SE Illinois News

Sen. Darren Bailey remains opposed to Amendment 1, which he claims threatens to alter the Illinois state constitution and give unions unprecedented power and could ultimately cost taxpayers more money.

“I stood up on the Senate floor and opposed it as it’s definitely going to raise our taxes,” Bailey told SE Illinois News. “It’s a special interest takeover that has nothing to do with worker’s rights. It allows government unions to bargain outside of typical areas of wages and benefits and all of it will make government more costly.”

Illinois voters will be asked during the Nov. 8 election whether Amendment 1 should be part of the state constitution. Amendment 1, according to Ballotpedia, would amend the Illinois Constitution to say that employees have a "fundamental right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work."

It would also prohibit any law that "interferes with, negates or diminishes the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively," including agreements that require union membership as a condition of employment.

Bailey is among those opposed to the Amendment because it would give teachers the ability to strike, increase property taxes and strengthen unions.

“That’s exactly what it does,” he said, “because when you’re able to bargain outside of wages and benefits in areas like the schools what you’re doing is taking away power from parents and the local school board.

There are provisions in the Amendment that give unions the permanent right to strike if demands are not met. Bailey called the provisions “ridiculous,” and prevent the opportunity for lawmakers to make any future changes. “It’s a very dangerous amendment and something we’d be locked into,” he said.

According to Illinois Policy, Illinois families will already see a $2,100 property tax increase per family over the next four years and even more if union bosses “exercise new powers.” Opponents also fear special interest causes could exacerbate corruption in Illinois.

“The simple fact that Gov. Pritzker promised to reduce property taxes when he ran has been completely ignored,” Bailey said. “Instead of lowering our property taxes, he’s raised them and continues to do so with this amendment.”

While every neighboring state prohibits strikes for most of their government workers, Illinois is currently expanding the ways in which unions can strike. In each of the past three years, the Chicago Teachers Union has walked out. The Chicago Teachers Union also had strikes back in 2012 and 2019.