Pritzker vetoes warehouse worker protection bill, argues plan presents legal challenges

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Gov. JB Pritzker vetoed a plan Friday that would have created new protections for exploited warehouse workers.

Sen. Celina Villanueva — Sponsors believe warehouses can have efficiency without exploitation.

The Illinois Warehouse Worker Protection Act could require employers to provide written descriptions of any quota and adverse employment action on a worker's hiring date.

Sponsors said employers would also be forced to provide updated descriptions of quota changes within five business days of any change. Amazon is one of the most prominent companies in the United States that has been caught forcing warehouse workers to meet unrealistic standards on a daily basis.

"What it's going to do is allow workers an opportunity to not have to basically use the bathroom in a bottle because they're so concerned with making sure that they're meeting the quota that they were just told that morning when they walked into the warehouse," said Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago).

Pritzker said he vetoed the bill because it presented legal and operational issues. The governor noted that there was no procedure to ensure due process in the enforcement of the legislation and the proposal did not set out a clear comprehensive scheme for penalties or damages.

"In this tight budget year and in the face of unpredictable enforcement and funding from the federal government, it is critical that advocates, legislators and my administration work together to ensure any new labor laws are straightforward to implement and do not create a risk of legal challenges," Pritzker wrote.

Pritzker also explained that he is directing the Illinois Department of Labor to convene worker advocates, unions, and business stakeholders to work together on a proposal to address the underlying critical policy concerns regarding warehouse quotas and overall warehouse worker safety.

"I am also charging the Illinois Department of Labor with streamlining and prioritizing resources to build a field enforcement team that can respond quickly and effectively to dangerous conditions, lack of meal and rest breaks, and other concerns in warehouses," Pritzker wrote.

Senate Republicans told their Democratic colleagues in January that the changes would impact 750,000 companies across the country. Sen. Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett) said the plan could make Illinois less attractive for companies and impact people currently working in warehouses.

"Working at a QuickTrip in the back room is entry level," Lewis said. "Working at Cardinal Health, distributing things on the warehouse or distribution line, those are your entry level jobs. This legislation is going to threaten those businesses from either coming or expanding in our state."

House GOP leaders were also concerned that Democrats were allowing the Illinois Department of Labor to introduce rules at a later date to address monetary caps and guidelines for legal action rather than spelling everything out in the legislation.

New York, California, and Minnesota have similar laws on the books. Villanueva and Rep. Kevin Olickal (D-Skokie) can choose to accept Pritzker's veto or ask lawmakers to override the governor's decision.