Rauner Looks To Cities To Advance Union Agenda
From the Carbondale Southern Illinoisan
Gov. Bruce Rauner wants cities and villages to join his fight against organized labor.
In an email to mayors across the state, the head of the lobbying organization for municipalities said Rauner has asked for city councils to consider a resolution asking the state to allow local right to work zones, as well as changes to prevailing wage laws and worker compensation laws.
The request is the latest in a series of legal and political maneuvers against unions that Rauner has employed in his first two months in office.
For example, the Republican from Winnetka is pursuing a federal lawsuit through his so-called Turnaround Agenda designed to end mandatory union dues for workers covered by bargaining units, but who are not members of unions.
Rauner also has crisscrossed the state since taking office calling for the creation of local right to work zones, in which voters could decide if workers in their communities should be forced to join labor unions.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan released an opinion last week saying the concept would violate federal labor law.
Illinois Municipal League Executive Director Brad Cole said the governor's request came after cities began fighting a proposal to divert income tax money that normally goes to municipalities to help plug holes in the state budget.
"The governor's office has asked that we follow up with mayors and managers on the Turnaround Agenda information and provide a resolution that is supportive of his administration's efforts," Cole wrote in an email Monday.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Carbondale Southern Illinoisan
Gov. Bruce Rauner wants cities and villages to join his fight against organized labor.
In an email to mayors across the state, the head of the lobbying organization for municipalities said Rauner has asked for city councils to consider a resolution asking the state to allow local right to work zones, as well as changes to prevailing wage laws and worker compensation laws.
The request is the latest in a series of legal and political maneuvers against unions that Rauner has employed in his first two months in office.
For example, the Republican from Winnetka is pursuing a federal lawsuit through his so-called Turnaround Agenda designed to end mandatory union dues for workers covered by bargaining units, but who are not members of unions.
Rauner also has crisscrossed the state since taking office calling for the creation of local right to work zones, in which voters could decide if workers in their communities should be forced to join labor unions.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan released an opinion last week saying the concept would violate federal labor law.
Illinois Municipal League Executive Director Brad Cole said the governor's request came after cities began fighting a proposal to divert income tax money that normally goes to municipalities to help plug holes in the state budget.
"The governor's office has asked that we follow up with mayors and managers on the Turnaround Agenda information and provide a resolution that is supportive of his administration's efforts," Cole wrote in an email Monday.
Read more in our daily News Update...