|
 A tentative agreement was reached Sept. 15 between
a coalition of U.S. railway unions and rail carriers to temporarily avoid a
strike that could still cancel trains across Illinois and cost the economy
billions, President Joe Biden said.
Just the threat of a strike created enough chaos that daily commutes were
impacted and the president had to get involved. Imagine what Illinois would be
like if voters on Nov. 8 empower every government union across the state with
the ability to strike over virtually anything.
That’s the threat of Amendment 1.
Transportation experts said the now waylaid railroad strike could have frozen
30% of U.S. cargo shipments by weight and cost the U.S. economy $2 billion a day
– marking it as the largest threat to steady rail service in over three decades.
The work stoppages would have also forced Metra and Amtrak to cancel scheduled
trains for thousands of commuting Illinoisans in the case that one of the 12
member unions did not approve the deal, triggering all 115,000 coalition workers
to walk out.
In a statement, Amtrak said their long-distance lines will remain temporarily
canceled as the carrier now tries to restore trains halted in anticipation of
the strike. Alongside passengers, shipments of agricultural goods, weapons and
hazardous materials have all been waylaid for fear the trains would be shut down
mid-transport.
Rail carriers said avoiding the strike prevented a cascade of transportation
failures that would have driven up costs on energy, manufacturing, food and
retail goods nationwide.
The agreement approved by union representatives for 12 national railway unions
and the Association of American Railroads gives workers historic wage increases
of 24% over the next five years alongside an $11,000 bonus. The concessions fall
short of key previous demands for more time off and easing strict attendance
policies.
[to top of second column] |
Now rail unions members must vote to approve the deal. If it fails, the threat
of railway strikes will only be delayed into the coming months when the new
federally mandated cooling off period ends in 60 days.
While the current negotiations between rail workers and carriers stem from an
attempted rail strike blocked by Biden in July, Illinoisans would not have the
chief executive to protect them from the powers promised to union bosses if
voters pass Amendment 1 on Nov. 8.
Amendment 1 would give union bosses the power to negotiate contract concessions
that carry more weight than state law. It would expand the topics of
negotiations from wages and benefits to nearly any topic the unions see as
impacting their ability to work.
Besides the threat of more strikes in schools and the mayhem from stopping other
essential government functions – from the local dog catcher up to the governor’s
office –Amendment 1 is a tax hike in disguise. Allowing more and greater
government union powers means increased costs that will be quickly passed on to
Illinois taxpayers.
If passed Nov. 8, Amendment 1 would guarantee an average $2,149 property tax
hike on each Illinois family during the next four years. That’s a conservative
estimate. The real damage is unknown because the proposal is so broadly worded
the damage and taxes could be far worse and far higher.
The threatened rail strike was a clear illustration of the damage possible to
Illinoisans’ daily lives from union activism. Adding Amendment 1 to the Illinois
Constitution would create more of that mayhem.
|
