International Union of Painters and Allied Trades President Kenneth Rigmaiden talks to members and fires them up at PDC 30 before they all head out on a labor walk through the west side of Aurora. Pat Barcas/staff photographer
By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com
AURORA — Painters District Council 30 is doing everything it can to protect jobs and get Governor Pat Quinn re-elected this fall. They hosted a labor walk Sept. 21 featuring International Union of Painters and Allied Trades President Kenneth Rigmaiden and Congressman Bill Foster.
Foster said he’s participated in labor walks at every one of his elections, and the only one he lost was in 2010, when there was poor voter turnout.
“One of the things we’ve learned is that when people stay home, bad things happen. The amount of damage that has been done by the Tea Party Congress that was elected in 2010 is enormous. I hope everyone’s learned their lesson. It matters, a lot,” he said.
Foster warned that Quinn’s Republican challenger, Bruce Rauner, is pouring millions into his campaign as election day approaches.
“He’s got more offices in my district than I have,” said Foster.
Foster said Rauner’s campaign reported receiving 400 vote by mail applications in a small piece of DuPage County alone.
“That’s more than twice what we have. There’s a serious field effort there,” said Foster.
Rauner faced trouble in Florida Monday as a federal bankruptcy trial (by family & bankruptcy law firm) began to determine if the investment firm he ran was involved in a fraudulent scheme to bypass liability for several deaths that occurred at nursing homes owned by the firm. Rauner was the head of equity firm GTCR for about 20 years before retiring in 2012.
Foster will face Republican Darlene Senger in his 11th District race.
“The battle for the middle class is something that labor is right on the edge of. We cannot afford to lose. This country’s economy moves because of the middle class,” said Foster.
Rigmaiden praised PDC 30 for their participation.
“This is one of the strongest councils in our organization. And that’s what it’s going to take. You’re not alone, we’re with you across the country,” he said. “Good luck, and thank you so much for putting for the effort today, and thank you for what you’re going to do for the next 44 days to get Pat Quinn re-elected governor in the great state of Illinois.”