Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Another supplement to today’s edition (Updated)

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

Comments Off

Illinois State Library closed after emailed bomb threat

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From the Illinois Secretary of State’s office…

At approximately 9:30am, a bomb threat was emailed to the Illinois State Library. Out of an abundance of caution, the library was evacuated, and the building swept for explosive devices. There were none. An all clear was issued by SOS police at approximately 11:30 and employees have returned to work.

…Adding… I’m told there are no suspects as of now. But the incident “will be investigated and the FBI will be notified.”

19 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 *** Illinois *not* spared from expanded UAW strike

Friday, Sep 22, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Illinois has just 5,621 UAW members in the auto industry, according to a recent analysis by Fitch Ratings. All those members work for Ford. The Stellantis plant has been at least temporarily shuttered. From the AP today…

Another 5,600 additional workers joined the strike on top of the 13,000 of the 146,000 members that began the strike one week ago.

Ford was spared additional strikes because the company has met some of the union’s demands during negotiations over the past week, said UAW President Shawn Fain.

“We’ve made some real progress at Ford,” Fain said during an online presentation to union members. “We still have serious issues to work through, but we do want to recognize that Ford is showing that they are serious about reaching a deal.”

* Meanwhile, Fitch also looked at the effects of a UAW strike on state budgets…

A forecast prepared by the University of Michigan’s Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics (RSQE) estimated roughly $180 million of tax revenue losses for Michigan resulting from a 10-week strike involving all UAW members across OEMs, would be well within the state’s ability to manage without credit deterioration. Assuming the UAW strike remains limited, Fitch anticipates state tax and local income tax revenue losses will be substantially less than the RSQE’s initial forecast. In addition, UAW has $825 million in a strike fund that could pay wages and health benefits for all UAW workers for about 11 weeks, according to the RSQE. [Emphasis added.]

*** UPDATE *** Welp, turns out Illinois wasn’t spared after all. The headline has been changed as a result. From the Illinois AFL-CIO…

Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea and Secretary-Treasurer Pat Devaney Issue Statement on UAW Strike Expansion to Illinois

“Today’s announcement of UAW members striking at parts distribution centers at General Motors and Stellantis in Chicago and Bolingbrook is a significant turning point in the union’s ‘stand-up strike.’

The ‘stand-up strike’ movement is not just about the Big Three automakers – it is about working people standing up to corporate greed.

These fights are rooted in the same struggle that workers all over this country are engaged in—and they are making it clear that it’s time to put an end to an economy that has been rigged against working people for decades.

The Illinois AFL-CIO stands with the UAW every single day until they get the fair contract they so justly deserve.”

* From ABC 7, the impact is pretty small…

Among the facilities joining the strike are a GM facility in Bolingbrook and a Stellantis facility in Naperville.

Approximately 5,625 additional workers will join the strike, with about 100 workers at the Bolingbrook facility and 100 at the Naperville facility.

8 Comments

Question of the day

Thursday, Sep 21, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The last time I posted something like this, one of my readers applied and accepted a legislative staff position. So, even though it’s late notice, let’s try it again…

House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch is encouraging jobseekers interested in working in state government to learn about career opportunities with his office at virtual and in-person career fairs being held on Thursday, Sept. 21.

The in-person event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 114 of the State Capitol in Springfield. A virtual event will also be held via Zoom from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Applicants can register for the in-person event here, and the virtual event here. Attendees can access the same information at either event.

“Every day in the Legislature, we have the chance to change people’s lives for the better. But I truly believe legislators are only as effective as the staff who are doing the work behind them,” Welch said. “That’s why I’m committed to building a team in the Speaker’s Office that looks like Illinois, that fights for Illinois, and that delivers for Illinois. There are exciting times ahead, so if you are looking to make a difference, then the Speaker’s office is looking for you.”

The career fairs offer an opportunity for interested candidates to get more information about a variety of careers with Office of the Speaker, talk with experienced staff, and apply for current openings. Welch’s office is actively recruiting for a number of full-time, part-time, and temporary positions, including:

• Assistant Legal Counsel to the Speaker
• Committee Clerk
• Doorkeeper (temporary)
• Enrolling and Engrossing Input Operator
• Human Resources Generalist
• Leadership Page (full-time and part time)
• Legislative Coordinator
• Research & Appropriations Director
• Research Analyst

Interested applicants can find out more about these positions at the career fairs, at ILHouseDems.com/Employment, or on the office’s LinkedIn page.

To apply prior to the event, please send a resume and cover letter to jobs@hds.ilga.gov.

It’s obviously not going to be easy to recruit a new Research & Appropriations Director because a majority of the staff is trying to form a union.

Anyway…

* The Question: Did you or a family member ever work on legislative staff? Tell us about it.

…Adding… Senate Democratic job openings are here.

16 Comments

« NEWER POSTS