OPINION: Mayor-Elect Lashes Out At Governor's Proposed 'Right To Work' Zones

Joliet Mayor-Elect Bob O’Dekirk issued a statement announcing his opposition to Gov. Rauner’s efforts to create “right to work” zones throughout the state of Illinois by local voter referendums.

“As the incoming chief administrative officer of a government entity with a lagging economy and internal financial problems, I understand the pressure that Gov. Rauner is under to produce results, but eliminating the rights of workers to collectively bargain is not an option.

“While the governor says that he respects the rights of labor to organize and fight for their wages and benefits, the creation of “ Right To Work” zones would effectively create a disadvantage for union employers to create and expand operations in municipalities that respect the right to organize.

“Union training, union standards and union safety rules protect workers, employers and the general public from workplace accidents and disasters. A union worker may cost more, but you get more, and so does the local economy. Those union wages support every business in the City of Joliet while the additional corporate profits earned in non-union companies may never find their way back into our local economy.

“In Decatur, in February of this year, Rauner stated that “I’m not trying to force the whole state to go ‘right to work.’ I’m not advocating that. And the counties that liked the status quo and liked closed shop, keep it. Terrific. Those who want to compete and recruit more manufacturing firms and transportation companies, terrific.”

“The governor has many economic development tools at his disposal to help bring new businesses to Illinois and he does not need to strip the rights from union families to work together for their mutual economic protection. While the Governor toned down his anti-union rhetoric to get elected, it is now clear he would prefer that Illinois workers have no right to organize.

“I will be glad to join Gov. Rauner in any economic development efforts that recognize the rights of labor unions to operate and so would labor union members who want more job opportunities, but Rauner needs to stop the anti-worker rhetoric that is dividing our efforts to revitalize the state and local economy.”

Submitted by Mayor-Elect Bob O’Dekirk