Posts tagged SPRINGFIELD
Editorial: Unionizing Uber and Lyft drivers may speed up their robotic replacement
June 27, 2025 // And as anyone who regularly takes an Uber well knows, the prices went up once the cabs were vanquished. A lot. Taxi prices, a source of complaint for generations of Chicagoans, now often look like a bargain in comparison to Uber or Lyft, especially when it rains or there’s a ballgame in the neighborhood. As Big Tech’s variable pricing ravages our wallets, regulated rates have never looked better to many of us. With ride-share prices rising, policymakers are now weighing how best to support drivers — but those efforts, including unionization, could unintentionally make things worse for both riders and drivers as driverless technology gains traction.
Commentary: Labor unions are mobilizing in new and old industries alike
October 6, 2024 // How job security issues are addressed following this wave of strikes could set the tone for what other hospitality, manufacturing and transportation unions seek when their contracts are up for negotiation again.The Conversation
CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION CUTS CLASS TO LOBBY, COSTING TAXPAYERS UP TO $141K
May 17, 2024 // Teachers can partake in political advocacy on their own time, but this day of action occurred during regular school hours and at taxpayer expense. It doesn’t help that most of the students they left behind are unable to read or do math at grade level, and could have benefitted from a normal day of instruction. Chicago Public Schools has seen steady budget growth combined with dwindling enrollment. CPS’ per-pupil operational spending is $24,132, up more than 50% from $15,878 in 2018. CTU held a similar event with students during the March 19 primary election when they took students out of class to hear from proponents of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s real estate transfer tax hike, were told how to vote and then marched to the polls. The tax hike failed.
Champaign-Urbana Public Health workers intend to unionize
September 29, 2022 // Nearly 100 Champaign-Urbana Public Health District employees signed a card in support of unionizing. The signatures are inching closer to the majority needed to join the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31 in Springfield, according to organizing member and CUPHD case manager/counselor Darya Shahgheibi.
UIS faculty vote to authorize a strike
April 22, 2022 // The union will file an intent-to-strike notice with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB) tomorrow (April 21). The faculty could then strike as soon as May 2.
Hundreds of unionized caregivers go on strike at McKenzie-Willamette
December 6, 2021 // Hundreds of union workers at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center walked out Monday morning at 7 a.m. The hospital caregivers, represented by SEIU 49, have held ongoing negotiations and condcuted a two-day strike in early October. The union said progress has not been made on their demands, which include: affordable healthcare, higher wages, and additional PTO or COVID protection payments.