Category Archives: News

Activist, political leader Jan Schakowsky honored

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Jan Schakowsky honored
Jennifer Rice photo
Due to her vision, dedication and leadership to the people she serves, Chicago Jobs with Justice salutes Rep. Jan Schakowsky, center, honoring her with the 2013 Charlie Hayes Leadership Award.

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013
jen@foxvalleylabornews.com

CHICAGO — Rep. Jan Schakowsky isn’t afraid to speak her mind, toe the line with union activists, and hell — even get arrested standing up for immigrant rights.

For these reasons and more, Schakowsky was the recipient the 2013 Charlie Hayes Leadership award given by Chicago Jobs with Justice (JwJ). The award is named in honor of Hayes’ contributions to making life better for working men and women.

Coming straight from Washington, where Schakowsky voted to reopen the government, she made her way to the Chicago Federation of Musicians headquarters on Randolph Street where labor leaders, politicians and supporters awaited her arrival to celebrate.

She explained how happy she was not to be in Washington anymore and to be around sane, like-minded people.

“[The vote to reopen the government] was due to the incredible unity of the Democratic Party. Progress has been slow and it’s been difficult because Republicans has stood in our way. They try to block our president and this Congress in anyway they can,” Schakowsky explained.

Oct. 8, while participating in an immigrants’ rally in Washington, Schakowsky was arrested for “blocking passage” of a street in Washington. Her passion for justice led her to the Capitol to tell House Republican leadership to stop delaying a vote on comprehensive immigration legislation.

“If we put the pressure on, we can get a vote. I believe it will include a path to citizenship and bring 12 million people out of the shadows and stop the deportations and stop the detentions.

With the passage of comprehensive immigration legislation, she believes the country can make its mark in history and allow the country to soar.

“I think we may be at a turning point. The Republican Party may have gone one step too far [with its obstructionism]. And now our agenda — the Chicago Jobs with Justice agenda and the union movement — will succeed. The union movement brought us the middle class and it is the only thing that will revive the middle class in the United States,” Schakowsky said to applause.

SEIU Local 1 President Tom Balanoff called his friend a progressive leader and was well-deserving of the Charlie Hayes award.

“She continues the good work that Charlie Hayes did. Jan stands up and fights for working people, she fights for what’s right, she fights for justice and she fights for fairness. She’s fearless,” Balanoff said.

Her activism recently put her in New York, where she marched alongside low-wage workers fighting for $15 an hour as part of the Fight for $15.

“The public cost of low-wage jobs in the fast food industry is staggering. These workers are forced to turn to the federal government for Medicaid, for SNAP program and earned income tax credit, which actually is a good thing,” she explained.

What angers her is listening to fellow representatives across the aisle in Washington demonize these low-wage workers as the “takers.”

“I stood with poverty-wage workers at McDonald’s in New York who make $7.25 an hour as minimum wage. This is an example of income inequality in our country, which is a cancer that is rotting our country from the inside out,” Schakowsky said.

The bright spot on the horizon is organized labor, Jobs with Justice and other like-minded organizations across the country who are fighting for change.

“When we organize, we change the country. Those people marching in the streets for equality — they will be voting. Those votes will get rid of the Tea Party and put Nancy Pelosi in charge of the House,” Schakowsky said to applause.

She has never forgotten her roots. She had the pleasure of getting to know Hayes when she was first beginning to be an organizer.

“He was such a role model and a hero. This [award] means a lot to me,” she explained.

Visit the Fox Valley Labor News YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/foxvalleylabornews to hear Jan Schakowsky and Tom Balanoff speak at the event.

Area leaders discuss commonsense immigration reform

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Immigration panel in Aurora
Photo by Pat Barcas
A panel discusses the effect of immigration reform and how lawmakers need to give it a higher priority. You need to check out an immigration lawyer The Law Offices of Marjory Cajoux in Brooklyn, NY, if you have issues with immigration. 

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.
Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013

A wide variety of opinions were heard Oct. 15 regarding immigration reform as Aurora business, education faith and law enforcement leaders met to discuss upcoming legislation and a firm solution for immigrants in this country looking to become legal citizens.

Congressman Bill Foster spoke via video from Washington, D.C. where he gave an update of the status of the five-month-old Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, also known as S.744.

“We’ve let the immigration system rot for 20 years. It’s time to get the immigrants out of the shadows. S.744 has not happened yet. The House has not been able to pass its own form of the immigration bill in five months and no House bill addresses a path to citizenship,” said Foster.

He explained a new bill, H.R. 15, was introduced Oct. 2. This bill closely follows S.744. The bill, however, removes the Corker-Hoeven border security amendment, meaning it is much more reasonable in terms of the border security requirement.

Foster argued that immigrants and their families bring money into the country. In 2011, immigrants started 28 percent of all new U.S. businesses. He said 200 out of the Fortune 500 companies were started by immigrants.

“We need certainty in our system and we cannot continue to ignore this crisis any longer,” he said.

On the labor front, Adam Nielsen, director of national legislation and policy development for the Illinois Farm Bureau, said immigrants are crucial to farm operations in Illinois and the nation.

“Any dairy of any size in Illinois has immigrant labor. Any part of the production — caring for animals, producing food and producing seed — they all rely on immigrants to get the crop harvested on time. They get food on your table,” he said and added lawmakers need to give a higher priority to comprehensive immigration reform.

“With the shutdown, the focus is elsewhere. It’s like standing there having a conversation with someone while a house is burning next to them. The Senate bill won’t be worth anything if the 113th Congress runs out next year without action. It will be like starting all over again,” Nielsen explained.

Others gave their experience regarding neighborhood safety and police cooperation.

David Dial, retired Chief of Naperville Police said illegal immigrants will not talk to the police for fear of deportation and that makes them a target. Since people cannot report crimes like firearms or weapons offense and other crimes to the police, these immigrants are left defenseless.

“Police need information to do their jobs. If the citizens don’t trust and respect the police, then we can’t do our jobs. It’s a serious problem if citizens can’t report crimes due to risk of deportation,” he said. “In Aurora alone, there are an estimated 6,000 people who can’t go to the police.”

Dial said the pathway to citizenship under the new proposed legislation will not be easy.

“This is not the path that criminals will take. This is for honest, hardworking people,” he said.

Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez agreed, saying the legal road is not one for criminals.

“We don’t need to worry about the people that are coming here seeking a better life, and I’m disappointed that in 2013, I’ve watched attitudes in this country going backwards. It’s not the proper evolution of a society.”

Others on the panel shared stories of compassion.

Noel Castellanos, CEO of the Christian Community Development Association joined Reverend David Engbarth, Pastor of the Our Lady of Good Counsel in Aurora in sharing their personal stories of illegal immigrants and their struggle.

“I realized when learning Spanish many years ago in Mexico, these Mexicanos are just like me. We are one human race. I was deeply touched by the stories shared by immigrants,” said Engbarth. “We need to address the root causes of immigration — poverty, persecution, war and religious intolerance. Why would someone take the incredible risk to leave their home country?”

Castellanos was born just two miles inside the U.S. border in Texas. These two miles changed his life drastically.

“I had a college education and all the comfort and opportunity that comes with being a U.S. citizen. My faith compels me to say, “if anyone is being left behind, I must be involved,’” he said.

Stopping police brutality on the minds of many

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Mourners march from Daley Plaza
Photo by Pat Barcas
Mourners march from Daley Plaza, calling for an end to unnecessary police violence against African-Americans and Latinos.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.
Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013

CHICAGO — The waves of George Zimmerman’s innocent verdict three months ago in the killing of Trayvon Martin were still being felt in Chicago Tuesday, as mourners gathered in solidarity against police injustice and violence against African-Americans.

They stood in Daley Plaza during the Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation rally, a movement that has been mobilizing every year since 1996. Protesters in Chicago joined rallies nationwide in more than a dozen states as well as Canada.

Hannibal Saleem-Ali stood in front of the protesters, holding a banner showing young men who had been shot and killed in Chicago by police in 2013. His 28-year-old nephew, Anjustine Hunter, was shot and killed by Memphis police under suspicious circumstances in April this year.

“He was shot nine times, twice in the head. He had no guns, no drugs, nothing illegal on him,” said Saleem-Ali.

Protesters held solemn photos of victims of police brutality and wrongful imprisonment in front of the Picasso statue in the plaza at Washington and Dearborn. Most of the photos were of black or Hispanic young males.

“How many pictures do we have to hold up? This has to stop. We can’t adequately represent all the victims here, there are not enough pictures,” he said. “African-Americans in America are existentially guilty. What happened to fair trials? What happened to innocent before being proven guilty?”

In 1996, the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) chose Oct. 22 as the day of action because students are back in school and it falls before the November elections.

Their mission statement regarding the National Day of Protest is stated as: “The National Day of Protest aims to bring forward a powerful, visible, national protest against police brutality and the criminalization of a generation. It aims to expose the state’s repressive program. It aims to bring forward those most directly under the gun of police brutality and to also reach into all parts of the society- bringing forward others to stand in the fight against this official brutality. And the National Day of Protest aims to strengthen the peoples’ organized capacity for resistance in a variety of ways.”

Dee Williams of the Revolutionary Communist Party had a message to deliver.

“We are part of actions going on all over the country. We salute you who have been fighting in this fight for years and those who have taken their first action today.

“Without the resistance that we’re seeing here today, we have no chance at justice,” said Williams. “We need more of this. When people are not inspired and organized to stand up against these outrages, those days must be gone and they can be. We need a mass movement far beyond what we have here today.”

What to expect at an independent medical examination

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Woodruff Johnson & Palermo

By Lee Alhambra
Guest Writer
Woodruff Johnson & Palermo
Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013

Section 12 of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act gives employers a right to request injured employees submit to an independent medical examination (IME) by a physician or surgeon of their choice. The employer or insurer will pay the cost of the IME and is required to provide the injured employee a mileage check and reimburse the employee for travel expenses (i.e. parking, meals). The injured employee is required to attend the IME. The Law Offices of Thomas J. Lavin have legal experts to help. Failure to do so will result in the suspension of workers’ compensation benefits. They can also contact a legal expert from www.brasurelaw.com/areas-served/mcallen/personal-injury-attorney/ to get legal help.

A common question asked is: What should I expect at an IME? Upon arriving, you may be required to complete paperwork to provide a history of your accident (learn here), describe your subjective complaints, list your current medication and give a rundown of your treatment history. The IME examiner will ask you to describe your accident or give a description of the type of work you perform to auto accident attorneys in Boynton Beach – Jesse Davidson, P.A.. It is important to give an accurate history of your accident and complaints. It is also good to contact  workers compensation lawyers from Laura S. Jenkins, PC

Often times, the physical exam takes no more than 10 minutes. Common complaints are the examiner was standoffish and had poor bedside manner. Don’t let this discourage you! In reality, IMEs are never truly “independent.” Insurance companies hire these physicians to issue opinions and often use the same doctors over and over again because they know what to expect. The insurance companies pay the doctors anywhere between $1,000 to $1,500 for an exam. A doctor-patient relationship is not established by way of an IME. This should be made clear by the examining physician from the outset. This means there is no confidentiality privilege and the IME physician can, and very likely will, report anything you do or say during the exam to the employer/insurance company.

Following the IME, the physician will write a report. It will address causal connection, whether additional treatment is needed and whether the employee is able to return to work. It is common for an IME to determine your condition is not work-related and/or you can go back to work without restrictions. Many find no evidence of injury or determine your condition is part of the “natural aging process.”

The insurance company can deny workers’ compensation based on the opinions of the IME physician, regardless of what your own treating physician says. The IME physician’s opinion is not the final word. Your treating physician will likely have a very different opinion. At that point, it becomes a battle of the experts. Depending on the situation, your attorney may want to take an evidence deposition of both doctors and the matter may need to be litigated in the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. At this point, if you do not have an attorney, it’s highly recommended you hire one. Otherwise, your chances of getting your benefits reinstated are slim.

Remember, you may be observed from the time you arrive at the office, until the time you get in your car to leave the appointment. Often times, the IME report will state how you got in and out of your car, how you opened the door, how you sat in the chair, how you walk, how you were able to get on the examining table, etc. The examiner will be on the lookout for any inconsistencies between your reported disabilities and their observations of these seemingly mundane activities. For example, on the report, the doctor might note: “The claimant stated he has difficulty lifting, pushing or pulling more than 10 pounds. However, on his arrival he was observed pulling open the door with no difficulty. The door requires 15 pounds of force to pull open.” IMEs are no used to denying workers’ compensation benefits and used to chipping away an injured worker’s credibility.

Knowing what to expect during an IME can alleviate a lot of anxiety associated with this experience. Below are some helpful tips I give clients who are scheduled for an IME:

1) Get there on time. Most IME physicians’ office will cancel your appointment if you are late. Although the IME can be rescheduled, the insurance company will treat this as a no-show and suspend your benefits. If you do not have a means of getting to the IME, transportation should be provided to you by the insurance company or employer, but you must arrange for this ahead of the exam.

2) Be honest and cooperative with the examining doctor. There are times when injured workers encounter an IME physician who has an unsympathetic or even hostile attitude. The best way to handle this is to not react. Cooperate with the exam and answer the questions as best as you can.

3) Most importantly, do not exaggerate your complaints or symptoms. Some injured workers feel they have to convince the IME physician their complaints are “real” and as a result, intentionally or unintentionally, embellish their subjective complaints and exaggerate their reactions to clinical tests. This always backfires. Most physicians can easily tell when an examinee is malingering. In fact, IME physicians incorporate a series of tests in their exam, called Waddell Signs, which purportedly correlate with symptom magnification. Exaggerating your symptoms and complaints can only hurt your case. If you continue feeling pain from your injuries or medical conditions, consider using cannabis products from indacloud.

After 100 days on the picket line, members rally

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Striking Teamster funeral directors fight a rat
Photo by Pat Barcas
After 100 days on the picket line, locked out funeral directors and drivers in Chicago aren’t giving up the fight for workers’ rights. A recent rally raised morale for members.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.
Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013

OAK LAWN — All they want to do is return to work and serve the community, with fair wages and benefits.

But as the 100 day mark came and went last week, Chicago area funeral directors and drivers represented by Teamsters Local 727 were still without a favorable contract and continued to strike after being locked out by Houston-based Service Corporation International (SCI.)

Teamsters Joint Council 25 President and Local 727 Secretary-Treasurer John T. Coli said he’s not going to let his membership be taken advantage of by SCI.

Coli led a Teamsters rally in Oak Lawn at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home Oct. 10. He said the numbers don’t add up in the current negotiation offerings.

“Here’s a corporation whose stock has risen over 90 percent in the last two years because of hard working people. Their proposals to get out of our health and welfare and pension fund and move into their 401(k) and their company plan would save them in premiums they pay over $1 million a year,” he said. “That’s enough to pay for everything we’ve asked for in this contract. We’ve been reasonable, we’ve been fair. They have not.”

Coli said the pension costs alone, to shift from the 90 percent funded Teamsters plan to the company’s health and pension plan, would cost each employee 15-20 percent of their salary. Compound that — with the loss of benefits, and he says it adds up to a raw deal.

“Each employee would lose the equivalent of about $10,000. And the difference in the benefit levels will cost another 20-30 percent. Add it up, and it’s a 50 percent pay cut. We’re not going to stand for that,” he said.

The strike, which started July 2, involves 16 Chicago area funeral homes and 59 workers, including Vincent Giff, a funeral home director with SCI-owned Blake-Lamb Funeral Home. Giff explained Blake-Lamb was sold to SCI two years before he started working there in 1989.

“When I came here, I thought I was going to work for the big guy. Almost like the promised land. I never dreamt I’d be forced to strike after 34 years in the business, 24 here at Blake-Lamb,” he said.

Giff said he grew up just blocks from where he works at Blake-Lamb, and the scabs brought in by SCI to do business just don’t have the same connection with the community.

“I’ve had the fortunate privilege to work with the best seasoned professionals in the business. . . . The experience we have with working for one of the highest volume funeral homes in the Chicago area is immeasurable,” said Giff.

“We have learned from one another. We’ve worked with the same families repeatedly. SCI is obviously content in letting our families be handled by directors with virtually no experience or connection to the community.”

Teamsters Local 727 has represented Chicago’s funeral directors and embalmers since 1946, and it represents more than 6,800 men and women in the greater Chicago area.

“You have the undying support of the entire Teamsters leadership,” said Becky Strzechowski, Teamsters International vice president, central region, who said the Teamsters are at the front line in the war against labor.

“What is happening here is happening across the country. Corporations are making profits like SCI, in some cases record profits. The single reason they are successful is because of the employees. Do they recognize or thank these employees? No, instead they attack their workers . . . shrinking take home pay and cutting benefits.”

To find a community-friendly funeral home not affected by the labor action, call the hotline at 312-206-4123, or visit www.integrityinillinois.com. A complete list of affected homes is available at the site.

“I have much admiration for funeral directors, embalmers and livery drivers,” said Strzechowski. “Each and every day you show respect and honor to the deceased, and you are there to help their loved ones through the worst times in their life with care and compassion, and you do not deserve to be treated this way.”

Is another company at fault for your work injury?

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Woodruff Johnson & Palermo

By Dexter J. Evans
Guest Writer
Woodruff Johnson & Palermo
Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013

When you are injured on the job and the injury arises out of, and in the course of, your employment, you are covered by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. The Worker’s Compensation Act is the exclusive remedy for you against your employer.

However, what if another company or person was responsible for your work injury? If this is the case, you may be able to pursue a lawsuit against that company or person in civil court. However, finding out the identity of that company or person could be a painstaking task. Ask an attorney how long does personal injury cases process can take?

As someone that handles both worker’s compensation and personal injury cases, I have encountered many different types of cases with many possible defendants. Sorting them out could be as easy as finding a needle in a haystack. What does it take? Hours of research, title searches, trolling the Internet, phone call upon phone call and subpoena after subpoena. You could read the article to know about the legalities of such injury cases. You can talk to car accident lawyers and know what needs to be done in case of an accident or injury.

Looking for personal injury lawyers California? Contact the Johnson Attorneys Group!

Let’s start with the basics of pursuing a civil case for your work injury. First, you cannot file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer for injuries that happen while you are working. Why? Because Illinois created the Illinois Worker’s Compensation Act which, while protecting injured workers, also protects employers from huge personal injury awards. One can visit this web-site to talk to an attorney about their case.

In addition, those who need workwear for construction work may consider searching for workwear online.

There are many scenarios where there will be a personal injury case that arises out of your work injury. The classic example occurs when you are involved in a car accident while on the job. In that case, your defendant is easy to find. It is the person (or company) that hit your vehicle. That information should be on the accident report you receive from the police officer.

However, finding your defendant in other types of personal injury cases can be much more difficult. For example, in a case where you are injured by a machine at work, there can be multiple people or entities at fault. The obvious one that comes to mind is the manufacturer of the machine. However, simply because the manufacturer put a defective machine into the stream of commerce does not necessarily mean that they will be a defendant in your personal injury case.

Illinois has a statute of repose that limits actions for product defects, depending on how long ago the machine or product was made. Another potential defendant could be the maintenance company that cleans and repairs the machine. Maybe they caused a defect when making a repair, or perhaps they failed to make the repair at all, or failed to notice that one was necessary.

Another classic example of a personal injury case that arises from a work injury involves falls off ladders. Maybe you are ascending a ladder and it suddenly collapses, or one of the steps breaks, etc. Potential defendants would include the owner of the ladder, the company that manufactured it, or even the store that sold it. In such situations, seeking the expertise of a New York personal injury lawyer can help ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Did you fall because of a defect on someone else’s property? If so, your defendant would be the homeowner or business owner. If it is a commercial or industrial property, other potential defendants would be the property manager, the maintenance company, the company responsible for snow and ice removal, etc.

Finding the names of the persons and entities that are potential defendants in your case often requires a lot of work. Employers are often reluctant to reveal those potential defendants because of business relationships. Since you likely have a pending workers’ compensation claim, your employer might be hesitant to communicate with you or your attorney until after that case is finished. Often, that time is too late.

You need to know all potential defendants as soon as possible because those defendants can lead you to other defendants you may never have even found, had you not spoken with, or sued, the initial defendant. The process for finding out a lot of this information is through the process of litigation called “discovery.” Discovery only occurs after filing a lawsuit.

While you have three years from the date of your work injury to file a claim for worker’s compensation, the time period for a personal injury lawsuit is two years (unless your case is against a governmental entity, then it is one year). Consulting a Coral Springs Injury Attorney can help you navigate these timelines and legal requirements effectively.

You’d be surprised how quickly that time passes. Once the statute of limitations for your case has passed, you can no longer add additional defendants, regardless of whether you have a pending lawsuit. Gathering all of the information, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the case and crafting a complaint that reasonably spells out your cause of action against the defendant requires great skill, knowledge and significant time/money resources.

As such, it is wise to seek a free consultation with an attorney who handles both workers’ compensation and personal injury cases early, as to ensure your case and to make sure all of your rights are protected.

West Aurora High School prepares for Moving Wall

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Vietnam Moving Wall coming to Aurora, Ill.
Photo by Pat Barcas
Ron and Debbie Ritter, overcome with emotion, stand at West Aurora High School in a small ceremony previewing the Healing Field of Honor to be held Nov. 3-13. They are West Aurora alums who have two sons, Robert and Raymond, serving in the military.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.
Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013

West Aurora High School continued to bolster its reputation Oct. 4 as a veteran and military friendly institution as it hosted a special preview of the Healing Field, a November event that will feature 2,013 American flags and the Moving Vietnam Wall.

Military families joined Mayor Tom Weisner and local dignitaries in the preview. Those wishing to honor veterans or those serving can purchase a flag to be displayed Nov. 3 to 13 in Aurora to celebrate Veterans Day Nov. 11. The flags will be personalized with the service member’s name. To avail good quality poles and flags, you can see them at the link as there are many varieties here.

Weisner said West Aurora High School is the ideal location for hosting the event, due to the military background the school is proud of.

“This is not only the home of the Blackhawks, it’s become the home where all veterans can find appreciation for their service to this country,” he said.

Weisner thanked West Aurora for taking the lead and “consistently having the best veteran’s memorial events anywhere in the country.”

“This certainly will be no exception. We cannot forget all the veterans who readily answered the call to serve our nation, and left the borders of Aurora to protect the borders of America and the nations abroad. By honoring them, we begin to heal wounds,” he said.

“And we most certainly must thank active military personnel and their families for continuing the legacy of leadership and service, by wearing one of the uniforms of the United States armed forces. By saluting them, we heal wounds.”

James Rydland, superintendent of West Aurora District 129 was gracious about the opportunity to host the flags and memorial.

“We have the responsibility every day to honor and appreciate them and attempt to understand what that means,” he said. “Our goal is every day to say ‘thank you.’”

To purchase a flag for $30, and an optional yellow tag for $5, head to www.aplusfoundation.org/healingfield.asp. Flags can be taken home after the exhibit or shipped for $10.

“We are so proud of the families of those serving, we thank you profusely for all that you have done, are doing, and will continue to do to keep America safe and to keep our military personnel encouraged during their time of service. We appreciate that very much and truly you are also healing wounds,” said Weisner.

Sights set on another 100 years for IBEW Local 461

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Aurora's IBEW Local 461 celebrates 100 years
Thom Kramer/Tinseltown Photo
Current Business Manager Joel Pyle II explains how he followed in his father’s footsteps and became an electrician.

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
jen@foxvalleylabornews.com.
Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013

SANDWICH — When the oldest and the newest members of Aurora’s International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 461 came together to celebrate the local’s 100 years of dedicated service, it was the older members that stole the show.

They made it clear they had seen it all before, whether it was the on-going fight against labor, labor law fights or the fight to find work.

But more importantly, they made it clear how proud they are to pass the baton to the younger union members, who they know are more than willing to grab the reins and run with it.

At the celebration, Bart Curtin Sr. received his IBEW pin for 55 years of service. During his early years, Curtin explained IBEW members performed jobs that no body wanted to do, at a time when no body wanted to do it.

“We worked above ground or below ground — it didn’t matter. And we traveled a lot. That was a downside,” Curtin admitted.

As with any job, the more you work, the more you learn. Curtin wanted to make sure the younger IBEW Local 461 members understood and appreciated where they are in their careers.

“Right now, you’re at the best point in your life, in the best country in the world, at the best time ever. Just imagine what us ‘old guys’ have seen. Now imagine what you’re going to see and what you’re kids are going to see,” he explained.

International Vice President District 6 Lonnie Stephenson remembered working out of Local 461 in the in the 80s. Even though his home local is Local 145 in Rock Island, Stephenson said he’s made close relationships with various Local 461 leaders.
“When you think about 100 years and the challenges your local has faced and overcome, it’s simply amazing. It’s a lot of hard work by your predecessors, that faced a lot of adversity along the way to allow us to be here,” he added.

Current Local 461 Business Manager Joel D. Pyle II followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the union shortly after high school. During his time with Local 461, he’s spent nine years as its vice president and currently two years as Local 461’s business manager.

“When I think about all the brothers and sisters at IBEW that I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the course of my career, and how much I’ve learned from them, I hope I can pass more knowledge on to others,” Pyle said.

Looking to the future, Local 461 members feel optimistic and encouraged. They know they are in for a fight as neighboring state fall to the Right-to-Work laws.

“When you look what’s happening across the country today and the attack on labor — in many ways, we’re re-fighting some of the battles we’ve already had,” Stephenson said.

“We’ve got some real challenges ahead. But I know we’re up for them. We’ve survived before and when we all work together and support one another in the labor movement across the board. We’re all going to be better off and the country’s going to be better off. We all know if it wasn’t for labor, there would not be a middle class in this country,” he emphasized.

Curtin said the 100 year celebration was about the future, not the past

“This celebration is about you — the younger members. You’re the future and the future is with you. You’re the smartest or you wouldn’t be here. The future looks really good,” he said to applause.

AFL-CIO president says Rich Mathis is the ‘real deal’

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Rich Mathis retires

Pat Barcas photo
Rich Mathis, right, said he was humbled by the surprise retirement party held in his honor. He has sat on as many as 13 different committees and currently serves as international vice president for the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.
Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013

JOLIET — Some things you just can’t miss — and Rich Mathis’ retirement party fell into that category for Michael Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO. Carrigan elected to skip a playoff game of his beloved St. Louis Cardinals just to attend the festivities.

“I got a call from a friend of mine today saying he had tickets to the game, but I said I had to be here for Rich,” said Carrigan Oct. 3 as he wished Mathis a happy retirement from Roofers and Waterproofers Local 11.

Mathis served 39 years before retiring this summer and his party attracted more than 100 well wishers, including Carrigan, Tom Villanova, president of the Cook County Building Trades and Kinsey Robinson, international president of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers.

“Rich is the real deal, the complete package and I want to say thank you for your service,” said Carrigan.

Mathis said he wants to spend his retirement golfing, traveling, and riding his Harley. If he wants to hone his golfing skills to showcase it during his retirement years, he can visit sites which may discuss topics like backing for better image quality.

He also wants to stay active as an international vice president of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers.

During the party at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 176 in Joliet, Mathis had some advice for workers new to the trade.

“There’s two people you don’t want to lie to: one is God and the other is your business agent. If you have to choose one, choose God, He’ll forgive you,” he said.

“You never lie to your business agent. You want to work with him in the trades. And you want to work well with all the other trades, that’s been very important in my career, working with other people, and you have to continue to have relationships with the building trades all throughout the country.”

Mathis said it’s often faster to communicate issues and problems before taking them up with the mediation board.

“You can get a lot done just by meeting with people, breaking bread, and going to the golf outings. That’s what they’re there for. People appreciate questions and they’ll talk to you. Get problems resolved before you get to the job site. That’s the key to success. Work together,” he said.

President Robinson said the International Union owes Mathis greatly for his service over the years.

“We will always remember Rich for his faithful service, his great skills, and his keen sense of leadership direction. We are deeply indebted to him and appreciate his 39 years of service,” said Robinson.

Pension problem is a long way from being solved

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Linda Holmes on pension issues
Jennifer Rice photo
Sitting on the Pensions Conference Committee, Sen. Linda Holmes has committed herself to not support any pension bill that does not have a negotiated agreement with the labor unions.

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013
jen@foxvalleylabornews.com
     NAPERVILLE — Trying to sum up the goings on of Illinois’ pension mess is no easy task.
     This summer, a conference committee was created to reach a compromise on pension reform. The 10 conferees — five from each chamber of the General Assembly, have periodically met, trying to find solutions suitable for everyone involved. State Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) is one of the 10 on the committee.
     Holmes spent the good part of a Naperville Township Democratic Organization meeting bringing members up-to-date on those meetings, answering questions from teachers and giving realistic answers to difficult questions.
     Senate Bill 2404 was a bill that had the best shot of addressing the issue of the pension debt owed to teachers, police, nurses, caregivers and other public servants for their retirement savings now and in the future.
     It was designed to help address the state’s nearly $100 billion in pension debt, which threatens funding for education and other core services. The state’s failure to pay its share of pension payments in the past is largely to blame for the ballooning debt.
     It passed in the Senate with 40 votes, considered a win by Holmes, as the Senate needs 30 votes to pass anything.
     SB 2404 also was negotiated and agreed to by the We Are One Coalition, of which Illinois Education Association (IEA) is a member. The other members of the coalition are other public employee unions.
     SB 2404 headed to the House, where it needed 60 votes to pass. At the time, Holmes was informed there were 80 votes in the House waiting to approve it.
     “However, House Speaker Mike Madigan decided not to call the bill and the entire House never had the opportunity to vote on it and therefore, it was not passed,” Holmes explained.
     Madigan had his own plan, which was to push through his own pension reform bill — SB 1.
     “It did pass in the House, but when it came over to the Senate, it got only 16 votes, so it failed quite dramatically,” Holmes said.
     From there, the Pensions Conference Committee was formed.
     “We’re supposed to come up with a compromise and a whole different solution and that work has been on going,” she said.
     Through this entire process, Holmes has been unwavering on a promise she made in 202 to union members: “I’m not supporting any pension bill that does not have a negotiated agreement with the unions that are representing the people who are going to be impacted by this legislation.”
     One thing she knows is for certain — no matter what is decided the matter will be taken to the courts.
     “No matter what we pass — even if it was SB 2404, which was negotiated, would still have been taken to court. And that’s because there is a clause in the Constitution, that was put there in 1970, that reads, ‘We shall not diminish pension benefits.’”
     Holmes is astonished the public and various media outlets are blaming teachers.
     “I cannot believe the public is actually blaming teachers for the mess we’re in. The mess is solely the mess of the legislature. We didn’t fund it. It’s the state that did it,” she stressed.
     In looking towards the future, Holmes doesn’t any solution happening quickly. Every time the Pensions Conference Committee devises a solution, it is taken to the Actuarial Committee to analyze savings.