Illinois Department of Transportation Teamsters authorize strike

(WAND) - Teamsters at the Illinois Department of Transportation have voted to authorize a strike.

The 3,800 workers are represented by Teamsters Locals 26, 50, 371, 525, 627, 705, 722, and 916.

“Our members, who have been leading the way during this contract fight, have grown tired of the state’s unwillingness to value their hard work,” said Thomas Stiede, President of Joint Council 25. “Their overwhelming strike authorization sends a clear message, and we will do whatever it takes to get them the contract they deserve.”

The strike authorization vote comes after months of negotiations with the state of Illinois for a new contract. The most recent contract expired on July 1, 2023.

“Illinois has a highway budget that is bigger and better than ever, so there is clearly plenty of money there to pay us fair wages and allow us to remain on our preferred health insurance,” said Cale Shonk, a permits supervisor at IDOT in District 5 and member of Local 916. “The state has applauded us for the great work we do but refuses to pay us what we are worth. It is beyond ridiculous we are being treated like this.”

Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents more than 100,000 workers at 25 local union affiliates in Chicago, Illinois, and Northwest Indiana.

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Teamsters and labor allies gathered at Los Angeles City Hall Thursday in support of Senate Bill 915, which would require autonomous vehicle (AV) companies to secure local approvals before starting operations.

SB 915 is part of the CARS package that the Teamsters are advocating for in Sacramento.

“California has an opportunity to put safety first, and that starts with passing SB 915. It’s past time we give local governments a say in how this dangerous technology impacts their communities,” said Chris Griswold, Teamsters International Vice President At-Large and President of Teamsters Joint Council 42.

“The Teamsters applaud Sen. Cortese for introducing SB 915 and urge state lawmakers to prioritize safety over Big Tech by passing this bill into law.”

SB 915 was introduced on January 9, 2023, by State Senator Dave Cortese (D – San Jose), shortly after the California Dept. of Motor Vehicles (DMV) approved Waymo’s application to expand its fleet to the suburbs of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

If approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, Waymo could also operate 24/7 in any weather conditions and on any roads, including highways.

In a release, the Teamsters said, "Despite robotaxis running over pedestrians, blocking first responders from their jobs and causing traffic pile-ups, the CPUC and DMV have refused to implement significant AV safety measures."

“SB 915 makes sure that as we step into this new age of cars that drive themselves, we’re not taking any chances with public safety,” Cortese said. “Having served as Vice Mayor of San Jose and Board President of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, I’ve seen firsthand how local governments are capable and efficient in managing traffic and safety. Local communities will quickly create governance structures that protect the public while allowing for safe deployment of autonomous vehicles.”

Teamsters were joined by L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, L.A. City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, and representatives from the California Professional Firefighters Association, the California Labor Federation, the Los Angeles Labor Federation and the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment. Soto-Martinez announced that he is planning to introduce a resolution in support of SB 915.

“Our city should not be a test subject for the tech industry,” Soto-Martinez said. “SB 915 will help keep California roads safe and put power back in the hands of local communities.”

“If there’s one thing we learned from the strikes in LA last year, it’s that multi-billion-dollar conglomerates don’t have our best interest in mind,” said Lindsay Dougherty, Teamsters Western Region International Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 399.

“We can’t sit by and watch Big Tech write the rules for themselves, at the expense of our safety and our livelihoods. We need people who live in the communities to be the ones who decide whether we have driverless cars or trucks in our neighborhoods.”

“SB 915 will give the people who are most affected by AV deployment – local governments, essential workers, first responders, and others the power to regulate driverless cars and trucks in a smart, pragmatic way that makes sense for their particular community,” said Quentin Booker, a sanitation truck driver and member of Teamsters Local 350.

“It will democratize the regulatory process without taking any power away from state agencies and prioritize safety by holding AV operators to the same standards as human operators, which isn’t currently happening under the law.”