By: Mark Glennon*
Here’s a flat-out prediction: Home rule units of government in Illinois will begin enacting right-to-work locally, and it doesn’t matter what Springfield does or does not do.
Over 200 cities and towns in Illinois have home rule status. Never mind the other aspects of what that means, and never mind what you think about right-to-work on the merits. Some or many home rule cities and towns will embrace right-to-work and their prospects for legally prevailing are high. The attraction will be especially strong in depressed areas on the edge of Illinois because we are now surrounded by right-to-work states.
The Better Government Association recently wrote an otherwise good article on the subject titled, Rauner’s long shot: right-to-work zones. That’s wrong (though the BGA is almost always right on other things). With or without Rauner or the legislature, it’s not a long shot. I base this on no inside knowledge and not on my own judgement about legal obstacles. But I do know that plenty of municipalities are looking hard at it and that, if they proceed, their legal position will be sound, though probably subject to challenge.
*Mark Glennon is founder of WirePoints
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Mark, would ‘Home Rule’ right to work municipal ordinances conflict with the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, which requires union scale wages to be paid on municipal projects?
I presume the Prevailing Wage Act would be unaffected, so there would be no conflict.