstrations are primarily a feature of the Left in the US, save the huge pro-life marches in DC each year.
- MrJM - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:27 pm:
“Conservatives don’t organize as the Left does in general; the rise of the Tea Party was new to the Right.”
The John Birch nuts like the Koch Brothers’ old man have been around forever.
– MrJM
- Demoralized - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:38 pm:
==I know, Heritage is inherently disqualified b/c conservatives can never say anything valid or worthy of intellectual consideration. We’re all neanderthals of course.==
Apparently you ignored Rich’s advice to not be a victim.
==but under union shop fewer people can be employed ==
Pull that out of your rear end did you? What evidence do you have to support that other than your opinion?
==Public demonstrations are primarily a feature of the Left==
Damn that Constitution. If “your side” wants to protest then freaking protest.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:44 pm:
Illinois is not Wisconsin.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:46 pm:
==Charleston City Council rescinds the Rauner resolution it passed weeks ago.==
Indian givers.
- Outside the Bubble - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:46 pm:
Anon… Won’t happen in Tazewell or Peoria Counties. Better possibility of a pro worker resolution in those two counties.
- Politix - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:46 pm:
==I know, Heritage is inherently disqualified b/c conservatives can never say anything valid or worthy of intellectual consideration.==
Don’t sell yourself short. Heritage is as qualified at IPI.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:47 pm:
==Of the unions, by the unions, and for the unions…our great state of Illinois, locked up. Taxpayers are doomed.==
Permit me to disabuse you of the notion that “union members” and “taxpayers” are separate and distinct groups locked in opposition to each other. Union members pay taxes. Non-union members rely on the services union members provide. We are all in this together.
==Were any non-union residents/voters present?==
If they weren’t, it’s rather an indictment of the hypothesis that the non-union members interests are being threatened by the union members.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:47 pm:
==Rather than oppose it, Republican members abstained==
Apparently this trend isn’t just in the GA. Now they’ve got local elected officials on the non-vote bandwagon.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:51 pm:
From that Heritage testimony…
“Correcting this reveals right-to-work laws have little effect on private-sector wages.”
Err, then, what’s the point? The big selling point of RTWFL has been that unions are out of control and this is a good way to reign in the ways they’re costing the state money. If RTWFL doesn’t actually bring down wages, then it’s not going to accomplish that. Alternatively, sometimes people argue that RTWFL will actually INCREASE wages for the “right” workers, but that’s certainly not a claim supported by this, either.
- Anony - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:51 pm:
=but under union shop fewer people can be employed=
Yes, basic math. We can hire two people at $10 an hour instead of one person at $2O an hour. Pay less. Hire more. Lower wages for lower class. Lower standard of living.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:54 pm:
Indeed, this kind of language- “Of the unions, by the unions, and for the unions…our great state of Illinois, locked up. Taxpayers are doomed.”- indicates that failure to adopt RTWFL is going to increase the cost to taxpayers. But if, as the Heritage economist suggests, RTWFL won’t actually bring wages down, then that’s not the case.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:55 pm:
Anyone claiming “you make too much, you are costing people jobs” isn’t a friend to labor.
Ever.
- kimocat - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 5:06 pm:
Heritage used to have at least some semblance of credibility with a conservative bent. Since Jim DeMint took over it’s just another FOX News type “no think” tank unworthy of serious consideration.
- Outside the Bubble - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 5:11 pm:
U of I released a study on the affect of RTW if adopted by Illinois. The study was released in the fall of 2013. The study states wages and salaries will go down for all workers. Very expansive study.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 5:13 pm:
=We are all in this together.=
Sigh…if only more people understood that. If Mr. middle and lower middle class understood that his/her kids might not have to take out six figure loans to go to a decent college or a good trade/technical program because the state would invest in the future appropriately. Instead they make sure that you have to jog or ride your bike along a highway instead of a public trail. All the while Bruce Rauner and Rahm Emmanuel are enjoying over priced wine because they can.
So WR, fight the fight for the robber baron’s. If you were an economist you might understand what it all means.
- zonz - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 5:28 pm:
OW,
as soon as I have congratulated the author of the fine comment below, I promise that “I shan’t” feed the trolls any longer.
zonz
______________
- Anon - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:15 pm:
Hi Rich,
Weekly Reader and his or her family passed the Turnaround Agenda.
Thanks,
ck!
- Weekly Reader - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 7:15 pm:
What’s that idea of “echo chambers” on the web…?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 7:21 pm:
What is it they say about Trolls on the web?
Don’t feed Trolls…
- G'Kar - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 7:28 pm:
As a counter to WR’s Heritage report, here is a summary of a report from the U of I that argues RTWFL states put an increasing burden on their citizens and on their state budget.
http://news.illinois.edu/news/14/0828right_to_work_RobertBruno.html
Also, it is not state workers that are primarily hurt by RTWFL, but construction workers.
https://illinoisepi.wordpress.com/2015/05/14/construction-workers-are-the-major-victims-of-right-to-work-laws/
The report also shows the impact on many trades. That should explain, WR, why so many non-government union members are showing up at these local government meetings.
- Weekly Reader - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 7:36 pm:
Unions support each other, no surprise, G’Kar. The point is to reduce AFSCME & SEIU control over our govt and limit the workers pay that goes in union leadership pockets. The good result is more take-home pay for state employees who don’t have to pay union dues.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 7:41 pm:
Collective bargaining isn’t destroying the state.
More “fair share” employees are joining the Union, not leaving their jobs.
Rauner has been the best thing for Union membership.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 7:46 pm:
– From RICO –
Woof, careful with that acronym, Rich. Give some playas a heart attack….
- Tournaround Agenda - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 8:59 pm:
@Anon No municipalities in Tazewell or Peoria counties have even put a Turnaround Agenda resolution on the agenda yet. Word has it they won’t even bring it for a discussion until LGDF cuts aren’t hanging over their heads. Even then, it’d be a hard sell in an area where unionized Cat employees make up a significant amount of the population.
- Jorge - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:49 pm:
Weekly, why would you use right wing data from the Heritage Foundation? I thought you economists were aware of statistical significance. Guess not.
- greenie - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:12 pm:
“Here is some comprehensive testimony from a Heritage Foundation economist James Sherk before a WI legislative committee on RTW.”
I stopped reading after that sentence, the only thing WR neglected to include was how much money the KOCH Bros. invested into the WI legislature. They won’t be welcomed with open arms here in Illinois.
- Percival - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 11:49 pm:
I find it curious that so commentators are so in favor of rights of people . . . except for those who want to work without being part of or paying a union! But democracy is a messy process and we shall just have to see how this game plays out. As to the hiding GOP officials, I suggest we look at how many, be they Springfield or local, are taking union political money in their campaign coffers, or are looking down a gun barrel of union money pouring into town to defeat them. (Geez, the latter sounds a bit like awful tactics of Rauner and Koch brothers, don’t it?) Many of those GOP abstentions had zero to do with right, wrong, principles, the middle class or morality.
- Property of IDOC - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 4:44 am:
WR-without the union,collectively bargaining on our behalf, we would not have the wages, benefits, upward mobility opportunities, or protections which we enjoy. Rauner wants to entirely strip the afore mentioned from us. Without union protections, yes-part of which includes lobbying, we would be left unprotected against a Gov.who has publicly stated he wants to destroy us.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 6:59 am:
“I find it curious that so commentators are so in favor of rights of people . . . except for those who want to work without being part of or paying a union!”
Unions were voted in by their members, just like politicians were voted in by citizens. If someone doesn’t like this, they can vote out unions and politicians. Right now unions are defending their democratic process.
The unions’ resolve is really a special thing and should be recognized as such, when we see how income is distributed today. We absolutely need unions or something like them to drive up wages for lower/middle income workers.
“I suggest we look at how many, be they Springfield or local, are taking union political money in their campaign coffers, or are looking down a gun barrel of union money pouring into town to defeat them.”
I suggest we also look at the money Gov. Rauner has been throwing around, and Republicans looking down the nuclear silo of Rauner’s millions, raised by just a few super-rich people.
- Carhartt Representative - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 8:16 am:
“Conservatives don’t organize as the Left does in general”
I know Bruce Rauner started a conservative protest movement, but it costs $100,000 to join.
- Winner - Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 9:24 am:
The ballot box from now going forward will let the people decide who is right and move on from all this crap!!!