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* The Chicago Tribune published an editorial about the recent trade union endorsements of Pritzker…
An important point: The unions endorsing Pritzker are private-sector trade unions — unlike some public-sector unions, they tend to be reasonable in their contract demands for wages and benefits. Nearly 20 trade unions struck collective bargaining agreements with Rauner after he took office.
Much of Rauner’s criticism of unions has been aimed at Illinois’ public employee unions, whose demands create great burdens on public finances. Taxpayers are on the hook for these union members’ pay, health care packages and pensions.
Trade union members understand the distinction. Most of them don’t have Cadillac benefits or pensions.
We can’t say what sold the union leaders on Pritzker. We don’t know many of his policy positions. It’s early in the race. Five other Democrats so far say they’re running. Maybe the trade union bosses just think Pritzker can win.
Well, Pritzker did win the support of 14 union leadership teams. We’re not sure their rank-and-file members will agree.
One of Gov. Rauner’s top priorities has been ridding the state of its prevailing wage laws, or at least watering them down. The governor even demanded that prevailing wage language be removed from the Exelon bill last year before he’d agree to sign it. Rauner is no less hostile to the trades than he is to the publics.
* However, going back at least to Ronald Reagan’s 1984 reelection over the heavily union-endorsed Walter Mondale, there’s been a disconnect between union members and their union leaders. So, the Trib is right that these endorsements don’t necessarily guarantee that union members will vote for Pritzker. The goal here, though, is to shove Kennedy out of the race.
* The Question: What do you think Democratic gubernatorial candidates should say and do to win over the hearts and minds of rank and file union members?
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 3:31 pm
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Unlike Rauner, I won’t try to lower your income by pushing right-to-work and ending prevailing wage.
That tronc edit is laughably dishonest. Can’t they at least find competent shills?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 3:35 pm
Hmm. The democrats could refrain from costumes and condescension. Any message is icing on that cake.
Comment by CCP Hostage Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 3:38 pm
Two things;
I won’t push for RTW, and
I’m not Bruce Rauner!
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 3:39 pm
What about his all out attack on project labor agreements??? And creation of “right to work zones” ???
This does not add up, he has been anti labor on all levels from the get-go.
Comment by Applecity Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 3:39 pm
Don’t make the same mistake AFSCME made;
Know who is an friend, know who is a worse enemy too
You will get no bigger advocate for Labor than me… when you compare me to Governor Bruce Rauner.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 3:41 pm
That his goal is not to buy a political party to push legislation that benefits him.
Comment by Fixer Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 3:42 pm
The writer is very uninformed–these trade union members have very lucrative (and well earned IMHO) health and pension benefits–in most cases, better than public sector workers. So I wouldn’t pay much attention to the other opinions presented in the editorial.
Comment by Molly Maguire Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 3:45 pm
Maybe pro guns and/or a little Chicago bashing???
Comment by Baloneymous Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 3:47 pm
He who pushes the “progressive” social agenda loses the union vote.
Comment by Colby jack Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 3:48 pm
Develop a really good power point presentation and give it in Decatur.
Comment by Earnest Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:00 pm
One of the most interesting political developments in recent years is the growing divide between union leaders and the rank and file union members. In many instances, the leaders endorse candidates that the members privately oppose while not daring to speak out against the union favorites publicly.
How much is a union endorsement worth these days?
I think that it means much more during the primaries and much less during the general elections.
Comment by W Flag Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:03 pm
From this Union member (Teamster 916 since 1985)
Mr Pritzker–I will work my butt off for you if you:
Protect me from “right to work”.
Support a graduated tax.
Legalize it.
Do not support any of the above, I, as a lifelong Democratic supporter, will undervote for governor. I mean it.
Support these three things, I will work incessantly for your success. That’s the ticket for my vote, and my unwavering support.
Comment by Kippax Blue Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:15 pm
1) they figured out they should split off the trades. Too late, Rauner has United All Labor. Psst trades folk don’t give s crap about what the trib says.
2) to the question. It’s easy
1) shake everyone’s hand
2) answer questions
3) look them in the eye and tell them
I’ll protect you with all I’ve got
And mean it.
With labor folks it’s one on one work that means the most.
I’ll never forget after a conference Mrs Lynch graciously took time with me. She was sincere and engaging.
To this day I’d take a bullet to the face for her.
Candidates
Candidate crews of all levels
One on one
Demonstrate you care with graciousness and courtesy
I once approached Rev Jesse Jackson And told him he was the first person I voted for (Oklahoma primary). He totally blew me off and seemed irked. Never forgot that. When he spoke at the Women’s March I told my daughters the story. Always be gracious.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:17 pm
>1) they figured out they should split off the trades
Good point. I think the new talking point for Rauner’s downstate candidates is: of course I support prevailing wage, but we shouldn’t have to pay the outrageous amount it is in Chicago.
Comment by Earnest Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:23 pm
===…but we shouldn’t have to pay the outrageous amount it is in Chicago.===
Since it’s an agreed to wage, prevailing for work done, that’s still taking money out of pockets. Not the best way to court labor with Rauner as an ally…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:25 pm
Guns are a big reason for this disconnect - it’s why Trump won Michigan, Wisconsin & Pennsylvania with a whole lotta union member votes
Comment by Grand Avenue Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:30 pm
=What do you think Democratic gubernatorial candidates should say to Union== I will be just like Blago/Quinn and give away the entire store even though the state can’t afford it and even though public opinion will look terrible and waste scarce state revenue. All while knowing doing so will ensure another potential union employee who actually wants to perform will never have the opportunity to fill the job of the protected slug who makes us all look bad. Let’s keep doing the same things!
Comment by larrym Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:33 pm
No matter how long he’s lives here, nor his deep his business and political connections, regular voters in Illinois are going to view Kennedy as a carpetbagger from the East Coast turned North Shore elitist.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:33 pm
1. Wear a tie more than occasionally.
2. Get an old van exactly like Rauner’s.
3. Be the first to swing the sledge hammer in a “Bash the Trash Can Van” rally!
Comment by WhoKnew Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:35 pm
Rauner’s approach to public employee unions is just. RTW, Prevailing wage changes for trades was a mistake.
Comment by Ed Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:36 pm
They should look Labor in the eye and say:
I promise to promise you all kinds of benefits and early retirement monies that we don’t have and to blame the Republicans when you don’t get them because the state is flat broke. I will continue to raise taxes on all of you to pay for them because the Constitution has to be amended to do a progressive tax rate and that ain’t happening. I promise to be anti business to continue to chase jobs and people right out of Illinois. But hey, blame the Republicans because it ain’t my fault.
Comment by Common Sense Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:38 pm
Rauner choosing to lump all of labor together and the Decatur PowerPoint were the unforced errors that could be where a seasoned pol would have known to take it to public unions, then go after the trades in the second term.
Rauner’s mistake, is really Rauner trying to show off how powerful he is, taking on unions.
It was, is, continues to be, the mistake.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:39 pm
“I won’t try to lower your income by pushing right-to-work and ending prevailing wage.”
No way would I do that! I much prefer lowering your income with a HUGE tax increase. I’m thinkin” BIG!
Comment by Captain Obvious Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:42 pm
@WFlagg. Don’t kid yourself, there will be a big Union turnout against Rauner in 2018. That has been a certainly for at least 18 months. Rauner wasted no time after assuming office how he felt about Afscme. Nearly 40
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:45 pm
No Democratic candidate has a stronger pro-labor record than Chris Kennedy. He ran an all-union shop at the Merchandise Mart for more than a decade. He worked with the AFL-CIO to build Wolf Point that created hundreds of union jobs. He stood on the AFSCME picket line in Rockford as a show of support which will be solid as governor.
Taking that, along with Kennedy’s vision for restoring the American Dream, is a positive set of talking points for organized labor. Oh - and - he can win. Kennedy name is still golden for many, and is proving to be a factor in generating big crowds.
Comment by Downstate Dem Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:47 pm
–No way would I do that! I much prefer lowering your income with a HUGE tax increase. I’m thinkin” BIG!–
Isn’t Rauner on record for both, at the moment?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:47 pm
“He ran an all-union shop at the Merchandise Mart for more than a decade.” Good grief. All major downstate buildings are union shops. Is he really trying to claim credit for that????
Comment by Anon0091 Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:51 pm
===No Democratic candidate has a stronger pro-labor record than Chris Kennedy.===
… and yet Union after Union are lining up with Pritzker.
A head scratcher
That’s either a reflection on Kennedy, his Crew, Pritzker, or other factors that Kennedy will need to overcome, but hasn’t shown any capacity to overcome it… yet.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:51 pm
@WFlagg. Don’t kid yourself, there will be a big Union turnout against Rauner in 2018. That has been a certainly for at least 18 months. Rauner wasted no time after assuming office how he felt about Afscme. Nearly 40 percent of Union households went for Rauner last time. He won’t get 20% this time. Rauner wants a second term and I think his war against Unions was a miscalculation on his part. I don’t think he could help himself though. Ending worker rights burns deeply in the man.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:52 pm
How about remindin’ them of the fine labor record the Tribbies have? And talk about his record with workers..job done….mission accomplished
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:53 pm
“I’m gonna create new jobs for you and raise your pay.”
It would help if it’s backed up by a big capitol bill.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:53 pm
All this talk about union politics is misguided. Union voters don’t connect up to those issues. Sometimes, they actively loathe the union leadership.
Jobs and raises, jobs and raises. That’s how you do it.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 4:58 pm
I believe that we either work with unions, or grow government to do what unions do. You cannot be pro-smaller government AND anti-union. Unions, whether they be marriage unions, fraternal unions, commercial unions, labor unions or the United States of America, do voluntarily what governments and courts would have to do. Unions keep governments small.
The GOP idea that unions cost citizens more is incredibly incorrect. Without unions, our laws, courts and governments would be doing what unions do now.
As governor, I recognize the role unions of citizens play in making our society a better place.
(The Trib article is a complete joke, btw)
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 5:15 pm
Bob Daiber, Daniel Biss, and JB Pritzker all have a stronger labor record than Chris Kennedy.
What has Chris Kennedy been doing his entire life with his family’s legacy? Fighting to protect the rights of working men and women? Nope.
Sure, Biss made a mistake on pensions, but atleast he has been in the trenches as part of the fight. Pritzker has been helping pro-labor candidates across the state. Daiber has a modest record, but it is flawless.
Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 5:25 pm
What Wordslinger said in his 1st post and VanillaMan said @ 5:15pm. TRONC is trying to create animosity between private and public sector union members with false and or misleading commentary.
Comment by kitty Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 5:28 pm
Keep your friends close, and Jerry Morrison closer.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 5:40 pm
The typical 27-year-old man’s annual earnings in 2013 were 31 percent less than those of a typical 27-year-old man in 1969. The data suggest that today’s young men are unlikely to make up for that decline by earning more in the future and that’s not right! I will bring jobs and higher wages some how!!!
Comment by Rocky Rosi Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 5:42 pm
Wasn’t JB part of the Pritzgers who had a multiyear strike at Hyatt due to low wages?
Comment by plutocrat03 Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 5:42 pm
–TRONC is trying to create animosity between private and public sector union members with false and or misleading commentary.–
What’s particularly pathetic about the tronclodyte effort is that anyone with a brain stem who cares to spend 10 seconds on the google can find out just how much the Tribbies admired their own trade unions back in the day.
They were union busters when Rauner was dating cheerleaders.
The tronclodytes aspire to sophistry, but they just don’t have it between the ears.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 6:09 pm
===Much of Rauner’s criticism of unions has been aimed at Illinois’ public employee unions, whose demands create great burdens on public finances. Taxpayers are on the hook for these union members’ pay, health care packages and pensions.===
Can someone do ne, the Trib Edit Board, a solid and email the Edit Board the complete Decatur PowerPoint.
Or… send it to me, I’ll forward it to them myself.
Thanks, OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 6:14 pm
Juvenal - Chris Kennedy has been putting men and women of organized labor to work at every chapter of his professional life in Illinois. That’s all. If that doesn’t count to you, then you have blinders on dude.
Comment by Downstate Dem Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 6:16 pm
I will sign a Budget the first 60 days in office
If your in a union you wont have to worry about paying higher taxes if you vote republican, because you wont have a job.
Comment by So tired of political hacks Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 6:48 pm
Back pay for those of us who got robbed of our step increases by Rauner.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 6:56 pm
I will produce and do a real capital bill. I won’t screw with your guns. If I push gun legislation it will be to more aggressively go after straw purchasers and push for bigger sentencing with out of state buyers who sell illegally. I’m pro-choice and not apologizing. I’m pro-equality and not apologizing. I’m pro-cannabis and not apologizing. Take positions stick to them. The Union folks want honesty not politicians. They may not agree but they’ll respect.
Comment by DuPage Bard Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 8:35 pm
@Anonymous: The union leaders were all in for Quinn and HRC too. Where are they today?
Not denying that Rauner has a harder climb in 2018, but he got into office because many “D” voters were tired of mealy mouthed Quinn.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 8:37 pm
== What do you think Democratic gubernatorial candidates should say and do to win over the hearts and minds of rank and file union members? ==
Hello. I’m not Rauner. I’d appreciate your vote.
Comment by peon Wednesday, May 10, 17 @ 11:28 pm
“I am not a right wing, ultra-wealthy scam artist. I am merely a typical, ultra-wealthy scam artist. And I want everyone in this great state of ours to benefit from our access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Nowhere else in our land has the shipping capacity as we do in this wonderful land we call home. My plan is to open commerce and expedite shipments that originate here, are transferred here, and arrive here. My plan is to make Illinois the shipping mecca of these United States of America. In order to do so, we will need a vast infrastructure investment. This investment will not be without cost……”
I could go on forever.
Comment by PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 12:25 am
@Downstate Dem:
Pal, that’s like arguing the CEO of Caterpillar ought to be our nominee because he hires UAW members.
Not that it isn’t important, but As was pointed out earlier, Kennedy does not have a lot of choice when it comes to hiring union staff in Chicago.
If you told me his yacht was union-made or his house was union-built — something he actually has discretion over — you would have more credibility.
But again, as the torchbearer for the Kennedy legacy, what has Chris Kennedy been doing for the last four decades?
Has he been fighting for workplace discrimination laws?
Fighting attempts to rollback protections for injured workers?
Arguing for better pay for home health workers or school teachers?
Imagine if instead of waiting to heap all this attention on himself, Chris Kennedy had been out stumping and drawing big crowds to defeat Bruce Rauner in 2014.
Comment by Juvenal Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 6:59 am
Kennedy has a better union record than JB. just ask JB whose family has been doing the building on those Hyatt hotels and other family projects.
Comment by Austinman Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 8:25 am
“Taxpayers are on the hook for these union members’ pay, health care packages and pensions.”
Easily amongst the most tone-deaf sentences the Tribune has ever allowed to grace its pages.
Wow, taxpayers are on the hook for paying the people who work for them? Are government employees supposed to work for free, Tribbies? The Trib is mad about DCFS (for good reason!), but doesn’t want to pay people to work for DCFS. Boggles the mind.
I cannot imagine why anyone would want to work for the State of Illinois anymore, given how badly they’re being treated.
Comment by jerry 101 Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 9:28 am
Without Unions our country risks becoming a third world hell hole. Look at our kids wages,benefits,and opportunities starting to slip away. The working class must unite to survive. Rauner the barn boss continues his not so subtle attempt to pit the Urban working class against the downstate working class. The people of Illinois must unite and stand together as wages are falling for all of us.
Comment by DeseDemDose Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 9:33 am
Specific and detailed plans as to how they are going to build/create jobs in Illinois in a post industrial era, and keep these jobs in Illinois. Strategic objectives to address and combat the right to work initiative. Concrete plans and strategies to enhance and improve communication between the candidates and the rank and file members, such as more town hall type meetings for example.
Comment by Political Science 110 John Wood Community College Thursday, May 11, 17 @ 10:26 am