SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois House approved a plan Wednesday to allow legislative staff to unionize and collectively bargain for livable wages and reasonable hours among other priorities.
House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Hillside) said his legislation could give employees equal opportunity to join a union and have their voices heard. Staff working in Democratic, Republican and nonpartisan roles in the House and Senate would be able to participate in the proposed union.
"This legislation is the culmination of months of diligent and thorough research," Welch said. "As someone who watched his dad work two full-time jobs to make ends meet for our family, workers' rights are a personal issue for me."
The House Executive Committee approved Welch's plan Tuesday morning. The Speaker filed an amendment late Tuesday night to address concerns from organizing members of the Illinois Legislative Staff Association.Â
However, the bill language does not allow confidential employees or managers to join a legislative union. Union organizers are also concerned that the bill would not allow union members to strike during session months.
"The idea of management scheduling a labor action is bizarre," said Illinois Legislative Staff Association organizer Brady Burden. "And secondly, it de-emphasizes the very important work that district staff does all year round when it comes to constituent services that is both important and time sensitive."
House Republicans noted Wednesday that Welch also ignored requests from his staff for nearly a year before filing his bill to allow their union to be created.
"We work through our issues with staff," stressed House GOP Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna). "If our staff has an issue with pay, our staff has an issue with benefits, or our staff has an issue with flex scheduling, we sit down with our staff and figure it out. That's what good leaders do."
Despite the long wait for action, Welch acknowledged that the legislation would not be possible without members of his House Democratic staff who demanded change. The Speaker told members that those union organizers are courageous.
"One of my favorite authors is a guy named Adam Grant and he wrote a book called Think Again," Welch said. "It's okay to think again. By their efforts, they made us think again."Â
The proposal would create an office for state legislative labor relations to represent and work in the interest of lawmakers in collective bargaining. Amended language also requires the union members to provide five days notice prior to any strike.
Unionized employees would not be allowed to bargain over managerial policies, qualifications or elections of lawmakers, chamber rules or committee establishment.
"If this is really about staff, you would've taken it back to committee like the staff asked you to," McCombie said. "You also would've worked with the Senate. This isn't about all four caucuses. Do better."Â
House Bill 4148 passed out of the House on a 74-35 vote with four representatives voting present. It is unknown if the plan will gain enough support to pass out of the Senate during the remaining days of veto session.
"We still have some stuff to iron out, but we are confident that any differences are within reach," Burden said. "We are appreciative of the lines of communication the Speaker and his aides have opened, and hope to cultivate a similar relationship with President Harmon and his team going forward."
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