Explore our content

All types | All dates | All authors
Labor
Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
8:42pm
Mon Feb 4

Odds Of Thomson Prison Opening Look Good

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) says there is continued commitment to open Thomson Correctional Center in Northwest Illinois, a prison that has sat mostly vacant since it was built in 2001.

Durbin sat down with Charles Samuels, director of the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Prisons, last week and was assured the process of opening Thomson was moving forward. U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-17) joined the meeting by phone.

A timeline for the opening of Thomson has not been released yet, though. Funding for the necessary updates for the prison to meet federal standards is contingent on the president’s FY 2014 budget, which has not yet been submitted.

“When President Obama releases his budget in the next few weeks, it should include funding for prison activation,” said Durbin in a press release. “Over the next few months, I will be working with Congresswoman Bustos to ensure that opening Thomson prison – and bringing jobs and economic activity to Northwest Illinois communities – remains a priority.”

Read more »

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
12:57pm
Mon Feb 4

Chicago Textile Workers Organize To Fight Unfair Labor Conditons & Low Wages

Workers at Artistic Stitches in Chicago’s Westside neighborhood of Ukrainian Village voted in favor of joining the Workers United union last month, claiming lack of holiday pay and other wage issues.

Labor representatives and community activists gathered in front of the embroidery factory at 2639 W. Grand Ave. last Thursday to announce the decision by the 59 Artistic Stitches employees.

Read more »

Quick Hit
by Progress Illinois
7:13pm
Wed Jan 30

Op-Ed: Labor Coalition Disappointed By Madigan's Decision Not To Attend Pension Summit

The following comes from Michael T. Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO, on behalf of the We Are One Colaition in response to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's refusal to attend the pension summit to which the coalition recently invited legislative leaders. 

We Are One Illinois regrets that Speaker Madigan has indicated he will not participate in the Pension Summit proposed by our union coalition. Our summit is a demonstration of good faith and commitment to seeking to solve the state’s pension funding problem in a way that is fair and constitutional.

Our coalition has already put forward a plan that addresses the intertwined problems of inadequate revenues and underfunded pensions. It would end the practice of politicians shorting actuarially required payments to the retirement funds; ease state budget pressures by closing wasteful tax loopholes, especially for big corporations; and require active public employees to pay more toward the pensions they earn and rely on. Our plan would provide at least $2.35 billion a year to stabilize the retirement funds, while preventing cuts to retirees who worked hard and played by the rules.

Read more »

Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
5:49pm
Wed Jan 30

Congressmen, Labor Leaders Want Lawmakers To Stop Holding Middle Class 'Hostage' In Fiscal Cliff Talks (VIDEO)

Illinois labor representatives and U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) and Bill Foster (D-Naperville) gathered in Chicago this morning on a national day of mobilization to call on House Republicans to stop holding families and seniors hostage in the ongoing fiscal cliff negotiations.

The Washington lawmakers, along with members of the Chicago Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO and advocates for the poor and middle class, stressed that tax loopholes for Wall Street and the richest Americans be closed instead of cutting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits.

“This is about real people who will suffer real pain if the wrong decisions are made,” said William McNary of Citizen Action Illinois.

Read more »

Quick Hit
by Aricka Flowers
6:26pm
Tue Jan 29

Sani Seats At O'Hare Making Waves For Lack Of Cleanliness

The new Sani Seats being used by controversial city contractor United Maintenance Inc. are making headlines for their alleged lack of cleanliness.

After receiving a tip from a reader about the inefficiency of the SaniSeats, Chicago Sun-Times reporter Dan Mihalopoulous wrote about a reporter's experience after they trekked down to O'Hare to do their own check on the cleanliness of the toilet system, which is meant to keep toilets clean by using a rotating wrapper on the seats for each new user.  

Read more »

Quick Hit
by Aricka Flowers
7:09pm
Fri Jan 18

Chicago Lawmakers Pass Groundbreaking Ordinance To Protect Employees From Wage Theft

On Thursday, the Chicago City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that will make the city a national leader in the protection of employee wages. Employers in the city will be held accountable if found guilty of wage theft, thanks to the new ordinance, and could have their business licenses revoked, making the city one of only two municipalities in the nation that has such a law on its books. San Francisco is the only other American city to have similar wage theft safeguards.

“This ordinance helps change the conversation about good business. To be pro-business also includes caring about how employees are treated,” said Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th), who worked with Arise Chicago to get the ordinance passed. “I think this marks an important step in leveling the playing field for the many ethical business owners in our city."

Read more »