Brothers and Sisters,
I hope you are all taking advantage of the busy work season. This year, we’ve welcomed back retirees and brought in apprentices to meet the substantial manpower requirements necessary for filling our work orders. We are making significant progress on construction projects and other work, and your dedication is evident in the high-quality work being delivered. As we push forward, it’s crucial to remain vigilant that any equipment in our jurisdiction has a Local 150 operator in the seat.
As Local 150 works on Illinois projects that rebuild our state’s infrastructure, we are also fighting every year in Springfield to safeguard the dollars that fund it. This year was no exception. At the end of the legislative session in May, several issues arose regarding the state budget and challenges facing the use of dollars from the Road Fund and the Tollway. To date, numerous pressing matters remain. To share more insight, I’m keeping you updated on the actions Local 150 has taken, along with the unresolved issues that require our return to Springfield during the veto session in October.
One of the main issues this session was the Illinois public transit fiscal cliff. Local 150 has remained committed to the future of public transportation in our region. For nearly a year, we have collaborated with over 30 labor unions and state legislators supporting labor-backed legislation focused on addressing public transit’s fiscal challenges and ensuring a transit system that is safe, reliable, and efficient. Despite reforms being introduced close to the deadline, revenue discussions were lacking, particularly in the House. Local 150 was disappointed that the General Assembly did not pass the legislation that had already been approved in the Senate.
The main sticking point was that legislators proposed the use of Road Fund money and Tollway dollars as a stop gap. Legislators now believe the suggested funding amount is $1.5 billion needed to address both the fiscal cliff, as well as the future vision for public transit in Illinois. To achieve this, Local 150 has been advocating for a dedicated funding source, ensuring that state legislators do not have to repeatedly rely on the Road Fund or Tollway money each year.
I want to step back first and remind everyone that Illinois voters passed the Safe Roads Amendment in 2016 to prevent diversions from critical infrastructure funding. It was Local 150 that led this charge, as well as the Workers’ Rights Amendment in 2022. Before the “lockbox,” Illinois roads and bridges crumbled due to chronic diversion of funds. The Road Fund is essential for roads and bridges. Even though we’ve made real progress, we’re constantly battling legislators wanting to dip into the fund to fill state funding gaps. This includes Governor Pritzker, who only a week ago diverted $300 million in Road Fund money from infrastructure to cover structural budget deficits, despite problems on our roads. It’s a constant battle to guarantee these funds go to our roads and bridges, and a fight we can’t let up on so that progress isn’t reversed.
We continue to advocate for better solutions alongside the Labor Alliance for Public Transportation (LAPT). Any attempt at diverting funding from roads and bridges shows a lack of understanding of Illinois’ public transportation system. Nearly 55% of our public transit system operates on roads and bridges rather than rails. Defunding roads is a direct hit on public transit. One crisis shouldn’t be solved by creating another. Public transit needs its own sustainable revenue stream.
Additionally, the other suggested revenue source was the implementation of a Tollway surcharge; however, this idea faces numerous challenges. One of them being the capital bill Rebuild Illinois, a bipartisan achievement in 2019, which already uses funds from the Tollway and has significantly contributed to revitalizing our infrastructure. Yet, Illinois still has over 2,500 structurally deficient bridges, and 18% of our roads are in poor condition. Also, IDOT estimates an additional $2.3 billion is needed to meet state road and bridge performance targets. Local 150 continues to argue that diverting funding at this moment would reverse the progress we’ve made. We need to keep funding secure for this capital bill, as well as future ones.
With support for the public transit legislation in both the Senate and the House, we are confident we will find a solution, but work continues; and the veto session becomes that much more critical to the future of public transit, as well as our roads and bridges.
Also, during the Illinois legislative session, Local 150 tackled several energy-related concerns as well. An energy bill aimed at aligning Illinois closer to its Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which was signed into law in 2021. This legislation works to transition Illinois to 100 percent clean energy by 2050. The Illinois Manufacturing Association issued a press release warning this government-mandated push toward full electrification in Illinois could impose more than $1 trillion in costs by 2050. The continued use of natural gas will both keep emissions and costs significantly lower. Local 150 addressed several provisions in the new energy bill that would protect future work and the state’s economic well-being as well.
The energy bill contained anti-data center provisions that would introduce barriers for data centers looking to establish themselves in Illinois. The anti-data center measures would require any new data center to acquire its own renewable energy source. In stark contrast, our neighboring states, Indiana and Iowa, are embracing multi-billion-dollar data centers without any restrictions.
Indiana and Iowa allow the use of diesel and natural gas as backup energy sources. Stricter regulations in Illinois could result in a decrease in job opportunities. Typically, a data center does not generate its own renewable energy, which leads to considerable negotiation challenges.
The open approach of our neighboring states Indiana and Iowa has attracted significant investment and job opportunities, highlighting the competitive challenges Illinois faces with its more stringent regulations. To keep the playing field level, it’s crucial that we strive for a balanced approach that protects our workforce while also building an environment favorable to economic growth and innovation. With the work of Local 150, this provision did not make it through, necessitating a return to the drawing board.
On the positive side, another energy-related initiative involves the expansion of network geothermal systems. Geothermal networks use the earth’s ground temperature to provide heating and cooling through a buried piping network. Geogrids connect several ground-source heat pumps to one another to form a shared loop network and are considered the most efficient form of heating and cooling out there. We are advocating for Illinois to establish standards like New York, starting with a pilot program for a geo field. Important to note here as well is that geothermal tax credits were maintained for geothermal power plants through 2034, as included in the new Federal Bill recently passed.
And lastly, there also was an energy-focused initiative in the bill proposing a tax on electric vehicle (EV) charging that Local 150 fought for inclusion. This tax is designed to generate funding for transit infrastructure for the roads and bridges that electric vehicles rely on. At present, electric vehicles are not taxed, yet they contribute to the wear and tear of roads and bridges. This tax will ultimately help to create a more balanced system.
Local 150 will continue the battle for policies that attract businesses and enhance job creation in our jurisdiction. Our local remains committed to ensuring that any legislative measures prioritize the well-being of our members and the communities we serve. Another example is Local 150 working with IDOT to improve efficiency to ensure funded projects can start quicker. By working with industry leaders and lawmakers, we can develop strategies that not only safeguard our infrastructure funding, but also position Illinois as a leader in sustainable development and technological advancement.
A lot of hard work was done during this past legislative session, but Local 150 still has much work ahead to safeguard the Road Fund and Tollway dollars. We will return to the veto session to finalize both the public transit and energy legislation.
Aside from Springfield, Local 150 remains engaged in battles on multiple fronts. At the center is our unfair labor practice (ULP) strike against QSL America for six ULP charges. We have three picket lines – one at Iroquois Landing, America’s largest inland container port, on 95th, a second at 106th, and the third at 130th, as well as seven bannering locations. Significant safety issues impacting dock workers have come to light, exposing the hazardous conditions at the Chicago ports, as well as QSL America’s location in New Orleans, where dockworker Darius Clement disappeared during his shift on April 22.
Local 150 has had reports from current and former QSL America employees that indicate the wages and benefits provided to employees at these facilities are substandard. Furthermore, the working conditions are unsafe, posing risks to both employees and the public. Additionally, we believe that the employer has committed multiple violations of federal labor laws.
QSL America has received certain public subsidies designated for its operations, which require the payment of prevailing wages. Local 150 has found that the company has not adhered to this obligation and is currently offering wages that may be deemed unfair. This not only exemplifies an inappropriate use of public subsidies, but it also indicates that QSL American, owned by QSL a Canadian-based company, is undermining local American workers’ rights for greater profits. Instead of remedying the ULP charges, QSL America hired a known union buster more than 20x the hourly rate of a dock worker.
Local 150 believes an important part of this strike will be fought on a front against QSL, and its substantial investors iCON Infrastructure and CDPQ, the Pension Fund of Quebec. These companies have publicly stated their commitment to high ethical business practices; however, we question whether these are empty words. Local 150 is collaborating with experts nationwide to focus on research and engage with other investors. Local 150 is actively involved in a letter campaign to investors iCON and CDPQ. We need your support now to send a letter. Scan the QR code, fill in your name and email, and click send. In less than two minutes, you can help us stop QSL from union-busting.
As we navigate the challenges ahead, Local 150 remains focused on protecting its members and our jurisdiction. From your efforts in the field, to our actions on picket lines, to Local 150’s initiatives in Springfield, we will continuously prove our commitment to sustainability and innovation in an effort to make life better for you, our members, and the well-being of communities across Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa.
I also would like to add a sincere congratulations to Financial Secretary David Fagan on his recent appointment by Indiana Governor Mike Braun to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). We know he will be a tremendous asset to the IEDC.
Our work together doesn’t just build roads and bridges, but also a stronger future for this union, as well as everyone who relies on the infrastructure we create. Your hard work and resilience are appreciated. I look forward to seeing you at our General Membership Meeting on July 25, as well as you and your families at the Local 150 Picnic on August 3rd.
United We Stand, Divided We Fall.