Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

AP finally projects win for Workers’ Rights Amendment

Posted in:

Illinois

* Click here to see the projection at the New York Times. Press release…

Today, the Associated Press officially projected the Workers’ Rights Amendment was passed by voters in this year’s midterm election.

Current projections show the amendment earning support 53% of all voters casting a ballot in the election, exceeding the simple majority of all voters threshold needed to pass.

The amendment received support from an overwhelming number of Illinoisans, with 58% of Illinoisans casting a ballot on the question voting yes.

This historic amendment will protect the freedom for Illinois workers to organize and bargain collectively for better wages, stronger safety protections at work, and more.

The group also says it confirmed the projection with the AP.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 2:26 pm

Comments

The attacks on this amendment were unbelievably creative.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 2:32 pm
Kudos to all who worked hard on this, and pro-WRA Republican voters who helped this win.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 2:33 pm
“In the end, the Fair Tax flopped, but as the billionaires left Illinois anyway, Illinois voters had their say… the workers’ rights the wealthy hoped to destroy… now will be enshrined in the constitution…”

So much winning by the Raunerites and Uihlein.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 2:36 pm
=== unbelievably creative ===

I’d use a different word for it - one that relates to a fertilizer product.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 2:42 pm
But I thought Bruce was gonna give us a “Right to Work?”

Comment by Jerry Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 2:52 pm
Maybe this will wake the GOP up. Illinois is a union state. The GOP has been strongly anti-labor for years. It is not a winning position in Illinois. There are many Republican union members in Illinois. They are running against some of their own voters.

Comment by AFSCME Steward Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 2:52 pm
Thank you, Illinois voters.

Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 3:07 pm
That will show Bruce Rauner. Four years later and he’s moved out of state but the Union’s sure stuck it to him. Millions well spent.

Comment by Franklin Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 3:12 pm
GOP Governor hopefuls: stay in your lane (banned gesture)

Comment by Kayak Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 3:32 pm
= The attacks on this amendment were unbelievably creative. =

Oh, I don’t know. It was the same old “it’ll raise property taxes” claim.

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 3:35 pm
Franklin -

Cute. But it’s not about him. It’s about the next Governor that decides to use his or her office to go after working people.

Comment by The Fifth Deputy Governor Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 3:36 pm
=It was the same old “it’ll raise property taxes” claim.=

Amen, sister.

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 3:43 pm
=But it’s not about him.=

But you likely don’t have the amendment and it’s subsequent passage without him. Give credit where credit is due. Bruce Rauner had a profound impact on unions in Illinois, but not in the way he envisioned. Quite the “turnaround” don’t you think?

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 3:46 pm
I don’t know who was behind this but my guess is AFSCME played the long game and won.

Comment by Politix Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 3:59 pm
“AFSCME played the long game and won.”

Either you forgot the /s tag or you’re woefully misinformed.

Comment by Stifled Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 4:19 pm
How about JB bringing the public unions to the table now to bargain over pensions–seems like the Amendment would now allow for a pension deal. $200 billion in unfunded health and pension liabilities, not a great incentive for businesses to come to our great state.

Comment by ANON Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 4:21 pm
https://ballotpedia.org/Illinois_Amendment_1,_Right_to_Collective_Bargaining_Measure_(2022)

See this article for summary of who was for and who was against. I don’t see AFSCME mentioned

Comment by very old soil Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 4:24 pm
==How about JB bringing the public unions to the table now to bargain over pensions==

Pensions are an individual right. The union cannot bargain those away.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 4:27 pm
Why does this only apply to public sector unions?????

Comment by Jump Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 4:29 pm
- ANON -

Chicagoland consistently is a location for business relocation.

That pesky constitution and the rulings… orgdikns can’t be diminished.

Anything else?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 4:33 pm
- ANON -

Chicago Named Top Metro for Corporate Investment, Ninth Year in A Row by Site Selection Magazine

Keep up

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 4:35 pm
ANON
Pensions are part of the state constitution. Pensions can be negotiated, but only for the future, possibly only for new employees. Changes would also have to go through the legislature. An AFSCME contract in the 90’s did include pension improvements. These were accepted by the members. They only went into effect after the legislature approved them.

“How about JB bringing the public unions to the table now to bargain over pensions”

Comment by AFSCME Steward Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 4:36 pm
“AFSCME played the long game and won.”

AFSCME didn’t play any game. They largely sat this thing out, plain and simple.

Comment by The Fifth Deputy Governor Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 4:45 pm
Get up, get down,
Chicago is a union town (banned punctuation)

Now we can add Illinois to that.

But it doesn’t rhyme……..

Five, six, seven, eight,
Illinois is a union state (banned punctuation)

Fixed it.

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 4:47 pm
ANON, the unions cannot negotiate re: pensions the rights to which belong to the individual retiree. See also Tier 2. Sometimes I wish CapFax had a FAQ for questions/comments that have been asked and answered many times over the years. On these topics mostly by the esteemed RNUG.

Comment by very old soil Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 4:58 pm
Actually, there are some areas that pensions can be negotiated. Pensions can’t be diminished or impaired. There could be negotiations about employee contributions. Years ago, the state negotiated picking up in the employee contribution in lieu of a pay raise. This saved the state money and actually reduced the employees’ pensions in the long term. Unfortunately, the state then skipped many of its payments. Reducing pensions cannot be done, even by the legislature.

Comment by AFSCME Steward Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 5:13 pm
I forgot to add, when Blago became Governor, he undid the pension contribution contract provision in later negotiations. State employees now pay 4% towards them.

Comment by AFSCME Steward Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 5:17 pm
58.3% still does not equal the required 60%. Not sure the outstanding mail votes will overcome the deficit.

Comment by Confused Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 6:46 pm
Confused
It does not need 60%. If it fails to get a 60% vote then it just needs 50%*1 of the total votes cast in the election. It will easily get than number.

“58.3% still does not equal the required 60%. Not sure the outstanding mail votes will overcome the deficit.

Comment by AFSCME Steward Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 6:59 pm
That should be 50%+1

Comment by AFSCME Steward Tuesday, Nov 15, 22 @ 7:00 pm