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Gov. Bruce Rauner has suggested creating so-called “right-to-work zones” across Illinois, but Mayor Rahm Emanuel and several aldermen have said that won’t happen in Chicago on their watch.
“I want to be very clear. As long as I’m mayor, Chicago will not be a right-to-work city,” Emanuel said Wednesday, after introducing a City Council resolution calling for public hearings to declare opposition to the governor’s plan, which would allow municipalities to limit the power of labor unions by giving the workers the option of not joining unions or paying dues even in jobs that have been unionized. The zones also would limit prevailing wage and worker’s compensation laws.
“This has been an issue the governor has been advocating. I firmly disagree with it on a series of fronts, economically and otherwise,” Emanuel said. “I do not believe that, as it relates to right to work it would be pulling — our goal is to build up the middle class, not to pull a rug from underneath them.”
The mayor said right-to-work zones could potentially dismantle labor unions that have protected workers’ rights, and helped support middle class families.
* Also…
And Emanuel scoffed at the suggestion that if he agreed to work zones, the governor might restore proposed cuts to funding for the Chicago Transit Authority. “That the only way to continue to invest in the CTA, which has been an incredible economic and job creator in the city of Chicago, is if I accept lower wages for everybody else? That’s a Faustian bargain, and I would never accept that,” he said.
* On a related front, I e-mailed the Chicagoland Chamber yesterday…
Quick question: Does the Chicagoland Chamber support the governor’s local right to work zone idea?
Its response…
“The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce continues to hear from our diverse membership and the broader business community about Governor Rauner’s right-to-work zone proposals. Our focus remains on making Illinois more competitive by working with the Governor and state legislators on putting our fiscal house in order.
“We are focused on workers’ compensation reform, pension reform, and strong structural fiscal reforms related to the budget as the most immediate and long term way to improve Illinois’ financial situation and provide certainty to businesses that wish to invest and expand in Illinois.”
Hmm.
* And speaking of Chicago…
Chicago Federation of Labor President Jorge Ramirez, speaking at a City Club of Chicago luncheon Wednesday, said Gov. Rauner’s desire to create “right-to-work” zones, where certain local wage and workplace rules would be suspended, would mean lower wages and a less-safe workplace.
“Right to work means you lose your voice in the workplace and as a result you create an easily exploitable work force,” Ramirez said, citing a study that showed right-to-work states made 6 percent less in wages on average, with minorities making even less.
“Not only are you making less money in a right-to-work state, you are more likely to suffer an injury or fatality in your place of work,” Ramirez said. “Rauner is saying he’s empowering workers through these zones. Well what is he really empowering? Lower wages? A less safe workplace? You see much can be done to truly empower workers. Getting rid of protections unions provide does not need to be the bedrock of this type of empowerment.”
Ramirez told the luncheon crowd, which included Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, that Rauner is not only attacking workers, but “taking direct aim at the marginalized and most vulnerable segments of our society,” by cutting funding to vital social services.
* Meanwhile, from the Twitters…
@capitolfax Port Barrington just voted down Rauners turnaround agenda 6-1. #twill #workers4il
— IUOE Local 150 (@Local150) April 16, 2015
* But it’s probably only a matter of time before Adams County (pop. 40,798) passes the resolution…
A crowd of union members opposed to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s “Turnaround Agenda” were given a brief reprieve Wednesday night as the Adams County Board tabled a resolution supporting the plan.
County Board Chairman Les Post asked the board to table the resolution to avoid potential legal conflicts involving the Open Meetings Act.
“We had communication with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office today that there may be an issue with our time frame with our public speakers to sign up for meetings, and we didn’t have time to clear it up (Wednesday),” Post said. “Rather than do something possibly illegal, we felt best to table it until we had a chance to look at it.” […]
Post said the board will take action next month.
“Obviously, there are some things that people may not like, but the situation Illinois is in, we may have to do some things we don’t like,” he said.
*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s office…
Hi, Rich –
Westville passed the resolution last night.
Best,
ck
Westville, pop. 2,972.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 9:46 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Rich, I think the next time you send out a quick question you should go with something along the lines of a 4th grade note. Otherwise, you’ll never get a straight answer.
Quick question: Does the Chicagoland Chamber support the governor’s local right to work zone idea? Please check one:
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
Comment by CharlieKratos Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 9:57 am
I really do not understand why these local governments are willing to carry the cross for Gov. Clowner. These ridiculous resolutions should be ignored. By giving them any attention your cementing your place as Tina in the relationship.
Comment by John A Logan Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:07 am
Nice to see that Rahm didn’t turn into an open Raunerite after winning the runoff.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:10 am
Dear Governor’s Office,
These Dopey “onsies-twosies” give me the biggest laughs.
I now know high-priced “Superstars” are really Vanna White wanna-bes, revealing “wins” like Vanna reveals vowels and consonants.
Keep up the wasting of the people’s time.
With kindest personal regards, I remain.
Sincerely yours,
Oswego Willy
p.s. Any word on how Madeupville is leaning?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:13 am
So that I’m sure I’ve got this down:
Port Barrington, (pop. 1,517) votes down the resolution — important news.
Westville, (pop. 2,972) passes the resolution — “LOL! WHAT A JOKE!”
No double standard there.
Comment by White Denim Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:14 am
Sounds like the Chicago Chamber is confirming what we already know. The race to Scabistan and/or West Indiana does not help the business climate. They want about 10 other things before the Scabistan laws. Very telling.
Comment by Anonin' Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:17 am
It’s clear what Bruce’s war is. To get a lot of these small towns to vote for his Anti Work resolution.
Westville is an interesting choice though. Just south of Danville which has a Republican Patronage Army Facility (a prison) with plenty of corrupt Union jobs.
I wonder how many Prison Workers live in Westville and support this?
Comment by Jack Stephens Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:17 am
Since this is not all about populations for whatever reason, Chicago has a population of 2.7 million.
Comment by Sun Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:17 am
=== Westville, pop. 2,972. ===
What about Annapolis, Rockwood, Bentley and Kaskaskia?
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:20 am
@ White Denim
Not sure what you think you’ve proven. Rich passed both pieces of news along without comment. If anything, the pro-union news came off worse, because it got the caveat about Adams County.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:22 am
@sun:
You get 900 towns of 2900 to support Bruce’s Class Warfare Agenda…almost as many people as Chicago.
Comment by Jack Stephens Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:23 am
Red stronghold Libertyville just about laughed the item off the agenda the other night. An R committeeman on the board called the whole thing a political stunt.
Comment by Laker Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:24 am
“Hi, Rich –
Westville passed the resolution last night.”
Boom.
Drop the mic.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:24 am
That Chamber response stated their priorities for government action to improve the Illinois business environment. Rauner’s RTW stuff wasn’t on their list. Given the source, that was a pretty strong rejection of Rauner’s biggest push.
Comment by walker Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:26 am
Perhaps its time to get the IHSA involved.
The IHSA could slot communities into classes based on population to keep the competition more even.
It’s Port Barrington against Westville in the Class A “Turn Around Agenda” Super Sectional for the right to move on and face Trivoli out of the Peoria County regional and a trip downstate.
Meanwhile, the Class 3A playoffs are set to begin next week when rising powerhouse Kendall County takes on traditional heavyweight Will County.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:30 am
@White Demin- Thanks for pointing out the double standard.
Comment by Pese Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:35 am
White Denim:
Imagine if the Chicago Cubs announced they were going on an exhibition tour and bragged that they had beaten the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes after losing seven straight to other AA high school teams.
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:36 am
Michelle Flaherty wins.
Comment by Reality Check Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:37 am
Rauner can’t even get his own hometown to adopt his resolution.
Either of his hometowns.
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:37 am
I don’t see where there’s a sense of double standard. Rich didn’t comment on any of the votes, just posted information.
What a number of us feel is ludicrous and laughable is how much time the Governor’s staff is spending on tracking and passing along information on affirmative votes in small communities across the state, none of which will have any impact on any laws being passed. It’s a taxpayer funded exercise in futility.
Comment by Former Downstater Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:40 am
Is the vote in from Union County? Just think of the headline Brucie could make out of that!! “Union County votes for Anti-Union Zones”
Comment by D.P.Gumby Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:40 am
Michelle nails it! All that’s needed is Michael Buffer shouting “Let’s get ready to bumble!”
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:41 am
Juvenal, I didn’t realize Livingston, Montana voted it down too.
Comment by Juice Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:44 am
Six months after being elected, Bruce Rauner has eroded away any credibility a political win could earn him.
He did this by exposing himself as a liar, attacking within days organizations he specifically said during his campaign he would work with. His obsession over unions is concerning.
He did it by turning his first budget presentation into a political farce even when he was offered extra time to craft something professional.
He is doing it now by showing the limits of his political mandate. His policies are popular only in communities where people dine in local filling stations, no buildings are taller than the grain elevator, and where there are few curbs or sidewalks in town.
Bruce Rauner could have been a governor who could have allowed a nice bipartisanship to arise in Springfield. Instead, the man who cannot see the obvious benefits of unions is doing all he can to disunite Illinois and ruin his governorship.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:46 am
I cannot truly understand the ultimate benefit of this carnival atmosphere county by county, town by town, city by city vote on the Turnaround Agenda.
The local legislators are unlikely to be swayed by such votes. The Agenda will be voted up in some locales and voted down in others.
But what truly amazes me is the continuing ability of the paymasters to pit working men and women against working men and women for the benefit of the paymasters and the detriment of all working men and women.
Comment by Tommydanger Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:47 am
“What a number of us feel is ludicrous and laughable is how much time the Governor’s staff is spending on tracking and passing along information on affirmative votes in small communities across the state, none of which will have any impact on any laws being passed. It’s a taxpayer funded exercise in futility.”
And what’s more, unless and until you get the big metropolitan areas and Cook/the Collars on board, it’s all just nickle-and-dime stuff. McHenry County was a good start (though even there, since its County Seat rejected it…), but it’s nothing more than a start, and with Chicago gearing up to spend a week or so just crapping all over the proposal…
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:52 am
This is beginning to feel a lot like The Simpson’s “(Marge vs. the) Monorail” episode: “Brockway, North Haverbrook, and Ogdenville all voted for Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda … and it really put them on the map!”
Comment by Sam Weinberg Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:52 am
Juice: I was referring to Chicago and Winnetka.
To others’ points, I don’t dismiss these pyrrhic victories merely because they are small towns.
Even if he wins big in Adams County, what does it get him? Rep. Frese is already on-board the Rauner Train, and Senator Sullivan is never getting on board.
Normally, he who defines the terms wins the war, but Team Rauner is turning that old homily upside down and inside out.
Again, if the Chicago Cubs do manage to defeat the Quincy Blue Devils, what have they gained?
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:03 am
“He did this by exposing himself as a liar…”
And of all of the problems facing the governor, this is the one that will be the most difficult to resolve.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:29 am
This resolution stuff is getting to be comical. Again I say, if this is their big “accomplishment” then they have set their bar very, very low.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:48 am
“You know, a state with crippling debt is a little like the mule with the spinning wheel. No one knows how he got it and danged if he knows how to use it.
The name’s Rauner! Bruce Rauner. And I come before you good people tonight with an idea. Probably the greatest… Aw, it’s not for you. It’s more of an Indiana idea.”
“Now wait just a minute! We’re twice as smart as the people of Indiana. You just tell us your idea and we’ll vote for it!”
“All right. I’ll tell you what I’ll do! I’ll show you my idea.
I give you the Illinois Local Empowerment Zones!
I’ve sold Local Empowerment Zones to Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook, and by gum I’ve put them on the map!
Well sir, there’s nothing on Earth like a genuine, bona-fide, constitutionally-question Local Empowerment Zone! What’d I say?”
Cue the Music
“But FY16 Budget’s still all cracked and broken.”
“Sorry, Rich, the mob has spoken!”
“Local Empowerment Zones… Local Empowerment Zones… Local Empowerment Zoooooooooooones! LOCAL EMPOWERMENT ZONES!”
“LOCAL - D’OH!”
Comment by Dee Lay Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 11:59 am
I hope these towns understand that they’re being used for political purposes. Nothing in their voting — for or against — is going to make a difference. Nothing.
If anything, voting *for* the resolution will galvanize residents against their village councils. Plus, they’re voting for something that’s been declared illegal.
I’m not sure which is worse: willingly voting on something illegal or pressuring mayors to vote on something illegal with a “wink, wink, we’ll take care of you”.
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 1:04 pm
Maybe, just maybe Governor Rauner will use his $20 million and the Democratic Rauner group’s $20 million against those cities, villages and towns that do NOT vote for his Turnaround?
Comment by NewWestSuburbanGOP'er Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 1:34 pm
I love the friendly and quiet little updates from “ck.”
That ain’t Schrimpf, lol.
What’s a sweetheart like that doing working for Indiana Bruce in the Temple of Doom?
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 1:37 pm
According to AnswerBag.com, Illinois has 1,299 cities, towns and villages plus 102 counties. What’s the count up to now? 15? Only 1385 left to go.
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 1:48 pm
I didn’t think it was possible, so soon, but they are giving Squeezy the Pension Python a run for his money.
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 3:09 pm
Correction: Adams Co. was 67,103 in 2010.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 3:21 pm
Six Degrees:
Yes, Adams County has about the same population as one ward in the city of Chicago.
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 4:26 pm
Westville (gateway to Georgetown) was long known for having more bars per capita than any other city in Illinois. Still true??
Comment by DuPage Dave Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 6:31 pm
Board meeting in Livingston county was postponed due to not enough space for everyone. Right to work was on the agenda.
Comment by Steve Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 8:25 pm