Tag Archives: Gov. Pat Quinn

‘Those killed on the job – we’re connected to them’

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74th annual All Faiths Memorial Service
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Rev. Gavin Quinn remembers union members lost on the job during the past year at the Sept. 6 All Faiths Memorial Service at Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in Darien.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

CHICAGO — “When someone dies suddenly, it squeezes you pretty hard. We come together today as a people, to be with each other and celebrate life, not death. To know that you will be with that person eventually again,” said Rev. Gavin Quinn Sept. 6 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in Darien.

Quinn served as celebrant to the 74th annual All Faiths Memorial Service, sponsored by the Chicago and Cook County Building Trades Council. Labor leaders, union members and their families gathered to remember those members lost on the job during the past year.

Remembered were members Gary Beno, Gustavo Briceno Jr., Russell Bull, Jacob Harper, Bruce Kamp, Martin Moreno, Jose Tafoya, Joseph Vandenover, and David Varga.

“It’s important to remember what Jesus said at the Last Supper,” said Quinn. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God, have faith in me.”

Tom Villanova, president of the Cook County Building Trades Council served as a lector along with Ralph Affrunti, secretary treasurer, and Brian Glynn, vice president.

Quinn joked that the reason the services for Cook County members are held at a church in DuPage was due to union disagreements.

“We have the mass in DuPage because the two other churches made mistakes — they used non-union glaziers and roofers,” said Quinn.

The annual mass was first offered in 1941 by Rev. Joseph Donahue.
“Isn’t it wonderful, 74 years ago father Joe started doing this,” said Quinn. “I was 1-year-old. “It’s always good to get together. Those killed on the job — we’re connected to them. It’s all about love. We have to be there for each other.”

The Lord’s prayer was recited along with hymns before Communion was offered.

Final prayers were offered to oppressed workers around the world, for the victims of Sept. 11, for the conflict in Syria, for the safety of those who serve in the armed forces, for those who are suffering from a serious illness in the trades, for tradesmen tragically killed on the job site, and for deceased men and women in the building trades.

Gov. Pat Quinn did not take a holiday break

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Naperville 2014 Labor Day Parade
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Gov. Pat Quinn spent time walking in Naperville’s Last Fling Labor Day parade. He’s on the campaign trail to announce he’s backing raising the minimum wage in Illinois as a way to drive economic growth.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

NAPERVILLE — No, the “Quinnochio” character wasn’t present at Naperville’s Last Fling Labor Day parade, but the Governor’s race is just as contentious as ever, with Gov. Pat Quinn kicking off the official campaign season with a challenge to survive on the minimum wage.

Quinn is living this week on $79, the amount a minimum wage worker would make in a week after housing costs, transportation and taxes. On Labor Day he called Republican challenger Bruce Rauner the most anti-worker gubernatorial candidate in Illinois history as he continues to paint Rauner as an out of touch billionaire.

Quinn is putting heavy stock that his backing of raising the minimum wage in Illinois will pay off. In June, Quinn signed a law to place a referendum question on the Nov. 4 ballot that asks voters if the state’s minimum wage should be raised to $10 per hour, up from $8.25.

“He [Rauner] had firms that outsourced American jobs to foreign lands,” said Quinn. “I don’t think that’s what we need on Labor Day or any other day in Illinois. We need to raise the minimum wage and keep our jobs right here in our own back yard.”

Quinn’s camp says raising the minimum wage in Illinois is part of the Governor’s plan to drive economic growth, alleviate poverty and ensure all workers are treated fairly.

“Some of our hardest working men and women are living in poverty and that’s not right,” Quinn said. “You can’t raise a family on $17,000 a year. Every worker deserves a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work. That’s why I won’t stop fighting until we get the job done for our workers.”

Naperville 2014 Labor Day Parade
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Members of Laborers’ Local 149 show their support for Gov. Pat Quinn.

Starting Aug. 31, Quinn will rely on the Illinois minimum wage, $79, to cover his food and other expenses through Saturday, Sept. 6.

By increasing the Illinois minimum wage to $10 an hour, a half-million Illinois consumers will make an extra $4,800 a year and much of that extra income will be spent at local businesses on food, clothing and furniture, providing a strong boost to the local economy.

Nearly two-thirds of small-business owners support raising the federal minimum wage because they believe it will help the economy and, in turn, enable them to hire more workers, according to a poll conducted by the Small Business Majority. Leaders from large companies such as Costco, Starbucks and Stride Rite also have supported increasing the minimum wage as a way to reduce employee turnover and improve workers’ productivity.

Park District awarded $2 million grant

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Fox Valley Park District
Photo courtesy of Fox Valley Park District
Gov. Pat Quinn announces the award of a $2 million grant to the Fox Valley Park District for expansion of fitness facilities at the Prisco Community Center. FVPD Executive Director Nancy McCaul, left of Quinn, said it will address many of the residents’ wishes.

By Fox Valley
Park District
Thursday, July 10, 2014

AURORA — The Fox Valley Park District has been awarded a $2 million grant by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for fitness center expansion and improvements at the Prisco Community Center near downtown Aurora.

Gov. Pat Quinn announced the grant award June 7 outside the Prisco Center as part of the Park and Recreational Facility Construction (PARC) program, which provides state funding for renovation/construction of indoor recreation facilities, funded by the Governor’s Illinois Jobs Now! construction program.

These funds are part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to create jobs, provide more recreational opportunities, and drive Illinois’ economy forward.

“It’s important that everyone in Illinois has a place to be active and take on a healthy lifestyle,” said Quinn.

“Investing in parks and recreation is investing in our residents and helps us come together as communities. Parks enrich our lives and help make us healthier — a priceless combination,” Quinn explained.

The project will essentially create a new fitness center in Prisco and triple the current space (about 1,500 square feet) to more than 5,000 square feet on two levels.

The added space will allow for greater group and senior fitness facilities, renovated locker rooms, accessibility improvements and increased early childhood classroom areas for the Creative Play Preschool program.

Fox Valley Park District
Photo courtesy of PDC 30
During his announcement, Gov. Quinn, center, acknowledged PDC 30 and various other labor leaders for their important role in ensuring these projects are completed on time, by highly skilled workers, trained and experienced in their craft.

It also meets growing demands at both ends of the demographic spectrum, bringing early childhood/youth programming and senior/active adult programming to an area where such opportunities are needed.

A recent District-wide survey of residents indicated a high demand for adult fitness, as well as early childhood programming.

“We’re thrilled to move forward with this project that will address many of our residents’ wishes,” said Executive Director Nancy McCaul.

“We are thankful to the state for the funding assistance, and to our residents for their input that guides our planning. It’s essential that we meet the fitness needs across all age groups in our communities, and this project will allow us to do that,” McCaul explained.

Centrally located — just north of downtown Aurora — the Prisco Center is a hub of activity for many, with a total population of 58,889 residents living within a two-mile radius.

“With this latest project, the Park District is helping our communities and residents maintain a high quality of life,” said Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner.

The PARC grant will cover 75 percent of the approved project cost, with a maximum grant award of $2.5 million. With the overall project cost estimated at $2,666,485, the Park District’s match will be approximately $666,621.

Completion of the project is targeted for 2016.

Talk of responsible bidding during labor event

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Sen. Mike Noland Labor Breakfast
Pat Barcas/staff photographer
State Sen. Mike Noland talks to union member and supporters during his recent Labor Breakfast. He acknowledged Illinois is a strong labor state and nothing can overcome the accomplishments organized labor has made.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

SCHAUMBURG — State Sen. Michael Noland said it’s going to take shoe leather over dollars to beat big money politicians such as Republican nominated Bruce Rauner, who is running to unseat Gov. Pat Quinn for Illinois governor this fall. Union members must get out to vote, simply put.

“You really have to look to your rank and file, the people that are actually out in the field to organize. This is not going to become another Wisconsin. My feeling on this is so strong that it’s more knowledge than belief, but it’s not absolute, and it’s going to require us to come out, starting now.”

Noland hosted his annual labor breakfast fundraiser in Schaumburg June 24. A united front was suggested as a way to beat Republicans in the fall.

“The challenge is going to be to try to keep different campaigns from being hyperfocused on their own campaigns. Shoe leather over dollars. They will always have more money. But there are lessons out there. We have to keep the conversation going that we’ve started today,” he said.

Gov. Quinn faces a tough race from challenger Rauner this fall. Quinn’s union support has wavered since his handling of the inherited Illinois pension crisis, but the alternative in Rauner could be far more damaging.

Noland called Quinn “very smart,” in his government of the state. Since taking office Quinn has cut state spending by more than $5.7 billion. The cost of running the state government today is below 2008 levels, with among the lowest ratio of government employees in the nation.

The Governor’s pension reform plan, which Rauner tried to sabotage, will save the state $140 billion over 30 years. Unlike in previous decades, Gov. Quinn has also made the state’s full pension payment every year.

The Governor bargained a three-year agreement with public employee unions that saves the state $900 million in health care costs.

Noland was asked what will unite the building trades when a responsible bidder ordinance bill has stalled, even in a state with a Democratic governor and a super majority. He said more construction spending will ignite the troops who have waned out of frustration.

“We need a vertical capital bill. It needs to be truly comprehensive, including buildings, schools and more infrastructure,” he said. “We could probably pass a bill like that every five years for the next 30 years to meet the need for infrastructure improvements in Illinois.”

He said he hopes to see a graduated income tax option on the ballot during the next election cycle as well.

“Here in Illinois, such a strong labor state, when we choose to be, there is no external force that can overcome the accomplishments we’ve made together,” he said.