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 Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan has spent nearly
$900,000 defending his political machine against federal sexual harassment and
retaliation claims, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Last week he settled
with the plaintiff, Alaina Hampton, for $275,000. Hampton had accused former
Madigan employee Kevin Quinn of bombarding her with unwanted texts seeking a
romantic relationship.
But the money for the settlement and legal fees doesn’t solely come out of
Madigan’s pocket. Instead, he’s paying for it through his election committee,
Friends of Michael J. Madigan.
That committee is heavily funded by government unions. In October 2019 alone,
government unions and their political action committees funneled over $255,000
to the speaker’s committee, according to filings with the Illinois State Board
of Elections. Nearly $400,000 more in October and November was funneled into
other Madigan-controlled committees named in the lawsuit.
Of that amount, $71,400 came from the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees, the national organization for Illinois’ largest public
employee union.
Generally, only a portion of member dues stays local, and the rest is passed up
the chain to state and national affiliates. Sometimes members choose to give an
additional amount to support a union’s political agenda through a political
action committee.
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But the $71,400 contribution to Friends of Michael
J. Madigan did not come from AFSCME’s PAC. Instead, it came directly
from AFSCME’s headquarters.
This means there was nothing to keep AFSCME from using member dues
to fund the speaker’s sexual harassment defense.
AFSCME members upset by the union’s spending have
recourse: They can opt out of union membership and stop funding the
union’s political agenda with their dues.
Workers who opt out of union membership are still guaranteed the
benefits provided in the collective bargaining agreement.
That’s because decades ago, Illinois’ government union leaders
lobbied for the exclusive right to represent all public employees –
both members and nonmembers. And that means nonmembers retain all
benefits provided in the collective bargaining agreement, regardless
of membership status.
Examples may include the following:
Salary and raises
Health insurance
Pension benefits
Vacation days and holidays
Overtime pay
Seniority
Leaves of absence (including sick leave)
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