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* UPDATED x3 * Oswego will discuss Rauner “right to work” proposal tonight

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The Illinois AFL-CIO received notice that the Oswego Village Board will consider a Bruce Rauner initiated resolution supporting the creation of a Right to Work Zone in Oswego. Besides being illegal under the National Labor Relations Act, right to work zones create a “race to the bottom” pitting community against community and further erode the gains made by the Illinois middle class.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has issued an opinion explaining that Illinois law does not authorize or recognize right to work zones created by any unit of local government in Illinois.

Please contact the members of the Oswego Village Board today (phone and email below) and let them know that Right to Work in any form is wrong for Illinois.

* According to the agenda, however, there won’t be a vote tonight…

Resolution Supporting Governor Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda. (Review and Discussion)

Still, this appears ~~to be the first~~ (see update below) municipality to take up this issue before the election. Organized labor expects plenty more after the election.

And, yet, there’s been an almost total local media blackout on the topic.

Odd.

*** UPDATE 1 *** East Dundee Trustee Allen Skillicorn reports in comments that his village board unanimously approved the Rauner resolution last night. No mention of it in the Tribune’s coverage, however.

*** UPDATE 2 *** From Skillicorn…

Yes, [it was passed] unanimously and I made the motion. Very little debate and all in support of the resolution. Prevailing wage is not well liked by our village. Our biggest redevelopment agreement almost fell apart when the business owner discovered PW would double his construction costs. That project was great for the village, the retailer is one of our top revenue sources.

Personally, I dislike how the Kane County Prevailing Wage almost exactly mirrors Cook County. All the collars, including the ex-urban counties have PW at almost the same level as Cook. McHenry and Kendall have a significantly lower cost of living, but municipalities must still pay Cook County rates.

*** UPDATE 3 *** Skillicorn just sent out a press release…

During a village board meeting Monday East Dundee unanimously endorsed Governor Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda, making it the first municipality in the state of Illinois to do so. Trustee Allen Skillicorn, originator of the motion to approve, commented “This is not a partisan issue. It is a Good Government and Efficient Government Issue. Springfield politicians need to empower local leaders to better serve their residents.”

Municipal leaders all over the state of Illinois work tirelessly to provide high quality services to their residents at the lowest possible cost. One of the roadblocks these leaders face every day are unfunded mandates from Springfield.

Springfield imposes more than two-hundred eighty unfunded mandates on local municipalities: expensive mandates like the seventh highest worker’s compensation costs in the nation and Illinois Prevailing Wage Law that forces Collar Counties and adjacent exurban counties like McHenry, Kane, Grundy, and Kendall to pay Cook County labor rates. These laws force local municipalities to make hard choices, like hiking already burdensome property taxes or cutting corners on providing important constituent services.

“East Dundee has done a great job balancing unfunded mandates, creating economic incentives to redevelop retail areas, and kept the tax burden reasonable for constituents.” Skillicorn continued, “With Governor Rauner’s help in Springfield, I envision even better municipal services without crushing tax hikes.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 8:44 am

Comments

What a perfect example of how this is clearly a pragmatic solution to unemployment rather than just right wing ideology.

I mean, the county seat in one of the fastest growing counties in the country obviously needs a shot in the arm, right?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 8:48 am
did they get a voucher from the $20 million slush fund for snacks

Comment by anonin' Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 8:49 am
Is this the Governor in “Sonny Mode” in my backyard?

I can officially say; “Get off my lawn!”

To the Post,

I am guessing, the media blackout is really about publicly making a case as to why it’s illegal and a non-starter, but allowing the ability, and seen avenue, to try to make the Rauner agenda “seem” possible.

The last thing the Adminstration would want was to encourage full coverage, aiding the coverage too, and the disvussion and/or vote fall short of expectations from it’s first attempt.

I hope I have enough time to get ready if I have visitors…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 8:50 am
Of all the places….

Comment by W.S. Wolcott Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 8:54 am
As long as the Oswego board keeps this item under review and discussion, they can split the difference between doing what is right and what the new governor wants.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 8:55 am
Any Municipality that adopts the Rauner RTW resolution will show they have no respect for the rule of law.

Comment by Mayor McCheese Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 8:55 am
the county seat in one of the fastest growing counties in the country

To be correct, Kendall is not in the top ten of population growth like it used to be, and Yorkville, not Oswego, is the county seat. Still, Kendall is one of the handful of counties that showed some growth in the last Census estimate, unlike most Illinois counties.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 8:57 am
I’d testify against it, but I’m afraid Lance or Mike Z might “happen” to make the trip too, …seated.., with my brother… in the front row.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 8:57 am
I suspect that the local media black out is due to 1) lack of staff covering local village board meetings and 2) lack of knowledge of labor/collective bargaining issues. I’ve noticed that with the decline of unions, fewer people seem to have grown up with an understanding of how overtime, minimum wage, collective bargaining, etc. are supposed to work. It’s possible that young reporters are stretched thin and just don’t understand why the Right to Work issue is important.

Comment by Interested Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 8:59 am
Damn! From the headline, I was really hoping/expecting it would be Oswego Willy himself dissecting the RTW stuff in some public venue, which would be far more interesting and worthwhile. (Offered in all candor and respect, OW.)

Comment by Linus Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:05 am
Also a lack of local media..

The Beacon News (the largest daily in the area) is focused on something going on with an alderman that is rather interesting on a couple of levels…

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-alderman-johnson-st-0331-20150330-story.html

So they are kind of focused on this and they don’t have the resources to cover other stuff…

Kind of wish we had a couple of scouts working on the Citizen In The Community merit badge, this would be a heck of a meeting to have them at.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:05 am
My prediction: a year from now, we’ll be reading an article in the paper about how the Oswego Village Board violated the Open Meetings Act in order to pass an illegal right-to-work ordinance.

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:06 am
Also the local trustee race there seems to be about who is more conservative/ anti-tax so this might be a couple of trustees trying to show they are tough before the election.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:07 am
A discussion? On right to work? Preposterous! Organize your friends and show up in droves to stifle this, so called, discussion….oh, and don’t forget you have to sign in to testify.

Someone should call the Thought Police, a Village Board is attempting to have a discussion on something that could impact the community….

Comment by Phenomynous Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:08 am
Perhaps Oswegians not in BVR tank…..from the city’s website
Governor Rauner’s Budget Plan Has Potential $1.5 Million Impact on Oswego

Recent press accounts have outlined the financial problems in Springfield and the newly elected Governor’s solutions in solving the State shortfall. One such solution has significant local impacts that need to be communicated to Village residents and property owners.

As we all know, the State of Illinois imposes an annual income tax. Of the total income tax collected in Springfield, the State retains $0.92 and provides $0.08 to cities and villages. In Oswego and other communities, the income tax is used to fund core services such as police, public safety, public works, and snow removal. Although this revenue arrangement has been in place since 1969, the Governor now seeks to reduce the municipal share by as much as 50%, and utilize the diverted funds for State purposes. The impact of this reduction could mean a loss of up to $1.5 million to our community. This would result in a 9% reduction in our budget.

To maintain core services during the Great Recession the Village of Oswego implemented expense reductions (including the elimination of 18 staff positions), and increased revenues through imposing a .5% sales tax. These drastic steps were necessary to continue providing the level of municipal service Oswego has come to expect. If the Governor is successful in diverting municipal revenues to Springfield, Oswego and communities across the State will face the need to consider alternative revenue sources or reduce core services.

If you have a concern regarding the potential State diversion of Oswego revenue, please consider letting Governor Rauner and your local legislators know you support maintaining the income tax for local government. The Illinois Municipal League has designed a web link that will automatically send an email to the Governor, local State Senator and State Representative, and the four legislative leaders in Springfield. The link may be accessed here. A copy of the letter to be generated may be viewed here.

A link to the Governor’s Illinois Turnaround Agenda may also be accessed for a summary of initiatives proposed.

Comment by anonin' Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:16 am
A discussion? On right to work? Preposterous! Organize your friends and show up in droves to stifle this, so called, discussion….oh, and don’t forget you have to sign in to testify.

Ummm people showing up to a discussion to offer their thoughts about it is kind of how it works in local government…

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:17 am
When I read the headline my first thought was that OW was having us all over for drinks and chips!

Comment by Kerfuffle Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:18 am
BTW the IL Municipal League has a list of nearly 140 towns who have adopted anti-BVR resolutions on grabbing the LGDF cash. No word if they plan to keep score on the TurnAround Two Step votes.
BTW-2 perhaps O.W. could arrange a tailgate outside the Oswego City Hall. We could Mike Pence masks to protect our identity. It might like goin’ to WhatEverUSA in the Bud Light commercials

Comment by anonin' Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:24 am
What’s the political makeup of the Oswego board?

Comment by chi Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:26 am
It’s Oswego!! Who cares?

Comment by Union Man Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:31 am
Tailgate with masks?

Hmm.

I know a good cannoli place.

The makeup? “Good” enough makeup for those wabtung to try this…can. Fair?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:35 am
=It’s Oswego!! Who cares?=

The people of Oswego deserve respect and a decent wage as much as any other town. Rauner shouldn’t be allowed to debase them there or anywhere else.

Comment by chi Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:38 am
–”I’d testify against it, but I’m afraid Lance or Mike Z might “happen” to make the trip too, …seated.., with my brother… in the front row.”–

Just. Stop. You’re killing me, O.W.

I’ll give you one — and only one — thing. You really know comedy. Thanks for that laugh.

Comment by Georg Sande Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:47 am
“Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has issued an opinion explaining that Illinois law does not authorize or recognize right to work zones created by any unit of local government in Illinois”

–but, but……they didnt mention the important FACT that jason barclay, the governors legal counsel, has issued his own memo to the contrary, respectfully disagreeing w the AG. He quoted sections of the law, just like a real opinion. A tie goes to the runner, right? We dont even need to intro a bill. Just do it.

Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:51 am
There’s been a fixation on the “empowerment zone” provision as if it’s the only provision in the “Turnaround” resolution. There are several different issues mentioned in that resolution. I could see city councils and village boards amending the resolution to only include certain provisions. All of this may play out differently than some people think. And there hasn’t been a media blackout. To the contrary, nothing has happened, so what is there to report at this point? The media didn’t begin covering the resolutions against cutting local government money until cities began passing them. And if labor and its allies are absolutely convinced that the empowerment zones would be illegal, than so what if communities expressed support for them in a resolution? The fretting and hand-wringing going on suggests that the opponents believe that even a discussion is somehow inappropriate and in need of being silenced or shut down.

Comment by Illannoyed Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:55 am
I dont think its a media blackout. There is no “news” until someone does something, for or against.

Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:56 am
===There is no “news” until someone does something===

Something has been done. And usually when a governor requests action like this, there’s local follow-up everywhere. Right now, it’s crickets.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:57 am
Is this different than the Rauner turn around resolution? If not my town passed it unanimously last night:

http://www.wdundee.org/EDapps/vwide/EDMtgMinAgendas.nsf/930672465CA12DBE86257E15006A469F/$file/SBMPacket033015.pdf

Comment by Allen Skillicorn Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 9:58 am
From ‘03 to ‘13 24 RTW states created 3.6 million new private-sector jobs, with wages up 15.1%, and mfg GDP up 26.1%. Non-RTW states created 1.5 million, wages up 8.2% and mfg GDP up 13.8%. Looks like RTW doubles all key metrics! Wouldn’t that be good for Illinois?

Comment by Jack Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 10:00 am
Rauner is trying to do the same thing (RTW) in Decatur, and who knows where else since the media is not reporting it.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 10:00 am
=From ‘03 to ‘13 24 RTW states created 3.6 million new private-sector jobs, with wages up 15.1%, and mfg GDP up 26.1%. Non-RTW states created 1.5 million, wages up 8.2% and mfg GDP up 13.8%. Looks like RTW doubles all key metrics! Wouldn’t that be good for Illinois?=

That might be the most simple-minded analysis I’ve seen on the topic. It’s too early to be trolled like that.

Comment by chi Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 10:19 am
There was a recent NPR story that basically said that the “metrics” quoted above could not be attributed the only to RTW. The story went on to say that there were too many other factors that could have contributed the the increased number of jobs, etc.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 10:31 am
Gee, Jack, tell us more about how states create jobs.

Chi, “simple-minded” is too kind.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 10:31 am
The minutes from W.Dundee are unclear. It seems like they think it would cover local GOVERNMENT employees, as well as private sector employees. Public and private employment are different and are covered by separate laws and regulations.

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 10:38 am
Having worked in both RTW and non-RTW states, freedom for workers in RTW states is clearly a job generator. ALL of the stats show that, if you care to study them. Other states hope that Illinois continue to restrict freedom for workers and let jobs flow to their states. Quite a choice!

Comment by Jack Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 10:49 am
Willy, what’s up with Oswego. You’ve got to control those folks. East Dundee I understand, the only thing they’ve got going for them is Santa’s Village.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 10:51 am
OneMan, does Aurora really have a daily newspaper? I thought that left when Copley sold it to the Sun Times. Then it became the Sun Times with a few Aurora items in it. Or at least that’s what it seemed on the Web. Now it’s the Trib with a few Aurora items.

A shoplifting Alderman being asked to resign by the mayor is more interesting than a phony baloney resolution.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 10:58 am
We’re a society where the rich get richer.

And the middle class & poor? They get their wages & salaries driven down.

And they get burdened with more taxes, fees & fines.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 11:03 am
Jack at 10am. Those are the first statistics that I’ve seen either side present on the topic.
Pretty compelling.

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 11:04 am
I wonder when the first local labor relations board complaint is going to hit about this. The extortion continues by Gov. Equity, he still doesn’t realize the world doesn’t revolve around him only.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 11:05 am
===when the business owner discovered PW would double his construction costs.===
I’m going to call BS on this statement. Unless he is using a whole bunch of really cheap material how could his construction cost double? Was he planning on paying minimum wage for carpenters, electricians and plumbers? Let say he thought his project was going to cost $1 million. Now its going to be $2 million because of PW? The math doesn’t add up and if it did that shows exactly why there needs to be PW laws.

Comment by Been There Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 11:12 am
How can you file a labor relations board complaint against a city for passing a resolution? A resolution is just a statement of a position.

Comment by Illannoyed Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 11:25 am
What Been There said.

Jack, why don’t you tell us some more stories about the Mississippi economic juggernaut?

The biggest problem in our society is income stagnation and these geniuses want to drive income down for…. what’s the reason, again?

Unbelievable, the stupid.

The goal is to leave it better than you found it, Einstein.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 11:25 am
Norseman

IMHO it doesn’t really anymore….. But there is a newspaper that comes out daily that has an office in town, so I guess that makes it our daily paper.

As for the alderman thing, yeah. The way that played out is interesting, secret package, asking for a meeting under false pretenses, but I am not holding my breath that the Beacon will ask any hard questions.

They have been doing a bit better lately I would say.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 11:27 am
Word -
The migration to Detroit in the 40’s and 50’s was driven by economic opportunity. We are seeing the reverse migration take place.

Build enough economic momentum, and wage increases will be driven, not by labor boss demands, but by competition for the best workers.

Let’s allow counties opting in, to create a RTW zone for a 10 year period. Then we can see if they benefit from economic development and increasing wages.

My first job was as a union member, and I’ve been on the negotiating team for management as well.

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 11:43 am
“And yet, there’s been almost a total media blackout on the topic.”

What? Hasn’t anyone else noticed how the media has been in locked step with Rauner and Repubilcan spin? The real question is, who owns these newspapers and what is thier connection to Rauner..

Comment by Trstmay Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 11:45 am
Wordslinger: How about looking at neighboring states? Indiana passed RTW in Feb, 12 and Michigan in Dec, 12. In last year (Feb 14 to Feb 15) Indiana has grown mfg jobs by 14,000 (2.81%) and Michigan by 21,800 (3.84%). Illinois added 100 jobs (0.02%). Don’t you wonder why?

Comment by Jack Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 11:48 am
Surprised the Tribune didn’t make East Dundee its banner story.

Comment by Buzzie Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 11:55 am
==Jack at 10am. Those are the first statistics that I’ve seen either side present on the topic.
Pretty compelling. ==

You just haven’t been paying attention. From last fall: http://progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2014/09/11/report-right-work-laws-weaken-state-economies-strain-public-budgets AND January: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/01/28/researchers-no-proof-right-to-work-laws-help-economy/

This has been researched and discussed and Jack’s assertions are not supported by the available research.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 12:00 pm
=== Our biggest redevelopment agreement almost fell apart when the business owner discovered PW would double his construction costs. That project was great for the village, the retailer is one of our top revenue sources. ===

But…didn’t fall apart?

Almost, as in: The Cubs almost won the World Series a few years back.

I don’t fault your retailer much, but I have to wonder about the construction company(s) that put together the bid, Allen, not realizing that prevailing wage applied.

Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 12:04 pm
“Don’t you wonder why?”

No, I don’t really wonder why Michigan has more manufacturing jobs than Illinois. The three reasons are pretty clear.

I *do* wonder why Illinois is going to have to subsidize Michigan’s RTWFL experiment, though.

http://news.illinois.edu/news/14/0828right_to_work_RobertBruno.html

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 12:09 pm
==does Aurora have a newspaper? = =

The locals call it The Be - confused News.

Comment by Hedley Lamarr Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 12:11 pm
“when the business owner discovered PW would double his construction costs”

I don’t think we need to orient our public policy around “private companies want lower expenses”, though. If that’s the case, let’s just drop the minimum wage down to a dollar a month, remove any health and safety regulations and directly subsidize each and every business.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 12:12 pm
OW, if you’re gonna be on teevee, let us know, ok?

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 12:14 pm
= Our biggest redevelopment agreement almost fell apart when the business owner discovered PW would double his construction costs. =

I question whether this anecdote is true as it doesn’t seem to add up. Are prevailing wages triple? Or was the new construction was all labor and no material?
Also the business owner was still making enough money as it proceeded with the project under PW.

Comment by Qui Tam Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 12:27 pm
Our biggest redevelopment agreement almost fell apart when the business owner discovered PW would double his construction costs.

Your biggest redevelopment project was so labor intensive prevailing wages nearly wrecked it?

What were they doing? Making a giant mall constructed of mud and straw using spoons for shovels?

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 12:33 pm
- AA -, I’ll put it on “The YouTube” if I make it on the Tee-Vee.

Should I hire a caterer? Pony or 1/2 barrels?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 12:39 pm
=Our biggest redevelopment agreement almost fell apart when the business owner discovered PW would double his construction costs. That project was great for the village, the retailer is one of our top revenue sources.=

So, the business owner wanted a higher profit, but instead workers were paid a good wage that insured they were trained, and insured they had enough money to spend at the business when it opened. The business ends up being one of the biggest revenue generators in the village. You’re not making a good case here, Trustee Skillicorn.

Comment by chi Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 12:45 pm
I’m surprised no one is coming to the defense of the workers in these situations. Yeah, some dude wants to build something — but PW makes it expensive.

For gods sake, where do you think that wage goes? To the folks that *build* your stadiums for your crappy teams and parks for your whiny kids.

Expensive — yeah? But if you want fair labor — you have to pay for it.

I drink a lot of coffee — and one thing that’s always front and center these days is paying farmers a fair price for their coffee. Small stores like Intellgentsia and LaColumbe are proud to pay workers a fair price for a good crop. In turn, you get farmers to grow even better crops. It’s a badge of honor to pay farmers a fair price for their crops.

Here, it’s completely backwards — and no one is saying, wait — yeah, you pay less than the PW and where does that money go? It ain’t going to workers building the stuff. It’s staying in your bank accounts and wallets. And folks are proud of this. It’s crazy. It’s disgusting.

Anyone who fights PW and attempts to short labor of a fair wage should be ashamed. It’s morally repugnant.

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 12:53 pm
I do hope that the unions keep and publish a list of these law breaking towns so that I might bypass their businesses.

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 12:57 pm
How is Kansas fairing?

Wisconsin?

Indiana, they are not looking so good these days with business running, literally, out of the state since they apparently decided the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution didn’t address religion enough.

Jeepers, I want Illinois to be just like Arkansas. There is so much to do there and you don’t have to be troubled like anything as silly as an economy.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 1:27 pm
=Personally, I dislike how the Kane County Prevailing Wage almost exactly mirrors Cook County. All the collars, including the ex-urban counties have PW at almost the same level as Cook. McHenry and Kendall have a significantly lower cost of living, but municipalities must still pay Cook County rates.=

Where do you get your numbers from? These are from MIT, and they show Kane is the same as Cook, and Kendall actually costs more. http://livingwage.mit.edu/states/17/locations

Comment by chi Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 1:31 pm
BTW- I went to the link provided for the East Dundee resolution. I find it interesting that the first two resolutions on the agenda were to increase the sales tax in specific zones. So i guess they don’t mind increasing taxes, they just do not like middle class wages.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 1:32 pm
=Prevailing wage is not well liked by our village. Our biggest redevelopment agreement almost fell apart when the business owner discovered PW would double his construction costs. That project was great for the village, the retailer is one of our top revenue sources.=

Sorry, I can’t get over this. Prevailing wage project was great for our village. Down with the prevailing wage!

Comment by chi Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 1:45 pm
“Jeepers, I want Illinois to be just like Arkansas.”

Even when you look at our neighbors (and I’m not convinced that they’re the best comparison, either)- Indiana’s economy is 1/2 our size, Michigan’s 2/3rds.

Seems like they need to start acting more like Illinois.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 2:03 pm
—
Seems like they need to start acting more like Illinois.
—

Except that Rauner wants us to act like them — and then pocket the difference.

Pretty obvious that’s what’s going on. Not so obvious why the media is silent.

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 2:10 pm
aren’t a few more non union jobs better than no more union jobs than there are now?

We should be trying to grow the pie instead of fighting for a bigger piece of a smaller pie

Comment by Iron Duke Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 2:18 pm
=aren’t a few more non union jobs better than no more union jobs than there are now?=

False choice. In fact, the best way to grow the pie is to pay decent wages. Look at poverty/education/health care rates. You want to be Illinois. You don’t want to be Indiana, Alabama, Georgia, etc. Taking money from employees and giving it to owners does not grow the pie.

Comment by chi Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 2:23 pm
===aren’t a few more non union jobs better than no more union jobs than there are now?===

Are you willing to take an automatic 10% pay CUT… and instead of raises, you keep your salary, but another person gets hired. Where’s the growth? Incentives?

Not too appealing.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 2:27 pm
“But…didn’t fall apart?”

Please note that more corporate welfare from the TIF was needed to make up the difference in this project. CW and PW go hand in hand…

Comment by Allen Skillicorn Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 3:05 pm
Mr. Skillicorn (of Illinois Policy Institute fame), corporate welfare and prevailing wage do not go hand-in-hand. Nice that you think it is better to give money to developers (likely with out-of-state investors, where the cash ends up) than see it go into hands of local workers who might spend it at local businesses. We all see where your priorities lie, but we already knew that based on your affiliation with the IPI.

Comment by Concerned Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 3:25 pm
“Please note that more corporate welfare from the TIF was needed to make up the difference in this project.”

So corporate welfare and prevailing wage lead to…a project that “was great for the village, the retailer is one of our top revenue sources.”

Don’t think that just ’cause you throw out a couple lefty buzzwords we won’t notice that your anecdote makes the OPPOSITE point of what you need it to say to justify this partisan agenda.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 3:30 pm
Also, your explanation for how “changing the law to allow lower wages in order to protect profit margins” ISN’T corporate welfare will be hilarious and nonsensical.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 3:32 pm
- Please note that more corporate welfare from the TIF was needed -

Ah, the old “Give me a handout, but you better not impose any rules on how I spend it to enrich myself.”

Hilarious rationale there, conservatives.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 3:39 pm
When you are the one doling out the checks, you might not want to call it “corporate welfare.”

I suspect that if you asked whether construction companies receiving public dollars ought to meet public standards for safety and wages, the resounding answer from Illinoisans will be Yes.

Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 3:41 pm
- PW would double his construction costs -

I also highly doubt this. Go ahead and use cheap, fly by night contractors. Just don’t complain when their shoddy work and change orders end up costing a lot more than they bid.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 3:43 pm
=like the seventh highest worker’s compensation costs in the nation=

Interesting because the governor almost always refers to it as the highest or the worst.

=I envision even better municipal services without crushing tax hikes.”=

Interesting statement Mr. Skillicorn. As I noted earlier your first two resolutions were for an increase in sales tax. Which is it? Higher taxes or lower taxes?

=more corporate welfare from the TIF was needed to make up the difference=

It would be interesting to see some numbers on that one. And, by creating a TIF, you deprive other taxing bodies revenue thus INCREASING the tax obligation on everyday citizens.

I live far away from East Dundee. All of our projects are mandated to be prevailing wage projects. We recently completed a project and the prevailing wage was a non-issue. It did not “triple” our costs. Your statement to that effect is simply not true. While there is a local impact at times (in our area many local contractors will not bid prevailing wage projects. They do not pay prevailing wage normally and do not want to have to pay that to their employees all of the time. Not the best reason, and I do not agree with their rationale, but it is a reason. I have tried to explain that if everyone biding the project is paying prevailing wage it does not put them at a cost disadvantage and they will have access to our larger projects).

You would have been better to state that you believe paying people less is good for the economy. Their are no data to support your stance but it would have been more honest.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 4:11 pm
“triple”= my bad, I should have written “double” there.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 4:12 pm
@- Allen Skillicorn - Are you going to eliminate your TIF district or districts?

You stated that “CW and PW go hand in hand”. I take that to mean that they are both bad, correct?

You can do something about the “CW” and eliminate that.

In stead you are opting to take a stand against wages for workers?

How very “Robber Baron like” of you.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 4:15 pm
For anyone going to any of this municipal or county board meetings, I would suggest you go to http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/opinions/2015/index.html and print out the Illinois Attorney General’s Opinions that both Rauner’s ideas on right to work zones and circumventing prevailing wage laws are illegal - and print out copies for your local board members.

Comment by Joe M Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 4:46 pm
It is very easy to make a statement like PW doubled the cost of a construction project but you provide no proof.

I have watched a similar case in Springfield go thru the courts. Back in 2007 a Springfield Alderman was quoted in the SJR as saying a Non-Union contractor beat out a Union Contractor by 2 million dollars on a 10 million dollar eastside project covered by PW. In Court documents provided during a lawsuit over weather the contractor had in fact paid proper wages it turned out that statement was false. Had the contractors all been required to bid at the same wage rates as per state law the Union Contractor would have been low by 100,000.00. Of course no retraction has been published.

For facts check cases
Sangamon Circuit Court 2009-MR-478
IL Appellate Court 4-13-0768

Comment by Bemused Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 5:38 pm
“You stated that “CW and PW go hand in hand”. I take that to mean that they are both bad, correct? ”

Yes, that is correct. They both stymie competition and hurt taxpayers. My voting record is very consistent.

Thanks for the debate and comments. Have a nice evening!

Comment by Allen Skillicorn Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 6:44 pm
Why is a consistent voting record more important — or more honorable — than a fair wage?

It’s not. It’s pathetic.

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 8:29 pm
How long do I wonder before someone sues to overturn that resolution…

Comment by ah AH Tuesday, Mar 31, 15 @ 10:14 pm
Oswego media report:

http://www.onlyoswego.com/2015/03/31/67057/oswego-takes-center-stage-in-right-to-work-fight

Comment by Oswego Proud Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 8:41 am
==Thanks for the debate and comments==

I’m going to bed now.

Comment by Hedley Lamarr Wednesday, Apr 1, 15 @ 1:25 pm