Bill allowing General Assembly staff to unionize advances
Illinois Democrats championed the passage of the Workers’ Rights Amendment last year, enshrining the right to collectively bargain for workers in the state. Now, its own legislative staff is pushing for those protections.
The House Executive Committee took up House Bill 4148, forming the Legislative Employee Labor Relations Act, on Tuesday morning. Following an hourslong discussion, the committee voted 8-4 with four Republican Reps. voting present to advance it to the House with an amendment to follow.
The committee hearing preceded the first floor action of the veto session, where lawmakers are expected to address several vetoes by Gov. JB Pritzker and new and existing legislation. The session runs six days and is scheduled to conclude on Nov. 9.
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch introduced the labor bill earlier this month after members of the Hillside Democrat’s staff had begun a push for better wages, hours, and working conditions several months prior. He described the efforts of his staff as “courageous.”
“Every single employee who wants to be in the union should have that opportunity,” Welch said during committee. “This legislation will create a legal pathway.”
Michael LeRoy, a labor law expert at the University of Illinois, explained that existing state law- the 1980s era Illinois Public Labor Relations Act - explicitly excludes public employees from engaging in collective bargaining. How the recently enacted constitutional amendment applies is unclear, he said, making this bill necessary.
In addition to allowing the legislative staff to unionize, the bill would apply to other employees serving the Illinois General Assembly such as janitors and doorkeepers. The Office of State Legislative Labor Relations would represent the General Assembly in collective bargaining matters − its office is represented by a director appointed by a joint committee on Legislative Support Services.
Bargaining over the state budget, organizational structure, and hiring of new employees would not be matters of discussion in collective bargaining through the legislation.
Several workers would still not retain the ability to collectively bargain including lawmakers, the office of the Legislative Inspector General, those in managerial roles, and short-term employees. Employees who can unionize may also be subject to a “fair-share” fee in proportion to collective bargaining costs.
Thanking Welch for bringing the bill, legislative staff testifying still took issue with its strike requirements. No strikes are permitted in months with more than one day of legislative session scheduled through the bill, effectively preventing strikes from January to May and months with veto or special sessions.
Those intending to strike are only allowed to do so after 30 days of notifying the Office of State Legislative Labor Relations of its intent. The notification standard exceeds that of other industries such as health care, where workers must give 10 days’ notice before striking.
Brady Burden, an analyst with the House Speaker’s office, said the provision affects legislative staff in Springfield and district offices.
“Scheduling worker actions for times when it won’t be an inconvenience, at that point, you might as well ban us from striking,” he told reporters following the meeting.
So far, about 20 legislative staff workers have signed cards signifying their support for unionization. Burden explained most of the Illinois Legislative Staff Association members are with the House Democrats and intend to reach out to others across the aisle.
Among the primary pushes are improving pay for staff workers, where an internal poll collected by ILSA found that 84% of staff are struggling to pay bills; strained work conditions contribute to high worker turnover; and no hybrid work options are available.
Welch contended he has recognized these concerns since becoming Speaker in 2021. He detailed efforts his office has made to improve worker conditions, providing free mental health seminars, and increasing pay for legislative assistants by 43% since 2020.
“As I became speaker, I have worked extremely hard to make this a better environment,” he said.
Contact Patrick M. Keck: 312-5499340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter.