Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Illinois Tollway Chief of Staff Mike Stone reminds motorists that using a cell phone while driving without a hands free device is illegal in Illinois.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

CHANNAHON — With the proliferation of on-the-go electronic devices taking over the interiors of cars and trucks, drivers are getting more and more distracted, which means big trouble for the men and women who labor on the side of Illinois highways.

“Most job sites are not behind barrier walls. At most, our workers are protected by their equipment in front of them, and that’s it,” said John Bryan, president of Geneva Construction and board member of the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association. “It just takes an instant for a tragedy to occur.”

Bryan was among the officials who spoke April 7 in Channahon as part of the kickoff of National Work Zone Awareness week by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Now that winter is winding down and construction season is starting, IDOT is aiming to reduce severe crashes and fatalities on Illinois roadways.

It’s especially important for motorists to be patient this spring, with multiple construction projects underway on the tollways, and patching up of the roads after a harsh winter.

“Motorists need patience. Workers get stuff thrown at them all the time just from people who were inconvenienced for a minute,” said Bryan. “I have 120 employees, they all have children. They’re out there just doing their job and deserve to be safe.”

Mike Stone, chief of staff, Illinois Tollway, pointed out the new “Drop it and Drive” slogan for cell phone usage. It’s now illegal in Illinois to use a cellphone while driving without a hands free device.

“Be conscious and be courteous. It all boils down to that. You can’t be alert if you’re talking, texting, or tweeting on your cell phone. Drop it and drive,” said Stone.

Mike Sturino, president and CEO of the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association, held up his own phone amidst the traffic noise of nearby I-55.

“This cell phone plus your vehicle means you’re more likely to see a state trooper,” he said. “The average time spent looking at a text is 4.6 seconds. In that time you can travel the length of a football field — essentially blindfolded.”

Stone stressed Illinois’ Move Over Law, which requires motorists to slow down and change lanes if possible when approaching an emergency vehicle on the shoulder.

“By taking these simple precautions, drivers will not only protect the lives of workers, police officers, and other first responders, but also their own lives and those of their fellow motorists,” said Stone.

“These workers are wives and husbands, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers — they’re not just nameless faceless people. They deserve all the respect a motorist can give, and that means slowing down in a work zone, paying attention, keeping off your cell phone, and never texting and driving,” said Sturino.

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice speaks out on the day the Supreme Court announced its decision striking down caps on how much people can give in total to federal candidates and party committees.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

ELGIN — Even more money is about to enter elections.

April 2, the divided Supreme Court decided limits on aggregate political donations violated the constitutional right to free speech. The 5-4 decision was brought by Alabama businessman Shaun McCutcheon, as well as the Republican National Committee.

The McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission decision piles up the influence of the rich following the 2010 Citizens United ruling, which created SuperPacs — outside, mostly anonymous (if they want to be) groups that can funnel unlimited amounts of cash to influence elections.

Chief Justice John Roberts, who voiced with McCutcheon, said that “The government may not seek to limit the appearance of mere influence or access.” He said general influence is protected speech.

“I am very disgusted and broken-hearted that the Supreme Court stood on the side of wealthy individuals. The billionaires are going to run this country. Very few people are going to be in charge of our laws and elected officials,” said Kaye Gamble of Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice (NIJwJ). The group held a protest April 2 in Elgin against the decision. “The only people that are going to change it are voters. It’s not going to come from the top down.”

The old campaign finance laws were put on the books in the 1970s, limiting how much an individual can give to a candidate or parties in a single election cycle. The new decision will eliminate that and allow for donations from an individual to multiple campaign entities.

In short, it’s OK as long as the huge donation is spread around to multiple candidates, even if they are in the same party.

Laurie Nowak of the DuPage County Board attended the rally and called the decision “flat out dangerous.”

“Pawning off our democracy to the highest bidder has got to be one of the most un-American and un-Christian concepts there is. From the local level to the national level we must be vigilant about how big donations influence both election results and subsequent policy decisions,” she said.

“It’s bad enough to see this kind of thing on the county level, and it is flat out dangerous that the Supreme Court considers it constitutional for a wealthy few to drown out the voice of the poor, middle class, and even moderately wealthy citizens,” she explained.

Frank Esposito, an organizer from Occupy Naperville, said he wasn’t as worried about the decision.

“This is more of the same. We’re already on this path. This will change a few things, but it doesn’t change what we have to do, which is fight for a constitutional amendment. That’s the only thing that will override Congress and the Supreme Court,” Esposito explained.

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Obama visited the Chicagoland area April 2. Along his motorcade route, he was met by protestors concerned about him not keeping his environmental promises regarding the Keystone XL pipeline — a venture which would benefit union members.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

CHICAGO — Protestors took advantage of President Obama’s April 2 fundraising visit to Chicago, holding a rally along his motorcade route in Lincoln Park and asking him to keep his environmental promises to safeguard the planet for future generations.

The topic of discussion was the Keystone XL (eXport Limited) pipeline, the fourth phase of an oil pipeline that is slated to run from Alberta Canada, and join the existing pipeline in Nebraska. It would eventually terminate at the gulf in Texas.

The pipeline does have union support from the Laborers International Union of North America and the AFL-CIO, but overall, unions are divided on the issue.

Supporters say the pipeline will bring economic growth, jobs, and less dependance on foreign oil, but environmentalists say the pipeline poses a specific risk to the Ogallala Aquifer in Nebraska, one of the largest freshwater reserves in the world.

Representatives from the Sierra Club of Chicago held a rally at Fullerton and Jackson during Obama’s April 2 visit, asking him to reject the construction permit for the project. They say the promised economic gains don’t outweigh the potential environmental negatives the extended pipeline could bring.

“It’s becoming more and more evident that with such a large pipeline, the potential for disaster is serious,” said Laura Sabransky, Sierra Club member and co-organizer of the rally. “We called it a rally because we are just trying to get our message heard. All presidents need to be pushed to do the right thing, and we’re doing our civic duty. We need to see his actions match his words.”

Sabransky said evidence shows the first section of the pipeline had 12 leaks in the first year of operation alone, and the tar sands it carries are even more dangerous to the environment than traditional crude oil.
LiUNA, however, calls stage four of the pipeline “A lifeline for working men and women and for our nation’s energy security.”

They say a Project Labor Agreement with the four Canadian construction crafts that are signatories to the National Pipeline Agreement guarantee a standard of construction that will enable extensive safety measures, technological advancements, and mitigation efforts.

Once again, critics say more jobs could be created in updating America’s infrastructure and transitioning power sources to wind, solar and other renewable energies.

“Rather than look at the temporary jobs created, let’s look at the permanent jobs. Studies show fewer than 50 will be created,” said Sabransky. “There are too many negatives here. We represent the majority and we hope the President sees that.”

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
With too many Illinois workers struggling to survive on $17,160 a year, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Gov. Pat Quinn, Ill. labor leaders, faith leaders and low-wage workers joined the Give America a Raise bus tour, urging Congress to raise the minimum wage to $10.10.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

CHICAGO — A nationwide bus tour is hoping to turn the tide in favor of low wage workers.

The 11 state “Give America a Raise” bus tour supporting President Obama’s plan to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour stopped in Chicago March 31 — with backing from U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Gov. Pat Quinn. There is scheduled to be a Senate vote this week on the issue.

The argument is low wage fast food and retail workers are an integral part of the United States economy, and should be able to make enough money working 40 hours per week to live off of. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a living wage in Chicago is $21,790 to be able to afford housing, medical care, transportation and food. If full-time Illinois workers made $10.10 an hour, they’d earn $21,008 a year.

Illinois currently has a minimum wage of $8.25 per hour. A federal minimum wage increase to $10.10 per hour would increase the wages by $4,800 per year for nearly a half million Illinois workers — money that will typically be spent at local businesses on food, clothing, and furniture.

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
With too many Illinois workers struggling to survive on $17,160 a year, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Gov. Pat Quinn, Ill. labor leaders, faith leaders and low-wage workers joined the Give America a Raise bus tour, urging Congress to raise the minimum wage to $10.10.

Opponents such as Sen. Mark Kirk and Republicans in Congress including Adam Kinzinger, Randy Hultgren, Rodney Davis and Peter Roskam say an increase in minimum wage will hurt small business, decrease jobs, increase prices, and block entry level jobs for those with no experience.

Durbin said companies need to step up and pay a living wage in order for them to not rely on tax subsidies.

“When these big companies don’t pay a minimum wage, taxpayers make up the difference. Food stamps, child tax credit, earned income tax credit are all given to people who are working 40 hours per week. The federal treasury and state treasury are subsidizing low wage workers,” he said.

A recent Public Policy Polling survey found that overall, 63 percent of Illinois voters support raising the minimum wage to $10 — while only 33 percent are opposed, which is troubling for Republican lawmakers opposing the increase.

“Some of the hardest working people in Illinois are working 40 hours a week and living in poverty — that is unacceptable. Raising the minimum wage will empower working families and help build an economy that works for everyone,” Said Quinn.

Leaders from large companies such as Costco, Starbucks and Stride Rite agree, supporting a raise in the minimum wage as a way to reduce employee turnover and improve worker productivity.

“Let’s face reality,” said Durbin. “In America, we say we have respect for work. We say there’s a dignity to work. This is a test. If you believe in the dignity of work, supporting $10.10 an hour is the right thing to do.”

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Numerous tradespeople listen to Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council President Tom Villanova explain Chicago and Cook County Project Labor Agreements.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

BELLWOOD — There have been 109 project labor agreements in Cook County alone. With their growing popularity and benefit to the union construction industry, the Construction Industry Service Corporation decided to host an informational presentation March 31 to break down some questions about PLAs.

CISCO presented Tom Villanova, president of the Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council at Cement Masons Local 502 in Bellwood.

Villanova went over a sample Chicago and Cook County PLA to 125 tradespeople, and answered questions. He said PLAs are a valuable tool in protecting union jobs in the city, and one facet was area-wide agreements.

A clause in the sample said in regards to a contractor who is the successful bidder, but is not signatory to the applicable collective bargaining agreement, the collective bargaining agreement executed by the bidder will be relevant area-wide agreements regulating or governing wages, hours and other terms.

“You can’t have job A going union, job B going non-union,” said Villanova. “Once the bid is won, you must agree to a local collective bargaining agreement, or subcontract the job to union labor. It is against the law for us to stop the bidding, though.”

Villanova also said the PLA does not allow a work stoppage on a building site, but does allow lockouts elsewhere with other personnel if there is an off site agreement.

“We cannot strike for anything under this PLA,” he explained.

This does not cover different suppliers off site. For instance, manufacturers of cabinets for a job do not have to be union. It’s just too far reaching. The PLA does not guarantee a work stoppage from a secondary labor action, but it does make it extremely unlikely, not having happened in Cook County since 2010.

This allows for projects to be completed on time while also supporting other lockouts. Workers would also get retroactive pay for whatever collective bargaining agreement is settled on during the job.

“You get retroactive pay for whatever’s settled. This allows work to go on fairly,” said Villanova.

Villanova said it’s typical that union drug testing be satisfactory for jobs in the city, and the clause is noted in the sample PLA.

“We don’t want to double test. It’s expensive and time consuming. The PLA does supersede collective bargaining agreements,” he said.

CISCO Executive Director Dan Allen said the presentation far exceeded expectations.

“There’s been a lot of misinformation out there and I’ve been answering a lot of questions about PLAs,” he said. “Every group had a lot of misconceptions and Tom did a great job clearing things up.”