U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin isn’t surprised to hear three certain words coming from the governor.
Those words are “right to work,” an idea Gov. Bruce Rauner claims would attract businesses and more jobs. Durbin thinks those will be low-paying jobs with fewer collective bargaining rights, but he also admits he expected Rauner to propose something like this.
“It’s no surprise for those of us who followed him,” Durbin said. “He was outspoken in the primary, his opposition to workers organizing and bargaining collectively and unions.”
Durbin says if the result of a right-to-work law is reducing pay and preventing employees from collectively bargaining over workplace conditions, the idea “doesn’t do workers any favors.” He says the General Assembly will have to consider the kind of work environment that should exist in Illinois before taking up Rauner’s proposal.
