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Local 150 endorses both Irvin and Pritzker in their primaries

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Illinois

* I went over this with subscribers earlier today…

This morning, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 announced its endorsements in Illinois’ June 28th Primary Election. Among the federal, statewide, and state legislative endorsements, Local 150 endorsed Democrat JB Pritzker and Republican Richard Irvin in their respective races for Governor.

Local 150 President-Business Manager James M. Sweeney issued the following statement:

“Local 150’s membership in Illinois is politically diverse, with nearly an even split of members who identify as Republican and Democrats. We aim to provide our members with options of candidates who will represent their beliefs on various issues without threatening their paychecks, their rights as workers, or their union.

“Both J.B. Pritzker and Richard Irvin have demonstrated a commitment to supporting Illinois workers, investing in our infrastructure, and promoting policies that grow the middle class. Irvin has championed local ordinances that promote qualified contractors, encourage skill training, and protect workers’ rights. Pritzker has supported the strengthening of Illinois’ prevailing wage laws, fought back against economically harmful anti-worker ordinances, and signed the largest infrastructure funding bill in Illinois’ history.

“I am proud to announce our endorsement of both candidates, as well as nearly 160 other candidates running for federal, statewide, or legislative office in Illinois.”

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 is a labor union representing 23,000 working men and women in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Local 150 represents workers in construction and related industries, including material production, concrete pumping, steel mill service, slag production, public works and others.

The full endorsement list is here. No endorsements in the Democratic secretary of state primary nor in any of the contested statewide GOP primaries. Also, the union informed me that the list they sent me for subscribers earlier today omitted 150’s backing of Lilian Jimenez in the 4th District Democratic primary.

* From Richard Irvin…

I am proud to receive the endorsement of Local 150 and am committed to rebuilding the middle class by supporting workers and enhancing skill training. That’s my record in Aurora and I’ll do the same for all of Illinois.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 16, 22 @ 9:47 am

Comments

Not smart. Irvin is another Bruce Rauner, and they won’t have Madigan to protect them if Irvin wins.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, May 16, 22 @ 9:56 am
“Local 150’s membership in Illinois is politically diverse, with nearly an even split of members who identify as Republican and Democrats.”

The boss’s interests aren’t your interests, you’d think that union workers would know.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Monday, May 16, 22 @ 9:59 am
=That’s my record in Aurora and I’ll do the same for all of Illinois.=

How did the mayor of Aurora rebuild the middle class. What a farce.

= and they won’t have Madigan to protect them if Irvin wins.=

Absolutely right. And Griffin hates unions and hates it when anyone other than him makes money.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, May 16, 22 @ 10:00 am
To the post,

Maybe this is more “Scott Walker” than “Bruce Rauner”…

… trade, police, fire… they’re “ok”, but going after public sector employees?

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 22 @ 10:04 am
Union members supporting candidates who think they make way too much money and have overly generous benefits ain’t new, especially down here.

As a union member for three decades, if there is a workforce out there who will consistently vote to cut their throats more than state employees covered by a CBA, I have yet to meet them.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, May 16, 22 @ 10:06 am
It also seems to be prudent to this as well;

Irvin, and only Irvin at the top of the GOP ticket, makes voters see the GOP as likely more “possible”

If Local 150 wants to help Durkin and McConchie, Irvin needs to lead the ticket, even if Irvin loses.

It’s a big picture move.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 22 @ 10:09 am
==… trade, police, fire… they’re “ok”, but going after public sector employees?==

Perhaps they’ve learned from one of Rauner’s earliest and biggest mistakes: not driving a wedge between the trades and public sector unions. Maybe Grif will take half a loaf.

Comment by Roman Monday, May 16, 22 @ 10:20 am
White trade union workers love voting for candidates that don’t even have their best interest. Irvin represents Griffins big corporate views.

Comment by Real Monday, May 16, 22 @ 10:28 am
Honest question… does Local 150 not cover the new 15th? If it does, no endorsements there at all???

Comment by Anon221 Monday, May 16, 22 @ 10:29 am
Biggest no-brainer GOP endorsement for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150…

Dist. 37: Tim Ozinga (R)

Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, May 16, 22 @ 10:30 am
==Not smart.==

It’s fine for the primary. Labor would be way better off if both parties were competing for its help. Showing a little love to a tolerable Republican might help make that happen.

If 150 endorses Irvin in the general, or stays neutral, that’d be another thing. But the chances of that seem pretty remote.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, May 16, 22 @ 10:33 am
Diving past the gubernatorial endorsement, there are a few surprises from 150 down-ballot.

1st Congressional: Making an endorsement there seems crazy given how many candidates there are. With no clear frontrunner, the odds of aggravating the eventual winner seem very high. And I can’t think of any dramatic policy consequences that would make it a priority for 150. They stayed out of the Ramirez-Villegas and Casten-Newman races, surprised they jumped into the 1st.

12th Senate: Weird day for Senator Villanueva, 150 endorsed her and switched her party same day hahaha.

26th Senate/51st House: McConchie and Bos have a long-shot Democratic opponents making a lot of noise, this is an indication that it won’t amount to much.

31st Senate: Ok this is a weird one. Edly-Allen voted against the minimum wage increase and is running against a sitting member who has been pretty friendly to labor. He’s been pouring money into his half of the Senate district for a decade, I have to imagine his name ID and favorables are maxed out there. He’s the favorite, he’s good on labor issues, I don’t understand why 150 would risk alienating him.

FOP targets: 150 endorsed everyone the Chicago FOP is trying to knock off. FOP’s inability to integrate itself into the larger labor movement bites them again. Not that they’re likely to learn any lessons, ever.

Comment by vern Monday, May 16, 22 @ 10:33 am
Flyin Elvis…Truer words have not been spoken.

Comment by Exit 59 Monday, May 16, 22 @ 10:33 am
The GOP would be wise to follow 150s advice here. If they want any kind of relevance, they need a strong Gov candidate. Even the DGA is screaming from the rooftops that Irvin is the right choice.

Comment by GOP Monday, May 16, 22 @ 10:37 am
=Perhaps they’ve learned from one of Rauner’s earliest and biggest mistakes: not driving a wedge between the trades and public sector unions.=

Maybe. But it’s also easier to drive a wedge between voters and public sector unions. But I hardly doubt Griffin would be content with that. He envisions Illinois as a RTW state as it’s in his financial interest. Public sector unions are merely the starting point not the end.

Comment by Pundent Monday, May 16, 22 @ 10:38 am
==Maybe this is more “Scott Walker” than “Bruce Rauner”…

… trade, police, fire… they’re “ok”, but going after public sector employees?==

Could it also have been more of “Pat Quinn” than Rauner too? Seemed like during Quinn’s AFSCME and pension battles he still had the trades on his side while fighting against AFSCME on the contract, layoffs, closures, etc. (as did the Pre-Rauner Madigan). Not to mention making Squeezy a household name.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Monday, May 16, 22 @ 10:44 am
=== Could it also have been more of “Pat Quinn”===

This is the *Republican* primary.

I don’t think Quinn would win a GOP primary

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 22 @ 11:06 am
Set him up, can’t get more democrat than union support

Comment by Rabid Monday, May 16, 22 @ 11:13 am
===FOP’s inability to integrate itself into the larger labor movement===

I don’t think they want to integrate and the unions don’t want them, either. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 16, 22 @ 11:19 am
===can’t get more democrat than union support===

Explain “Reagan Democrats” and their evolution politically, even voting against their best interests (labor interests)

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 22 @ 11:20 am
It would be hard to expect more as a union leader than has been delivered under JB. But his team has not demonstrated a like mind in dealing with 150. Something that should be worked on…

Comment by Lincoln Lad Monday, May 16, 22 @ 11:38 am
=Maybe this is more “Scott Walker” than “Bruce Rauner”…

… trade, police, fire… they’re “ok”, but going after public sector employees?=

Walker was not OK with the Trades, despite getting IUOE’s endorsement in 2014; he took the endorsement and then enacted a RTW law and repealed the state and local prevailing wage laws.

Comment by chi Monday, May 16, 22 @ 11:56 am
== (McConchie has) a long-shot Democratic opponent making a lot of noise, this is an indication that it won’t amount to much. ==

That’s probably right, with one caveat. If Roe getting overturned creates any unexpected opportunities for the Dems, McConchie’s race is one to watch. Beating the party leader is a long-shot no matter what, but he might be forced to spend a decent amount of cash on his own race.

Comment by Telly Monday, May 16, 22 @ 12:00 pm
=== he took the endorsement and then enacted a RTW law and repealed the state and local prevailing wage laws.===

Scott Walker did things piece meal.

Rauner was a phony to all things labor, trying to go after the Walker Agenda (after denying an agenda to labor) in a single hostage-taking idea.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 22 @ 12:16 pm
Time for bailey to say “two peas in a pod”

Comment by Rabid Monday, May 16, 22 @ 12:31 pm
Remember when the Local 150 used to tilt towards gun-rights?

Comment by We've never had one before Monday, May 16, 22 @ 12:44 pm
On Local 150s list of supported candidates, they list Celinea Villanova as a Republican? Also to Vern’s post, the 3rd and 6th are polling to close, and after the Lipinski lose, they have learned to stay silent.

Comment by 14th ward Monday, May 16, 22 @ 12:47 pm
Maybe Sweeney should teach his members the AFL-CIO Common Sense Economics classes so they know who is their enemy.

Comment by jimbo26 Monday, May 16, 22 @ 1:16 pm
Safe, pragmatic choice … right now it’s a toss up who will win the general

Comment by Illinois Monday, May 16, 22 @ 3:16 pm
==Biggest no-brainer GOP endorsement for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150==

Mark Szula

Comment by City Zen Monday, May 16, 22 @ 3:42 pm
Commenter X stated something, then, implied that what he/she/they wrote was funny (which it was not). That is all I wish to comment about.

Comment by Chris in ChiTown Tuesday, May 17, 22 @ 5:26 am