Darren Bailey
Darren Bailey
A proposed Chicago City Council ordinance that would fine and penalize businesses for failing to provide proper notice for schedule changes has Darren Bailey seething with determination.
“I’m beyond frustrated by the ignorance and as motivated as I’ve ever been to put an end to it,” Bailey, running against Democrat Cynthia Given in the 109th District, told the SE Illinois News. “We have to get people who think like this out of power and change the business climate of this state before it’s too late for anyone to do much of anything about it. That’s the crucial reality of the situation and it needs to happen now.”
Sponsored by Chicago Alderman John Arena, who represents the 45th Ward, with the backing of more than half of his colleagues, the so-called Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance would require Chicago employers to post work schedules for their employees at least two weeks in advance and face fines for any subsequent changes.
Cynthia Given
Employers would also be billed for at least an extra hour of work by employees harmed by any changes and businesses could also face fines as high as $500 for each employee affected by noncompliance in each pay period, the Chicago Tribune states. Things like schedule changes that come with less than a 24-hour notice for on-call workers would also incur penalties.
“All any of that will do is create more bureaucracy, which means even more trouble for Illinois business,” Bailey said. “It’s just more reasons why businesses wouldn’t want to be here, right up there next to the high workman compensation, spiraling taxes and all the other burdensome regulations.”
Once in Springfield, Bailey plans to lead the charge in turning Illinois back into the destination state it once was, he said.
“We’ve got (to) get back to the days of sane policy being the order of the day,” he said.
The 109th House District includes Clay, Edwards, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne and White counties.