Unemployment bill for locked-out workers signed by governor in Illinois
On Jan. 11, 2005 the UAW, along with many other unions affiliated with the Illinois AFL-CIO, were able to achieve passage of legislation that has been a priority of organized labor for many years.
This legislation, SB 1994, would allow workers who are locked out by their employers to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits. As of publication of this issue of the Region 4 News, the legislation was signed by the governor of Illinois.
Originally, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) was set up so there was a balance of power between employees and employers. If workers were forced to strike for a fair contract, they suffered the loss of a paycheck and the employer suffered the loss of the employee’s labor.
Both sides were under pressure to work out a fair agreement. But as the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) began to be stacked with members more aligned with management (Board members are appointed by the President of the United States), decisions by the NLRB favored employers.
This version of the legislation originated in May 2003 when Hamilton Sundstrand locked out 680 employees during bargaining with UAW Local 592.
Region 4 Director Dennis Williams phoned Illinois Speaker Michael Madagin and asked for help. That same day a bill was on the floor of the Illinois House.
Many local members, along with the Area CAP Councils and leadership from many UAW locals in Illinois, lobbied their state senators and representatives for 19 months to help secure passage of this legislation. Everyone involved deserves a thank you for their persistence in these efforts.
Without our UAW worker-to-worker network within many locals, this effort may not have been successful.
St. Rep. Chuck Jefferson (D-Rockford) and St. Sen. Carol Ronen (D-Chicago) who sponsored the legislation in the House and Senate, respectively, certainly deserve a big thank you for their support of workers’ rights on this issue.
We also owe thanks to all the state senators and representatives who voted in favor of SB 1994. This is another example of both our V-CAP dollars and our lobbying skills paying off.
Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota already have this law.
