Union busting is alive and well in Illinois: Newest suburban Representative declares war on unions with 'Right to Work' and other legislative proposals
In what amounts to all out war on all labor unions in Illinois, Republican State Representative Jeanne Ives (42D), from Wheaton, has pushed three House Bills to be heard in the Illinois Labor and Commerce Committee next wee. The hearings will be on March 20, 2013, 1:30PM, Room 114 Capitol Building, Springfield, Illinois. The bills are a "Right to Work" bill (HB 3160), a bill Banning Public Sector Union Dues Deduction (HB 3161), and a bill to Refund Fair Share Dues (while banning Union Representation) -- HB 3290.
State Rep. Jeanne Ives (center) with fellow Tea Party Republicans Mike Connolly and Elizabeth Roskom. All three bills were introduced by Representative Jeanne M. Ives, Republican of Wheaton. A check with some west suburban voters by Substance indicates that Rep. Ives did not poll many (possibly any) of her constituents to learn whether her legislations had support from those who had elected her. The legislations reflect the kinds of bills templated by ALEC nationally.
"Right to Work" sounds as something that would be good for workers, but it is exactly the opposite. These types of laws are government imposed regulation that bans collection of fees from non-union members that receive the same benefits of union members -- but refuse to join the union. Basically, it is a prohibition on the union’s right to collect money from employees who receive benefit from the Union but who wish to refuse to pay. Currently, those who do not wish to be union members pay what is called a "fair share" because the union negotiates a contract on behalf of all members of a bargaining unit, including those who refuse to pay union membership dues.
In the House bills introduced by the first-term Republican representative from a Chicago Suburb, there is no doubt on the anti-union intent of the proposed legislation:
"…no person shall be required as a condition of obtaining or continuing public-sector or private-sector employment to pay any dues, fees, assessments, or other charges of any kind or amount, or provide anything else of value, to a labor organization…" (HB3160)
"…no public employer shall collect, deduct, or assist in the collection or deduction of funds for any purpose for that person or organization. Voids existing contracts and agreements that violate the Act." (HB3161)
"Prohibits a public employer from collecting, deducting, or transmitting political funds.…the exclusive representative shall immediately refund all fair share payments that it has collected for that fiscal year to the persons who made those payments… and an election shall be held to determine whether the labor organization shall continue to be the exclusive representative." (HB3290)
In an attack not seen since Republican Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, whose legislations stripped Wisconsin public workers of collective bargaining rights, decertification of unions and dues deductions banned. When one reads the bills proposed by Illinois Republican Ives, they are just about a carbon copy of what happened two years ago in Madison, Wisconsin that touched off nation wide labor protests and Union mobilization. Now it is clear that there are Illinois politicians ready to bust unions in Illinois, too.
Ives (center) at the groundbreaking for "Wheaton 121."Interesting is one picture from Representative Ives website that shows a groundbreaking event July 17, 2012 for Wheaton -- 121 luxury apartment complex. With a simple few searches of the internet it seems that the Union busting Republican took photo opts of the ground breaking of a Union construction site. Drywall was done by "5 Star Decorating", a union affiliated decorating company. More than likely the entire project was union run. Yet less than a year later, the Representative introduces legislation that will bust the very unions that she used for promotional purposes.
Representative Jeanne M Ives (R) 42nd District, Springfield Office:, 230-N Stratton Office Building, Springfield, IL 62706, (217) 558-1037, (217) 782-1275 FAX. District Office: 1725 S. Naperville Road, Suite 200, Wheaton, IL 60189. (630) 384-1108. Years served: January 2013 - Present. http://www.ives42.com. https://www.facebook.com/jeanneives
http://teapartycheer.com/illinois/illinois-candidates/illinois-2012/illinois-general-election-2012-state-representatives/
Below are the Bill Synopsis As Introduced:
HB3160 WORKERS RIGHTS ACT
Creates the Workers Rights Act. Provides that no person shall be required as a condition of obtaining or continuing public-sector or private-sector employment to (1) resign or refrain from membership in, voluntary affiliation with, or voluntary financial support of, a labor organization; (2) become or remain a member of a labor organization; (3) pay any dues, fees, assessments, or other charges of any kind or amount, or provide anything else of value, to a labor organization; or (4) pay to any charity or other third party an amount equivalent to, or a portion of, dues, fees, assessments, or other charges required of members of a labor organization. Authorizes a person who suffers an injury or a threatened injury as a result of a violation of the Act to bring a civil action for damages, injunctive relief, or both and, if he or she prevails, to be awarded attorneys' fees and costs. Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
HB3160 (website). http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=3160&GAID=12&SessionID=85&LegID=75019
HB3161 POLITICAL FUNDING REFORM ACT
Creates the Political Funding Reform Act. Prohibits a public employer from collecting, deducting, or transmitting political funds. Provides that if a person or organization (i) has used as political funds any of the funds collected or deducted for it by any public employer, (ii) has commingled funds collected or deducted by any public employer with political funds, or (iii) has deducted or collected funds from multiple levels of an organization and transmitted those funds to a single recipient who has used those funds as political funds, then, for a period of 2 years, no public employer shall collect, deduct, or assist in the collection or deduction of funds for any purpose for that person or organization. Voids existing contracts and agreements that violate the Act. Makes the provisions of the Act severable. Effective immediately.
HB3161 (website). http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=3161&GAID=12&SessionID=85&LegID=75020
HB3290 REFUND OF FAIR SHARE FEES. Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Provides that if an employer and an employee organization have entered into a fair share agreement that applies to the employees of a bargaining unit, then the exclusive representative of the employees in that unit shall annually provide, not more than 90 days after the end of the exclusive representative's fiscal year, a financial disclosure report to the Illinois Labor Relations Board, for posting on its internet website, and to each employee of the bargaining unit. Sets forth requirements for the report. Provides that if an exclusive representative fails or refuses to prepare the report for a fiscal year, then the exclusive representative shall immediately refund all fair share payments that it has collected for that fiscal year to the persons who made those payments. Provides that if, for a second or subsequent fiscal year, an exclusive representative fails or refuses to prepare the report, then the exclusive representative shall immediately refund all fair share payments that it has collected for that fiscal year to the persons who made those payments and an election shall be held to determine whether the labor organization shall continue to be the exclusive representative. Makes these provisions applicable to fair share agreements entered into, modified, or renewed on or after the effective date. Effective immediately.
HB3290 (website)
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=3290&GAID=12&SessionID=85&LegID=75150
