Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: *** UPDATED x1 *** Oopsie
Next Post: Another day, another lawsuit
Posted in:
* Capitol News Illinois…
A major initiative of a regional carpenters’ union that aims to end wage theft in private construction projects will head to Gov. JB Pritzker.
The long-debated measure allows a worker with a wage theft or fringe benefit grievance against a subcontractor to sue the primary contractor to rectify the situation. The primary contractor is the entity that deals directly with the customer and hires the subcontractors to complete a project.
The bill also requires the subcontractor to compensate the primary contractor for any wages, damages, interest, penalties or attorney fees should the primary contractor be forced to rectify a wage theft claim.
“Construction jobs are unique in that they often feature various subcontractors under one general contractor whose job it is to make sure all laws, including wage-related ones, are being followed,” the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Cristina Castro, D-Elgin, said in a statement. “This measure will ensure that the hardworking individuals who are employed by subcontractors receive fair compensation should that subcontractor fail to pay them.”
David Roeder at the Sun-Times on the same bill…
The Associated General Contractors of Illinois opposed the measure. That group and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce could not be reached for comment.
The Hispanic American Construction Industry Association fought the bill. In a statement issued in early April, the group cited “the harm it will inflict on up-and-coming construction firms in Illinois and the employees who become victims of wage theft.” It said it contradicts Illinois’ goal of diversifying the construction industry and creates an incentive for cheating.
“Shifting liability for wage theft encourages bad actors to continue stealing from their employees because they know that someone else will be held accountable,” the group said.
A study issued early last year concluded that payroll fraud affects 20% of Illinois construction workers, or about 52,000 people. The study by labor-backed groups, including the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, said some employers skip paying payroll tax, unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation.
* Press release…
The Illinois Education Association (IEA) worked with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and the governor’s office to ensure the passage of several pieces of pro-public education legislation during the 2021-22 legislative session in Springfield. This legislation will mean stronger K-12 schools and stronger community colleges and universities for our students, and it will help us address the growing teacher and education support staff shortages in our state.
“We are about to end our second full school year during the COVID-19 pandemic. These have been the hardest years of most of our educators’ careers and are also likely the most difficult two years of our students’ learning careers. Our lawmakers recognized that. They acknowledged that not with mere words, but with action. We thank you for standing by our teachers, support staff, students and communities,” IEA President Kathi Griffin said. “This legislative session brought positive change to every Illinois student from pre-school through college. The legislative initiatives passed by the General Assembly also help to address some of the problems that are leading to the teacher and support staff shortages that are now at a crisis level. But as much great work as we’ve done, more still needs to be done to keep our outstanding, experienced educators in their schools and higher education institutions and to attract bright, ambitious young minds to the profession. We look forward to continuing this important work.”
Legislation passed by lawmakers this session that will have a positive impact on public education:
• Threat Assessment Law Update (HB 4994) – This bill ensures safe schools for all Illinois students. It’s a collaboration between IEA and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The legislation will mean school district administrations are monitored by Regional Offices of Education to make sure they are in compliance with Illinois’ Threat Assessment Law. That law is designed to help prevent active shooter situations and violence in our schools.
• COVID Admin Days and Paycheck Protection (HB 1167) – HB 1167 will provide COVID administrative days to teachers and education support staff who are either vaccinated or who are federally exempt from the vaccine. This ensures teachers and support staff will not have to use sick days for COVID related absences. It also restores any previously used sick days educators may have taken. Included in this legislation is paycheck protection for hourly school employees in the event a school closes for an emergency.
• Special Education Co-Op Bill (HB 3709) - This bill protects collective bargaining rights for special education teachers and support staff by ensuring seniority is maintained when a special education co-op is dissolved or combined with another special education co-op.
• Mental Health Days (HB 4742) – HB 4742 provides education employees can use sick days for mental health related reasons.
• Increased education funding, full pension payment and monies to address teacher shortage (HB 900) -o Lawmakers allocated an additional $350 million dollars for public education, which means the evidenced-based funding model for K-12 schools was fully funded.
o The legislature approved sending the state’s full payment and additional funding to the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS).
o After years of nearly stagnant funding for universities and community colleges, lawmakers approved a significant increase in higher education funding.
o Also included is $400,000 for the Educators Rising Program, which is the community-based movement that encourages Illinois high school students to choose to become teachers.
* More on the mental health days from Quincy’s WGEM TV…
QPS personnel director Lisa Otten said anything that can be done to support teachers mental health is worth doing.
She said right now teachers can use sick days as mental health days. She said the district also offers teachers three free counseling sessions through their insurance plans.
Otten said they’re noticing more teachers taking advantage of those services.
“More of our staff members are using this service, probably because of the mental health needs right now with post-COVID,” she said. “Our families and staff have been through a lot so we are noticing an uptick in of the staff that are using the free counseling services.”
…Adding… Partnership for College Completion…
On the last day of a shortened session, the Illinois General Assembly passed a budget that included a historic $122M increase in the Monetary Award Program (MAP), which will allow 24,000 more students to access the state’s primary need-based aid program. Other higher education highlights include a 5% increase in college and university funding and investments in financial aid programs that will help make college more affordable for students seeking careers with high market demand. The FY23 budget, for example, doubles funding to the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship, which aims to increase the representation of teachers of color in Illinois.
This budget symbolizes a renewed commitment by the state to make college more affordable and accessible, particularly for students who have been historically left out of higher education. The Partnership applauds Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly for advancing a budget that will help put Illinois on track to a more equitable and prosperous future.
Right now, this investment is particularly important with colleges in Illinois and across the country experiencing significant enrollment declines, particularly among Black students and other marginalized populations. While there are many reasons why college enrollment is down across the country– mental health, increased family responsibilities, and the perceived value of a degree– college affordability is perhaps the number one reason why Illinois students and families are not seeking a postsecondary education in the state.
Getting Illinois on track to a truly affordable higher education system requires a reinvestment that is both substantial and targeted. This is because the state disinvested in colleges and universities between 2002 and 2018, pushing institutions to raise their prices to cover the cost of delivering high-quality education. This priced out students from low-income households and students of color, especially from Illinois’ public universities.
Today, the maximum MAP award covers just 32% and 36% of tuition and fees at public universities and colleges, respectively, and thousands of eligible students are denied awards every year when funding runs out. Reversing this trend will require stable and significant investments in both students and the institutions that serve them and the budget passed by the General Assembly last weekend is a significant down payment toward this goal.
With both the increase in MAP funding and expanded eligibility to students seeking certificates or credentials, roughly 24,000 more students will receive a MAP award. The investment will not only increase the number of students served but also increase the percentage of tuition and fees covered by a maximum award, from 32% to 50% at public universities.
* Other stuff…
* Legislation classifying Illinois dispatchers as first responders clears legislature
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 1:43 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: *** UPDATED x1 *** Oopsie
Next Post: Another day, another lawsuit
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
=Threat Assessment Law Update (HB 4994) – This bill ensures safe schools for all Illinois students. It’s a collaboration between IEA and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The legislation will mean school district administrations are monitored by Regional Offices of Education to make sure they are in compliance with Illinois’ Threat Assessment Law. That law is designed to help prevent active shooter situations and violence in our schools.=
This bill does absolutely nothing but add more work. It absolutely does not make schools safer.
I think the governor is generally doing a good job and will vote for him. But at some point if management is not part of the schools conversation and the IEA constantly runs the legislation, schools will not be as strong. School management actually knows a thing or two that classroom satt do not.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 1:54 pm
Out of state contractors join the union to get the job, leave and never pay benefits
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 1:54 pm
Some folks are really going to regret not voting for the wage theft bill.
Comment by HD Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 2:01 pm
I realize that it’s the IEA press release, but $350M for EBF funding is not “fully funded”, just meeting what the legislature originally promised.
The General Assembly’s own Professional Review Panel noted in December that at $350M/year for EBF (really only $300M to schools, though) doesn’t fully fund (as defined by the legislature at all districts at 90% adequate funding) until 2042. Note that the Class of 2042 hasn’t been born yet.
Comment by Dunwich Snorer Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 2:08 pm
=I realize that it’s the IEA press release, but $350M for EBF funding is not “fully funded”, just meeting what the legislature originally promised.=
Welcome to politics. After the EBF model was developed by educators and pitched to politicians, the politicians took the formula and adjusted it to match a number they thought they could fund.
So your post is correct, but they don’t see it that way.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 2:26 pm
- Out of state contractors join the union to get the job, leave and never pay benefits -
It also happens with local contractors who are either having financial trouble, or are just shady. This happens way more than people probably think.
Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 2:30 pm
It would be helpful to collect and share data on the allegations of contractors not paying benefits (or wages). Even anecdotal evidence is better than what we have so far. If it really happens more than people think — which would be bad, if true — then it would be good to share some data or evidence to show it.
Comment by Dan Johnson Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 2:55 pm
@Rabid 1:54 pm, are you aware the Carpenter’s Wage Theft bill exempts contractors and subs who are part of a collective bargaining unit? So it gives out-of-state or in-state union companies a free pass to do just what you described. As a result of that exemption, the bill is only targeted at non-union contractors.
Comment by Suburbanon Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 2:56 pm
==Lawmakers allocated an additional $350 million dollars for public education, which means…==
$50 million of that will be allocated towards the Property Tax Relief Grant. What lucky districts will win this year?
I’m surprised mental health days were not already included in sick days. It’s a moot point though as, if the current massive bank of sick day accruals are any indication, most teachers won’t use them.
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 3:35 pm
Suburbanon,
Now why did you have to go and point out that duplicitous double standard?
Comment by Downstate Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 3:36 pm
Other states attack education. Illinois works to improve it.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 3:47 pm
@Downstate - I’ll plead temporary political insanity.
Comment by Suburbanon Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 4:06 pm
No objective person can fail to acknowledge that Unions control this administration. That isn’t very good for the average taxpayer. Union membership is less then 11 percent of the workforce but at least in Illinois - they run the agenda
Comment by Sue Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 4:06 pm
JS Mill is absolutely right on HB 4994. And SB 3709 was not well thought through either, if there is a dissolution & there is no plan for that staff from the co-op where do they get sent? Also wouldn’t that cause issues for staff at the district who already work those jobs? Just some thoughts. Also HB 4742 did not pass.
Comment by Thursday Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 4:14 pm
Glad the Carpenters’ are (A) apparently not worried about stopping wage theft on construction jobs undertaken by union contractors and (B) OK with having non-union contractors be on the hook twice in the event a sub commits wage theft–talk about two wrongs making a right, right?
Comment by Mayor Quimby Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 4:28 pm
Can anyone opine as to why union shops aren’t subject to “critical” legislation?
Sen. Cristina Castro, D-Elgin, said in a statement. “This measure will ensure that the hardworking individuals who are employed by subcontractors receive fair compensation should that subcontractor fail to pay them.”
She should have noted that those “hardworking individuals” aren’t covered if they work for a union.
Comment by Downstate Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 4:29 pm
Union members sometimes do not have benefits paid or other wage issues. The fact that they do have a union to go to bat for them means contractors face consequences if this happens. Individuals without union protection would likely have to sue to get what they are owed. I can only imagine that’s why unions would be exempted. Still,no reason why all employers should not be subject to the legislation.
Comment by OverByDere Thursday, Apr 14, 22 @ 11:10 pm
“Still,no reason why all employers should not be subject…”
Exactly. This was a hit job at its finest.
Comment by Downstate Friday, Apr 15, 22 @ 8:07 am
=== “Still,no reason why all employers should not be subject…”===
Then don’t partake in wage theft. That’s easy enough.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 15, 22 @ 8:20 am