* Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana…
While Northwest Indiana waits to see whether the Chicago Bears will choose it for its new stadium, labor leaders are waiting to hear if the trades get to be involved at all.
Senate Bill 27, authored by State Senators Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, and Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, which passed through the Indiana Senate Wednesday, contains language that effectively would prohibit the Bears from entering into any project labor agreements, labor leaders told the Post-Tribune. In a heavily labor-concentrated part of the state, the idea that PLAs wouldn’t be used is “not a good business model” at best.
The language is concerning enough that all three Northwest Indiana County Republican Chairs — Randy Niemeyer in Lake, Nathan Uldricks in Porter and Allen Stevens in LaPorte County — cosigned a letter imploring the legislature to remove the language. […]
Randy Palmateer, Business Manager for Northwest Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council, said he can’t believe the state would dare to tell a private business what to do, especially since the organization employs union labor already. He spent Tuesday getting documentation from the team to make sure that checks out.
“I have the (memorandum of understanding) from Arlington Heights, and it has a PLA, and the Bears have unions right now (at Soldier Field),” Palmateer said. “This anti-union sentiment will kill local support and open the floodgates for low-paid labor.”
The Indiana bill bans project labor agreements on the proposed stadium project. Indiana is a so-called “right to work” state.
That part of Hoosierville is very union-friendly. And several Illinois trade unions cover the region, including Operating Engineers Local 150.
* To the bill…
“Contract limitation” refers to a bid specification, project agreement, lease provision, or other contract document that does any of the following:
(A) Requires a bidder, offeror, or contractor in any contractor tier to enter into or adhere to an agreement with a labor organization relating to a project.
(B) Prohibits a bidder, offeror, or contractor in any contractor tier from entering into or adhering to an agreement with a labor organization relating to a project.
(C) Discriminates against a bidder, offeror, or contractor in any contractor tier for any of the following:
i) Becoming or remaining a signatory to an agreement with a labor organization relating to a project.
(ii) Refusing to become or remain a signatory to an agreement with a labor organization relating to a project.
(iii) Adhering or refusing to adhere to an agreement with a labor organization relating to a project.
Oof.
* Meanwhile…
- Riversidian - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 9:40 am:
Your move, Kevin Warren.
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 9:42 am:
This is hilarious. The Bears try to get some leverage and manage instead to alienate the only powerful groups supporting them. Brilliant.
- DS - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 9:47 am:
We’ll never forget the way you scabbed The Region.
With your legislation.
Bear Down, Gary Bears. And tell the trades you don’t value them at all.
Cross the picket line, in Indiana it’s fine.
Gary Bears, Bear Down.
- OneMan - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 10:05 am:
Nice, DS, nice.
It isn’t surprising that they keep who will pay more taxes for this thing as vague as possible. I am sure folks in Muncie would be thrilled to learn they are helping to pay for this, or folks in the counties in the Central time zone will be covering it all on their own, but the state will still get theirs from the revenues.
- Steve - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 10:07 am:
The Bears have ever right to leave. If they can rent-seek some other area than the state Ilinois: it’s up to them. If they don’t want unions involved it’s up to them.
- Jerry - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 10:08 am:
“Right to Work!” Another exciting slogan from Republicans like “Pro-Life!” or “Sanctuary City!”. Many of the employees at this potential clubhouse are Union members. Is that ok with “get the gubbamint out of my life” Republicans, or more examples nanny state Socialism from them.
Plus there is no Tax Certainty for the average tax payer. Just more Free Handouts for the Bears cause they can’t afford to pay for this themselves.
No Welfare for the Bears!
- Leatherneck - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 10:11 am:
If I was Sue Scherer, Regan Deering, or even Sen. Doris Turner, I would immediately introduce legislation or a resolution calling for the Bears to consider relocating back home to Decatur instead of Indiana.
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 10:19 am:
- I am sure folks in Muncie would be thrilled to learn they are helping to pay for this -
I can’t wait to spread the word next time I’m down in Evansville.
- JS Mill - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 10:23 am:
I can understand not making Union labor mandatory or even preferred. But prohibiting these agreements is over the top. In my role as school management, I am not anti union or pro union. Our local union is great to work with and usually makes my life easier in all honesty. When we have done building projects some of the trade unions can be challenging but even then I have rarely had a real issue.
- Norseman - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 10:30 am:
(Proclaiming conflict - GO PACK) I always thought the Bears were supposed to epitomize the common working man - “Bear down, Chicago Bears”. Now they want to put out the organized labor need not apply sign.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 10:40 am:
I am not seeing where the Bears tried to influence the labor-related or minority goals provisions of the bill. This may just be Indiana politics at work, and noting that NWI R’s are generally more labor friendly than those in the rest of the state. The Bears should be able to exert influence if it’s a deal breaker.
- Pundent - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 10:43 am:
=The Bears have ever right to leave.=
I don’t think that’s being disputed. We also have a right to point out how really bad they are at pretty much everything they’ve done in chasing a stadium. Because they also have a right to alienate taxpayers and fans.
- Little Dipper - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 10:43 am:
Bears spelled backwards is Scab
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 10:46 am:
- I am not seeing where the Bears tried to influence the labor-related or minority goals provisions of the bill. -
Who said they did? The fact that they didn’t anticipate it shows their incompetence.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 10:56 am:
===If they don’t want unions involved it’s up to them.===
I think the NFL Players Association might disagree with you on that Steve.
- New Day - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 11:13 am:
“The Bears try to get some leverage and manage instead to alienate the only powerful groups supporting them. Brilliant.”
Ding. Ding. Ding. And the Kevin Warren clown show rolls on. Is there anything his team has touched that hasn’t blown up in his face. Never thought I’d miss Ted Philips.
- Philly - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 11:28 am:
Do it Bears. The economics are so much better in Indiana.
And for the record, the NFLPA cares not about what trade or public employee unions think. Most of those players are Republicans.
- chi - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 11:39 am:
====And for the record, the NFLPA cares not about what trade or public employee unions think. Most of those players are Republicans.====
Wrong. 34% of NFL players are registered Democrats. Only 20% are registered Republicans.
https://votehub.com/2026/01/20/the-political-lean-of-pro-sports/
And it should go without saying but party affiliation does not accurately predict union affinity
- supplied_demand - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 11:40 am:
==Most of those players are Republicans.==
What are you basing this on? The best I can find says otherwise:
“A January 2026 survey of pro athlete voter registration indicated that 44.3% of NFL players are registered as independent, 34.3% as Democrats, 20.2% as Republicans, and 1.2% with other parties.”
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/report-reveals-political-leanings-america-175707562.html
- Roadrager - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 11:48 am:
==Do it Bears. The economics are so much better in Indiana.==
And that is why the part of the Senate bill that asks “How are you going to pay for all this?” is officially met with a response of “Uhhh, some amount of some taxes? From somewhere? Look, we’re good for it, I swear.” The true sign of a robust economy.
There’s always money in the fireworks stand, I guess.
==And for the record, the NFLPA cares not about what trade or public employee unions think. Most of those players are Republicans.==
*throws yellow flag*
Fabrication, offense. 10 yard penalty, loss of down.
https://votehub.com/2026/01/20/the-political-lean-of-pro-sports/
- Fenton - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 11:50 am:
== The economics are so much better in Indiana ==
If the Hoosiers are gonna hand over 2 or 3 billion in sales tax revenue to build the thing, you’re absolutely right. All the naming rights and PSL revenue would go right into the McCaskey’s pocket. In Arlington Heights, they would need that cash to privately finance construction.
But to @ChicagoBars point, you’d think at some point an Indiana legislator (or heck, maybe ever a reporter) would ask “how exactly are we paying for this?”
That hasn’t happened yet.
- Jocko - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 11:56 am:
Given the pressers, you would think the Bears organization would run out of rakes to step on.
- Steve Polite - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 11:57 am:
“And for the record, the NFLPA cares not about what trade or public employee unions think. Most of those players are Republicans.”
Since you are on the record speaking on behalf of the NFLPA, are you an NFLPA spokesperson, member, or in any way directly affiliated with the NFLPA? Do you have first hand knowledge? If not, how would you know what they think about other unions?
In fact, The NFLPA is an affiliated union of the AFL-CIO, which is the largest federation of unions in the United States. That means it formally participates in a broader union federation alongside many public-sector, private-sector, and trade unions.
- ChicagoBars - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 12:45 pm:
I just think the “No PLA” provision is a poison pill the Indiana legislature has inserted to get themselves off the hook from their, very generous, initial offer to the McCaskeys.
You got to get Indianapolis legislators and NW Indiana legislators onboard to pass this as far as I can tell and I have no idea how you do that with Unions cut out of the project. YMMV.
- ChicagoBars - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 12:48 pm:
My additional off-topic-ish point is that this whole Bears stadium boondoggle has made me spend unwanted time on the Indiana General Assembly web site and it is just really, really well done.
If the ILGA 2.0 web site ever gets updated (fingers crossed) I wish they’d just copy the IN GA interface.
https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/senate/27/details
So, I guess thanks to Kevin Warren and the McCaskeys for making me spend time on INGA?
- Leatherneck - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 12:52 pm:
If I was in the Colts organization I would be responding to all of this by beefing up the advertising campaign and buying every possible available billboard in both northwest Indiana and the South Suburbs–and even the South Side.
Then take a leaf out of the Northwestern playbook a decade ago and debut their new slogan: “Chicago’s AFC Team.”
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 12:55 pm:
Ted Phillips on the business side is an upgrade.
I’ll give Warren props on the football side.
- Save Ferris - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 1:11 pm:
“I just think the “No PLA” provision is a poison pill the Indiana legislature has inserted to get themselves off the hook from their, very generous, initial offer to the McCaskeys.”
This was never a “get the Bears” play. It’s an “embarrass Pritzker” play.
And Kevin Warren remains a laughing stock.
- TNR - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 1:14 pm:
Kevin Warren’s Indiana leverage play seems to be working a bit, for now. But if it collapses when the true price tag for Indiana taxpayers becomes known, he won’t be just be back to square one in Illinois, he’ll be in an even worse position.
- Save Ferris - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 1:39 pm:
“Kevin Warren’s Indiana leverage play seems to be working a bit”
Can’t agree. Small movement on PILOT legislation vs. escalating costs of a stadium project. Supposedly total costs are up by over $1 billion since the land was purchased. They already didn’t have the cash. Now they are further behind while Kevin uses a 1984 state aid stadium financing playbook and nothing gets done.
- ChicagoBars - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 1:57 pm:
- TNR -
It will be even worse, with Indiana session’s early spring adjournment deadline that massive taxpayer stadium subsidy play will likely collapse before the ILGA even really gets to work.
Another masterful gambit out of Halas Hall.
- Garfield Ridge Guy - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 2:11 pm:
Either large subsidies to sports teams are a bad deal for the public, or every Illinoisan should be cheering on the Indiana bill and thrilled to learn how much money Illinois will save by the Bears moving. If any Illinoisan opposes the Indiana bill, then the first premise cannot be true.
- JS Mill - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 2:23 pm:
=== The economics are so much better in Indiana ===
Totally true, unless you work or live there.
For the two people that own major sports franchises in Indiana? Sure.
Quick question (anyone feel free to answer) where pray tell will the Bears players live if the team moves to Gary? Is that a hot zip code for free agent athletes?
- From DaZoo - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
Jocko - “Given the pressers, you would think the Bears organization would run out of rakes to step on.”
Now you have me searching Tom & Jerry clips and imagining Kevin Warren standing in for Tom.
- Pundent - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 2:45 pm:
=If any Illinoisan opposes the Indiana bill, then the first premise cannot be true.=
I don’t care if the Bears move. And yes I’m not going to cheer a bill that exploits workers for the benefit of wealthy team owners and politicians. Even if that bill costs me nothing personally and is in Indiana.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 2:56 pm:
===Quick question (anyone feel free to answer) where pray tell will the Bears players live if the team moves to Gary? Is that a hot zip code for free agent athletes?===
Since their training facilities are at Lake Forest on the north shore, likely not much difference than today. If someone wanted to live close to the stadium for some reason, they’d probably avoid the high property taxes of south Cook, and go either NE Will County or the nicer areas of Lake or Porter County, IN.
- Save Ferris - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 3:07 pm:
Adding on to Six Degrees of Separation above, on the night before games, even the home team stays in a hotel somewhere near the home stadium. The Bears usually at the Hilton on Michigan Avenue. They bus in from Lake Forest. No player is going to relocate far from their practice facility.
- Just a Random Guy - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 3:11 pm:
=Quick question (anyone feel free to answer) where pray tell will the Bears players live if the team moves to Gary? Is that a hot zip code for free agent athletes?=
Different sport and different city, but in St Louis Busch Stadium right in the heart of downtown, thirty seconds from IL. I don’t know a single player that lives in IL or even within STL City limits. They all live in the burbs to the west, or northwest in St Charles County. I’m in no way bashing Chicago or IL, but I’d bet my six figure salary that if the Bears move to IN that within a year more would live in IN than IL.
- Save Ferris - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 3:19 pm:
Baseball is different than football. You have to be at the stadium every day when in town. Football, you are at the stadium 10 times all year, but by your practice facility 5 days a week for about 25 weeks. Plus another few weeks for OTAs.
Unless the Bears are talking about closing and relocating Halas Hall to the stadium site, something not on the table at present, no players are moving far from Lake Forest.
- Pundent - Friday, Jan 30, 26 @ 3:22 pm:
=I’m in no way bashing Chicago or IL, but I’d bet my six figure salary that if the Bears move to IN that within a year more would live in IN than IL.=
Agreed. Because when you’re a 25 year old millionaire there’s nothing better than a night out in Hammond. I’m guessing that agents are already taking their clients out to see all that Whiting has to offer.