Prairie State Wire

In a Nov. 9 article, Illinois Policy President Matt Paprocki spoke about Amendment 1.

“Government union bosses and special interest lobbyists spent more than $15 million to spread a disingenuous message that Amendment 1 was about improving ‘workers’ rights’ without any added costs to taxpayers," Paprocki said. "They tried to sneak a hidden tax hike by voters. The fact that the vote is too close to call right now speaks to Illinoisans’ distrust in enshrining costly new provisions into the constitution that could handcuff them for years to come."

As of Nov. 11, the New York Times was reporting that Amendment 1 is poised to pass - with 2,102,072 votes for, and 1,513,551 votes against the amendment that focuses on collective bargaining. The New York Times notes that should the amendment pass, it would change "the state constitution to guarantee workers the right to organize and bargain collectively." Ballotpedia explains how Illinois' Amendment 1 fits into the wider right to collective bargaining discussion, noting that three other state constitutions already have a right to collective bargaining - those states are Hawaii, Missouri, and New York. 

"Amendment 1 would provide a right to collective bargaining and also preempt a right-to-work law and other law that 'interferes with, negates, or diminishes' collective bargaining agreements," Ballotpedia says. "Language preempting right-to-work or other laws was not included in the state constitutions of Hawaii, Missouri, or New York. Amendment 1 would also provide that a fundamental right to collective bargaining can address "negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect [employees'] economic welfare and safety at work," while the other constitutions do not list what collective bargaining can address. "

The Amendment has become a major news story, getting the attention of national media. On Nov 12, "Mother Jones" reported that Illinois unions are close to making history. 

"Illinois workers are on the verge of a historic win: a labor rights amendment to the state constitution that—among other things—would make the state the first to ban so-called “right-to-work laws” throughout its territory" Mother Jones said. "The amendment, on the ballot in Tuesday’s election, has to meet a high bar: either 60 percent approval (not counting blanks) or more than half of all ballots, even ones that skipped that question. With more than 95 percent of votes counted, unions across the state have already started to celebrate: the yes vote holds a 58 percent lead and looks set to win."