Posts tagged Illinois
UAW workers at Stellantis could strike over Illinois plant reopening
August 20, 2024 // Last month, the U.S. Energy Department said it planned to award Stellantis $334.8 million to convert the shuttered Belvidere Assembly plant to build EVs and $250 million to convert its Indiana Transmission Plant in Kokomo to produce EV components. The UAW said since 2023 "the company has gone back on its product commitments at Belvidere, and has been unreceptive in talks with the union to stay on track." The UAW added "this glaring violation of the contract imperils all of the other investment commitments the company has made."
Illinois AFL-CIO stands behind state’s updated child labor regulations
August 13, 2024 // Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 3646 with additional working conditions for children 15 or younger, among them outlawing minors from working more than 18 hours per school week and over 40 hours during weeks when school is out. The new guidelines also add such industries as cannabis dispensaries, live adult entertainment businesses, gambling establishments and gun ranges to the list of workplaces off limits to them. Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea insists the timing for all the changes couldn’t be better.
Chicago Teachers Union funds 3 in 5 Chicago aldermen, with big bucks to Socialists
August 11, 2024 // The Chicago Teachers Union has funneled over $850,000 to the political committees of 30 of the 50 current Chicago aldermen since 2010. Seven Socialists received the most money. Taking in the most was Jeanette Taylor, Ward 20’s progressive Socialist alderwoman, who has collected over $139,000 from CTU since 2010, according Illinois State Board of Elections records. Following her was Byron Sigcho Lopez, Ward 25’s progressive Socialist alderman, who has received nearly $107,000 from CTU. Of the 20 aldermen who have not received money from CTU since 2010, only one-quarter of them were progressives and none were Socialists.
Illinois Federation of Teachers, American Federation of Teachers spend a lot, but not on teachers
August 8, 2024 // The federal filings of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and its national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, reveal questionable spending, with little spent on representing teachers, millions spent on politics and deficit spending while the big boss got $500K.
Illinois bans companies from forcing workers to listen to their anti-union talk
August 2, 2024 // U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business are challenging similar laws in other states. The groups say the laws are a violation of the First Amendment, denying employers their right to free speech, and are also in conflict with the National Labor Relations Act, which protects an employer's communications with employees as long as they do not contain threats of reprisals or promises of benefits.
Billboard campaign spotlights Oregon union’s flirtation with socialism
August 2, 2024 // What many teachers paying monthly dues to the Oregon Education Association (OEA) may not know is that their union has opened its doors to the nation’s foremost socialist group, allowing DSA to hold monthly meetings in OEA’s Salem office, as reported by the Freedom Foundation’s Research & Government Affairs Associate Ben Straka earlier this year. To inform Salem educators about the questionable use of their dues-funded union headquarters, the Freedom Foundation’s Oregon team developed and positioned billboards in the area, announcing: “OEA
Former Alton police officer accused of stealing funds from police union
July 31, 2024 // According to a release from the AG, Jeremiah Dressler, 41, of Brighton, Ill., has been charged with theft, felony theft by deception, and wire fraud. Dressler turned himself in on Friday at the Madison County Sheriff’s Office after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He set to reappear in court on August 9.
Amazon Air Hub workers walk out, demand higher wages and better working conditions
July 26, 2024 // Amazon delivery drivers from Illinois, who have been striking since the end of June, were also there. "I've been working at Amazon for a year now. The only reason why I stayed past the first few months is because I learned of this unionization," said Amazon driver Ebony Echevarria. Amazon said it already offers competitive pay, health benefits from day one, and career growth. The company also said full-time employees at the Air Hub have a starting wage of $21 up to $23 and a 401k. The union wants its workers to be paid $30 an hour.
Southern California Amazon workers strike at one of company’s major West Coast air hubs
July 24, 2024 // The warehouse where the strike took place – the KSBD warehouse in San Bernardino – is Amazon’s largest air facility on the West Coast. The walkout comes on the heels of Prime Day, the marketplace’s incredibly popular 48-hour shopping event.
Some Cannabis Employees Are Voting Out Their Union
July 18, 2024 // Decertification in the cannabis space can be seen as a sign that the industry has matured and is following trends in other sectors. It could also indicate that unions overpromised what they could get. As the industry matures and companies offer better wages, benefits, and working conditions, some employees have decided they don’t need a union.