The economy create 200,000 jobs in December and lowered the unemployment rate from 8.7% to 8.5%. One can slice and dice this a lot. December is a particularly odd month for employment due to the Christmas season and temporary hiring. But it is fair to say the economy is better off today than it was 3 years ago.
What is open for discussion, is whether the economy is improving despite the federal govt, or because of it. And -- whether we might have lowered unemployment much faster had the first focus been on the economy instead of passing the healthcare bill. But no doubt the President will be crowing about this improvement in job creation. Today's employment report now makes Feb and March the more important to see if this a trend.
Showing posts with label labor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label labor. Show all posts
Friday, January 6, 2012
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Statement by Gov Quinn on the Settlement of the Chicago Area Labor Strike
CHICAGO – July 20, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today issued the following statement on the settlement of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 and The Laborers District Council of Chicago & Vicinity strike:
“I want to salute the Operating Engineers and Laborers’ for coming to an agreement that will allow Illinois’ workers to return to their jobs and get important infrastructure projects back on track. We must continue to work together to keep these projects moving for Illinois residents and for the future of our state’s economy. The Illinois Department of Transportation continues to announce new projects that are part of the largest construction season in the history of Illinois. I want to again commend both parties – the unions and contractors – for the agreement reached last night that will help keep this construction season moving in the right direction.”
The agreement was reached with the Mid-America Regional Bargaining Association (MARBA).
“I want to salute the Operating Engineers and Laborers’ for coming to an agreement that will allow Illinois’ workers to return to their jobs and get important infrastructure projects back on track. We must continue to work together to keep these projects moving for Illinois residents and for the future of our state’s economy. The Illinois Department of Transportation continues to announce new projects that are part of the largest construction season in the history of Illinois. I want to again commend both parties – the unions and contractors – for the agreement reached last night that will help keep this construction season moving in the right direction.”
The agreement was reached with the Mid-America Regional Bargaining Association (MARBA).
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Illinois Receives $1.5 Million in Matching Grants from Occupational Safety and Health Administration
From the Illinois Department of Labor
CHICAGO – September 1, 2009. The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced today that the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) will receive a $1.5 million federal grant to administer an OSHA State Plan for public employees in Illinois. The OSHA grant is a 50% matching grant for approved State Plans, which will supplement IDOL’s existing health and safety programs to protect public sector employees, including school teachers, state and local government employees, police officers, firefighters and transportation workers.
“We are thrilled that the Department now has additional resources to better protect all public employees in Illinois and I want to thank Illinois’ Congressional delegation, labor organizations representing public employees and federal OSHA for their support and assistance in helping us obtain funding and approval for this important initiative. IDOL and OSHA are dedicated to reducing injuries, illnesses and fatalities and promoting safety and health in the workplace through a combination of high-quality enforcement and consultation activities,” said Catherine Shannon, Director of the Illinois Department of Labor.
“We applaud the state of Illinois for its ongoing commitment to the safety and health of public employees,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. “It's an honor to recognize this accomplishment and we welcome Illinois as OSHA’s newest State Plan partner.”
Since 1985, IDOL’s Safety Inspection and Education Division (SIED) has been responsible for ensuring safe and healthy working conditions for Illinois’ state, county, municipal and educational employees. Currently, SIED is comprised of eight inspectors that cover approximately 22,000 public worksites and more than one million employees statewide.
The federal funding will allow the Department to:
CHICAGO – September 1, 2009. The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced today that the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) will receive a $1.5 million federal grant to administer an OSHA State Plan for public employees in Illinois. The OSHA grant is a 50% matching grant for approved State Plans, which will supplement IDOL’s existing health and safety programs to protect public sector employees, including school teachers, state and local government employees, police officers, firefighters and transportation workers.
“We are thrilled that the Department now has additional resources to better protect all public employees in Illinois and I want to thank Illinois’ Congressional delegation, labor organizations representing public employees and federal OSHA for their support and assistance in helping us obtain funding and approval for this important initiative. IDOL and OSHA are dedicated to reducing injuries, illnesses and fatalities and promoting safety and health in the workplace through a combination of high-quality enforcement and consultation activities,” said Catherine Shannon, Director of the Illinois Department of Labor.
“We applaud the state of Illinois for its ongoing commitment to the safety and health of public employees,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. “It's an honor to recognize this accomplishment and we welcome Illinois as OSHA’s newest State Plan partner.”
Since 1985, IDOL’s Safety Inspection and Education Division (SIED) has been responsible for ensuring safe and healthy working conditions for Illinois’ state, county, municipal and educational employees. Currently, SIED is comprised of eight inspectors that cover approximately 22,000 public worksites and more than one million employees statewide.
The federal funding will allow the Department to:
- Increase field inspectors and support staff to increase the frequency and number of inspections of public sector worksites;
- Help reduce the number of work-related injuries and fatalities, particularly in high-risk professions such as transportation, firefighting, and law enforcement;
- Establish a separate consultation program to assist public sector employers in providing safe work environments, so that injuries may be prevented or avoided; and
- Increase awareness of health and safety issues in the workplace among public employees and employers.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and 29 CFR Part 1956 allow states and territories to establish plans that only cover state and local government employees -- workers who are excluded from federal coverage. Once a state plan is approved, OSHA funds up to 50% of the program's operating costs.
OSHA currently provides funding to 26 other states for safety and health enforcement. Illinois joins four other states/territories that regulate the public sector only (Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Virgin Islands). Private sector employees remain under the jurisdiction of OSHA. Notice of plan approval was published in the Sept.1st issue of the Federal Register. Please refer to IDOL’s website at: http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol/ for the Federal Register Notice and other Illinois State Plan details.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Governor Quinn Proclaims Equal Pay Day in Illinois
From the Illinois Department of Labor
CHICAGO –Governor Pat Quinn pledged to continue the fight against gender based wage discrimination in the workplace and designated today as Equal Pay Day in Illinois. Equal Pay Day, originated by the National Committee on Pay Equity, is observed nationwide on a Tuesday in April to emphasize how far into the current year a woman must work, on average, to earn as much as a man earned the previous year.
“Equal pay for equal work strengthens the security of families today and eases future retirement costs, while enhancing Illinois’ economy,” the Governor’s proclamation states.
“I am proud of our successes under the Illinois Equal Pay Act. Seeing the effort and progress being made at both the state and federal levels gives me great hope for the future. The Department will continue its outreach and enforcement activities aimed at eliminating the wage gap, making sure employees and employers are aware of and abide by the law,” said Catherine Shannon, Director of the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL).
This year has been a landmark year for equal pay reform. On January 29, 2009, President Barack Obama made the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act the first bill he signed into law. The law will fight pay inequity and fosters equal pay by easing restrictions on the time period for filing equal pay lawsuits in federal court. In Illinois, legislation (HB 3634) that would extend filing deadlines with IDOL and the statute of limitations for pursuing legal action in state court has passed the House and awaits approval by the Senate.
Illinois’ Equal Pay Act was enacted in 2003 to help eliminate the wage differential between men and women. The Act is enforced by the IDOL, which has been successful in recovering hundreds of thousands of dollars in back wages for women who were paid less than their male co-workers for doing the same work, in violation of the law.
Illinois’ Equal Pay Act expanded the federal Equal Pay Act of 1963 by protecting thousands more workers from pay discrimination, providing better enforcement mechanisms and increasing public awareness. The Act also enhances the Department’s enforcement of the statute by requiring employers to post a notice in their workplace summarizing workers’ rights under the Act and provides for stiffer penalties for those who violate the law.
The Department provides in-depth trainings to individuals representing public and private employers, civic and community organizations, attorneys, human resource professionals, payroll associations and employee organizations. These training seminars remind employees and employers of the law to help eliminate the wage differential between men and women and create pay equity in the workplace.
Illinois’ Equal Pay Act prohibits employers with four or more employees from paying unequal wages to men and women doing the same or substantially similar work, requiring equal skill, effort, responsibility and under similar working conditions. There are exceptions, such as if the wage difference is based upon a seniority system, merit system, or a system measuring earnings by quantity or quality of production or if they use factors other than gender to determine the pay differential. The law protects both men and women from pay disparity and any individual who files an equal pay complaint is protected under the Act from harassment or retaliation. If an employer is found guilty of pay discrimination, they will be required to make up the wage difference to the employee and may be subject to pay legal costs and civil fines of up to $2,500 per violation.
For more information on Illinois’ Equal Pay Act or to file a complaint, call the Illinois Department of Labor’s Equal Pay hotline at 1-866-EPA-IDOL. Complaint forms are also available to download on the Department’s website: www.state.il.us/agency/idol.
In addition to the Governor’s proclamation, the Illinois House and Senate have also filed joint resolutions (HJR 47, SJR 61) recognizing today as Pay Equity Day.
CHICAGO –Governor Pat Quinn pledged to continue the fight against gender based wage discrimination in the workplace and designated today as Equal Pay Day in Illinois. Equal Pay Day, originated by the National Committee on Pay Equity, is observed nationwide on a Tuesday in April to emphasize how far into the current year a woman must work, on average, to earn as much as a man earned the previous year.
“Equal pay for equal work strengthens the security of families today and eases future retirement costs, while enhancing Illinois’ economy,” the Governor’s proclamation states.
“I am proud of our successes under the Illinois Equal Pay Act. Seeing the effort and progress being made at both the state and federal levels gives me great hope for the future. The Department will continue its outreach and enforcement activities aimed at eliminating the wage gap, making sure employees and employers are aware of and abide by the law,” said Catherine Shannon, Director of the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL).
This year has been a landmark year for equal pay reform. On January 29, 2009, President Barack Obama made the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act the first bill he signed into law. The law will fight pay inequity and fosters equal pay by easing restrictions on the time period for filing equal pay lawsuits in federal court. In Illinois, legislation (HB 3634) that would extend filing deadlines with IDOL and the statute of limitations for pursuing legal action in state court has passed the House and awaits approval by the Senate.
Illinois’ Equal Pay Act was enacted in 2003 to help eliminate the wage differential between men and women. The Act is enforced by the IDOL, which has been successful in recovering hundreds of thousands of dollars in back wages for women who were paid less than their male co-workers for doing the same work, in violation of the law.
Illinois’ Equal Pay Act expanded the federal Equal Pay Act of 1963 by protecting thousands more workers from pay discrimination, providing better enforcement mechanisms and increasing public awareness. The Act also enhances the Department’s enforcement of the statute by requiring employers to post a notice in their workplace summarizing workers’ rights under the Act and provides for stiffer penalties for those who violate the law.
The Department provides in-depth trainings to individuals representing public and private employers, civic and community organizations, attorneys, human resource professionals, payroll associations and employee organizations. These training seminars remind employees and employers of the law to help eliminate the wage differential between men and women and create pay equity in the workplace.
Illinois’ Equal Pay Act prohibits employers with four or more employees from paying unequal wages to men and women doing the same or substantially similar work, requiring equal skill, effort, responsibility and under similar working conditions. There are exceptions, such as if the wage difference is based upon a seniority system, merit system, or a system measuring earnings by quantity or quality of production or if they use factors other than gender to determine the pay differential. The law protects both men and women from pay disparity and any individual who files an equal pay complaint is protected under the Act from harassment or retaliation. If an employer is found guilty of pay discrimination, they will be required to make up the wage difference to the employee and may be subject to pay legal costs and civil fines of up to $2,500 per violation.
For more information on Illinois’ Equal Pay Act or to file a complaint, call the Illinois Department of Labor’s Equal Pay hotline at 1-866-EPA-IDOL. Complaint forms are also available to download on the Department’s website: www.state.il.us/agency/idol.
In addition to the Governor’s proclamation, the Illinois House and Senate have also filed joint resolutions (HJR 47, SJR 61) recognizing today as Pay Equity Day.
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