Opponents call new Illinois law ‘thank-you gift’ to government unions

[July 03, 2024]  By Catrina Petersen | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill opponents say is a thank-you gift from the Illinois General Assembly to government unions.

Pritzker signed House Bill 4417, which allows public high schools, including charter schools, to designate and annually observe a week known as "Workplace Readiness Week.” Opponents say the law will provide a platform for union propaganda.

State Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, urged a "no" vote and said that while the "Workplace Readiness Week” isn’t mandated, its implementation is regulated in a way that limits speech.

“While it is optional and a school can decide whether or not to cover it, if they do cover, it actually limits the breadth of the speech that can be presented as a part of this,” McConchie said.

According to Illinois Policy, nine out of 10 current Illinois legislators have received money from unions. State Sen. Michael Halpin, D-Rock Island, carried the measure in the Senate.

“If they recognize the week officially, they will be required to initiate a certain curriculum, which discusses state, federal and local labor laws and some labor history. [The curriculum is to also discuss] apprenticeship opportunities in the labor workforce,” said Halpin.

Halpin’s top 10 donors, outside of the Democratic Party of Illinois, are all unions. The Illinois Laborers Legislative Committee donated over $220,000 to his campaign last year.

Democratic lawmakers argued that the state-approved "Workplace Readiness Week” isn’t a mandate. Republicans argued the state-approved curriculum requirements after adopting the week pushes a certain ideology.

State Sen. Craig Wilcox, R-McHenry, argued the bill’s intent is to indoctrinate students.

A Chicago Teachers Union member in Springfield
Catrina Petersen | The Center Square

“There’s absolutely no doubt that we support workplace readiness and training programs in school, but the breadth of this bill appears to be a bit more [about indoctrination] if the option is chosen and that is concerning,” said Wilcox. “The week should remain focused on workplace rights and opportunities rather than becoming a platform for promoting specific ideological or political viewpoints.”

State Rep. Gregg Johnson, R-East Moline, said if a school adopts the “Workplace Readiness Week,” it should fall within the parameters of what the legislation is intending to do.

“Which is … if they are being victimized by wage theft, they should be educated,” said Johnson. “I expect them to follow what’s prescribed in that curriculum. I wouldn’t want them to have a Workplace Readiness Week and teach workplace un-readiness. It has to stick to the subject at hand.”

The United Automobile Workers Illinois PAC donated thousands of dollars to Johnson this year, according to the Reform for Illinois’ database.

Between January 2010 and June 2023, unions poured $60.2 million into legislators’ political campaigns, according to records with the Illinois State Board of Elections. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, the vast majority of those funds, 95%, went to Democrats.

The law goes into effect immediately.