Opponents of a November ballot measure dubbed the "Workers' Rights Amendment" say it's a property tax hike in disguise that would give government unions virtually unlimited bargaining power as a constitutional right.
Mailee Smith, director of labor policy for the Illinois Policy Institute, observed recently that if Illinois voters approve Amendment 1 it will expand collective bargaining to include broad new subjects, such as "economic welfare" and "safety at work."
"There is no definition or case law explaining what those terms mean," Smith wrote. "They could encompass virtually anything."
Smith argues that government costs will increase when public sector unions come to the bargaining table seeking greater wages and benefits.
"The money for the increased costs must come from somewhere," she wrote. "That somewhere is taxpayers."
The Illinois Policy Institute estimates that if passed, property taxes in Madison County could increase by $646 over the next four years and increase by $834 over the same period in St. Clair County. The group created an Amendment 1 property tax calculator that estimates increases based on county of residence.
Smith also is critical of a provision that would give unions a permanent right to strike.
"They can walk out on Illinois residents, denying them needed services if their demands aren’t met," she wrote. "Even if government leaders don’t want to cave to the demands of government union bosses, they will be at a significant disadvantage."
The issue goes to voters on Nov. 8 after the Democratically controlled state legislature adopted a joint resolution last year, easily surpassing a minimum threshold of three-fifths approval.
All Democrats in both chambers voted in favor of the resolution.
In the 80-30 House vote, no Republicans voted in favor of the Amendment. In the 49-7 Senate vote, 11 Republicans voted in favor.
State Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) was one of 41 House sponsors of SJRCA0011.
Since last October, Stuart's campaign committee has accepted at least $350,000 in contributions from labor organizations, according to records at the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Stuart, seeking election to a fourth term, faces Republican Jennifer Korte of Edwardsville in November.
Korte said that Amendment 1 will not be beneficial to workers in the long run.
"Families are struggling, thanks to the radical policies of career politicians like my opponent and my concern is that Amendment 1 will lead to more job loss and more hardships for workers in the long run," Korte said. "We should not be putting contractual issues into our Constitution that belong on the bargaining table.
"Workers should be the ones negotiating the terms of their employment, not government bureaucrats."
Amendment 1 synopsis:
Proposes to amend the Bill of Rights Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that employees shall have the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work. Provides that no law shall be passed that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively over their wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and work place safety, including any law or ordinance that prohibits the execution or application of agreements between employers and labor organizations that represent employees requiring membership in an organization as a condition of employment. Provides that these provisions are controlling over home rule powers. Effective upon being declared adopted.