SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) 鈥 Illinois voters have approved an amendment to their state constitution guaranteeing the right to bargain collectively.
The measure in last week's election was closely watched in Illinois and beyond as a gauge of public support for the labor movement, which has lost ground for years in conservative-led states. Unions groups say it could signal a new chapter in the struggle over workers鈥 rights as U.S. union ranks have grown as everyone from coffee shop baristas to warehouse workers seeks to organize.
They view it as a way to ensure workers will always be able to use their collective clout to secure better pay, hours and working conditions. They also say it will prevent the Legislature, should it undergo a shift to the right, from passing a so-called right-to-work law that would allow workers covered by union contracts to not pay dues.
鈥淏eing able to protect everyone鈥檚 ability to step up and organize their workplace is a critical component to making sure everyone has access to some higher paying jobs and safer workplaces,鈥 said Joe Bowen, spokesman for the Vote Yes for Workers鈥 Rights group. 鈥淪pecifically, you鈥檝e certainly seen a lot of abuses -- or folks who might work at . But these historical examples have existed for generations and it鈥檚 really important that we do what we can to secure these rights for Illinoisans.鈥
Business groups and conservatives opposed the measure, saying they think it will drive up taxes, give unions too much power, lead to more strikes and prompt companies to leave for more industry-friendly states.
Union rights have taken a beating in Republican-led states in recent years. Twenty-seven states now have right-to-work laws, and Wisconsin went so far as .
Tennessee voters last week approved a change to the state Constitution that
The Associated Press called the race on Tuesday. The Illinois measure required 60% of those voting on the question to vote 鈥測es鈥 for it to pass or 50% of all votes cast to be in favor of the question. It failed to get the 60% of those voting on the question, but was approved by more than 50% of all votes cast.
