Prairie State Wire

State. Sen. Darren Bailey, the Republican candidate for governor, will oppose Amendment 1, saying it likely will raise taxes for Illinois residents. 

According to Illinois Policy, the measure would give unions the power to strike for an indefinite period of time if negotiations fail to meet their demands. The website noted that while neighboring states do not allow government workers to strike, Illinois seemingly is headed in the opposite direction, with the Chicago Teachers Union staging walkouts in each of the last three years. Bailey also noted that he pointed out on the Senate floor that the amendment will raise taxes.  

“It’s a special interest takeover that has nothing to do with worker’s rights,” Bailey said in a statement. “It allows government unions to bargain outside of typical areas of wages and benefits and all of it will make government more costly.”

The amendment also expands the power of unions, and Illinois Policy noted that it will expand areas that unions can bargain for, leaving taxpayers to pick up the check. The website noted that the amendment would permit “economic welfare” and “safety at work” to be bargaining chips even though they are not clearly defined. 

The amendment expands what unions can bargain over and the taxpayers will be on the hook for the tab, according to Illinois Policy, and Amendment 1 includes such new bargaining points like "economic welfare" and "safety at work" which don't have a clear definition, leaving unions more powerful. 

“That’s exactly what it does, because when you’re able to bargain outside of wages and benefits in areas like the schools what you’re doing is taking away power from parents and the local school board,” Bailey added in the interview. 

The provision granting unions the permanent right to strike if their demands cannot be granted could prove to be problematic, according to Bailey. 

“It’s ridiculous, and it also takes away the opportunity for lawmakers to make any future changes,” he said in the interview. “It’s a very dangerous amendment and something we’d be locked into.”

Moreover, the Republican noted that property taxes seem likely to increase under Amendment 1, while making other proposals that could prove to be more tax friendly tougher to get through the legislature, according to Bailey, who pointed a finger at his opponent, Gov. J.B. Pritzker. 

“The simple fact that Gov. Pritzker promised to reduce property taxes when he ran has been completely ignored,” he concluded in the interview. “Instead of lowering our property taxes, he’s raised them and continues to do so with this amendment.”