Committee(s) Assignment:
regarding creation of local right to work zones Committee on Workforce Development and Audit
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL MAYOR
April 15,2015
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Moreno, Fioretti, Dowell, Burns, Hairston, Sawyer, Harris, Beale, Pope, Balcer, Cardenas, Quinn, Burke, Foulkes, Thomas, O'Shea, Brookins, Munoz, Zalewski, Solis, Burnett, Ervin, Graham, Mell, Austin, Colon, Sposato, Mitts, Cullerton, Laurino, Patrick O'Connor, Mary O'Connor, Cappleman, Pawar, Osterman, Moore and Silverstein, a resolution regarding a recent proposal by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner calling for the creation of local right to work zones.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Mayor
Very truly yours,
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has repeatedly called for the creation of local right to work zones, in which voters could decide if workers in their communities employed in unionized industries can opt out of paying union dues or equitable fees for representation to labor organizations; and
WHEREAS, Governor Rauner has asked for city councils across Illinois to consider a resolution asking for voter referenda to allow local right to work zones, limit prevailing wage laws as well as changes to workers' compensation laws and eliminating project labor agreements; and
WHEREAS, such action has the potential to dismantle labor organizations, which have historically protected the rights of working and middle-class Chicagoans, and could lead to lower median wages, reduced benefits, and unsafe working conditions for all employees whether they are union or nonunion; and
WHEREAS, The Illinois Attorney General has rendered an opinion unequivocally declaring the concept of local right to work zones both preempted by federal labor law and illegal under Illinois law;
WHEREAS, The Illinois Attorney General has rendered an opinion unequivocally declaring that local opt-out of prevailing wage laws would violate the Illinois Prevailing Wage Law; and
WHEREAS, this attack on established laws meant to protect working families is an attempt to weaken organized labor, undercut Chicago and Illinois contractors and businesses by allowing out of slate entities and workers to take Chicago jobs and will not make Chicago or Illinois a more competitive business environment, evidenced by the fact that similar laws in other slates have had no impact on attracting employers lo a particular slate; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, ihe Mayor and Members ofthe City Council of Chicago, assembled this fifteenth day of April, 2015, do hereby declare our opposition to the gubernatorial proposal to create local right to work zones in Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we call upon the Committee on Workforce Development and Audit to hold a hearing to address this important issue, and wc ask that the Committee invite appropriate officials and interested members ofthe public in an effort to fully address this matter; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be delivered lo the Governor ol" the State of Illinois, Ihe President ofthe Illinois Senate, the Minority Leader ofthe Illinois Senate, llie Speaker ofthe Illinois House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of Ihe Illinois House of Representatives
Chicago City Council Co-Sponsor Addition/Change
Document No.: R2015-252
Subject: Hearing on Creation of Right to Work Zones
Please Add Or Change The Co-Sponsor As Shown Below.
Alderman Willie Cochran (__20thWard)
Alderman ( Ward)
Alderman ( Ward)
Alderman ( Ward)
Alderman ( Ward)
Please Remove Or Change The Co-Sponsor As Shown Below.
Alderman ( Ward)
Alderman ( Ward)
Alderman ( Ward)
Alderman ( Ward)
Alderman ( Ward)
Date Filed May 5. 2015 Signature
Principal Sponsor
Final copies to be filed with:
Chairman of Committee to which legislation was referred
Chairman Patrick J. O'Connor
Committee on Workforce Development and Audit