Jennifer Rice/staff photographer
State Sen. Mike Frerichs, D-Champaign, candidate for Illinois Treasurer, was one of several candidates to speak to a full house of union members and supporters during the annual Southland Friends of Labor breakfast.
By Jennifer Rice
Managing editor
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Email Jennifer Rice at jen@foxvalleylabornews.com
KANKANEE — The day chosen for the Southland Friends of Labor breakfast was not lost on its attendants — it was Workers’ Memorial Day.
Illinois Department of Labor Director Joe Costigan reminded everyone that April 28 was a day to transform tragedy into prevention. Costigan said his uncle died before turning 60 from complications from working years in an asbestos factory. “He didn’t have someone looking out for his protection,” Costigan said. To listen to Costigan’s talk at the Southland Friends of Labor event, visit Fox Valley Labor News YouTube Channel.
Even with current safety regulation and laws in place, 12 men and women die a year as a result of preventable workplace incidents. All workers would like that number dropped to zero, but when you consider that 40 years ago the number was nearly 40, workers can understand progress has been made.
Costigan’s remarks to a packed house at the Kankakee Civic Auditorium was heard during the Southland Friends of Labor’s annual breakfast, created for union members and elected officials to come together to discuss the needs of working men and women in the southland area. In an election year, most discussions revolved around Bruce Rauner, the Republican candidate for Illinois Governor, who is not a friend of labor.
Rauner paints himself as a working-class stiff, complete with a Carhartt jacket and $18 watch, but most union members aren’t fooled. They know he doesn’t know what it’s like to be a working-class person. Chicago Federation of Labor Secretary-Treasurer Bob Reiter said he was insulted Rauner would try to identify with working-class people, especially after his father put on a Carhartt jacket for 37 years to go to work. To listen to Reiter’s talk at the Southland Friends of Labor event, visit Fox Valley Labor News YouTube Channel.
“[Rauner] doesn’t know how I grew up, or how people in this room grew up. He doesn’t know a damn thing about what teachers do every day. They should be on a pedestal, not some guy who’s a billionaire,” Reiter said.
Reiter’s colleague — Chicago & Cook County Building & Construction Trades Council President Tom Villanova, wanted to know what someone that makes $25,000 a hour and owns nine homes would have in common with the middle class? “I understand [Rauner] is successful, but he wants to take what we fought for; what our members have fought for,” Villanova said. To listen to Villanova’s talk at the Southland Friends of Labor event, visit Fox Valley Labor News YouTube Channel.
As an elected official and a union member, Will County Executive Larry Walsh Jr. appreciates what workers are fighting for this election year — the American dream. “It’s about good paying jobs, livable wages and economic security,” he said.
Will County Treasurer candidate and Southland Friends of Labor Secretary Laurie Summers said this year’s election worries her more than any past election. “We need to elect labor-friendly people and we need rank-and-file people to step up to the plate and run for local offices,” she stressed. To listen to Summers’ talk at the Southland Friends of Labor event, visit Fox Valley Labor News YouTube Channel.
As in past election, the formula to win is simple, yet difficult: Get people registered to vote and get them to the polls.
Kankakee Building Trades President Steve Magruder summed up the morning by saying people don’t live to do politics, but instead, people do politics to live.
“If you’re a friend of labor, you’re a friend of mine and a friend of the working men and women in this room today,” Magruder said. “We need to put elected officials in positions that will help us.” To listen to Magruder’s talk at the Southland Friends of Labor event, visit Fox Valley Labor News YouTube Channel.