We’re listening to the scientists and doctors, because the number one thing is, we don’t want to open the economy and then close it again.
–Illinois Restaurant Association President Sam Toia on May 20, 2020.
Continue reading “There Is Evidence that Illinois’ Re-opening Plan Has Worked — For Now”
In just a few short months, the COVID-19 pandemic has touched every corner of our nation and tragically claimed more than 125,000 American lives, including 7,000 Illinois residents. As case counts keep rising, so do the stakes for the public … Continue reading Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 in Illinois
With Illinois poised to enter Phase 4 of the “Restore Illinois” re-opening plan, COVID-19 has exposed the state’s structural economic and public health inequities. Essential and face-to-face workers who were most affected by Illinois’ efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic … Continue reading Phase 4, COVID-19, and the Inequities Plaguing Illinois
On everything from infection risk and job volatility to average wages– essential, face-to-face, and remote workers face very different health and economic hazards Continue reading “New: COVID-19 Exposes Structural Inequities in Illinois’ Economy and Impacts on People of Color”
Alternative to layoffs would provide workers with more income than typical unemployment benefit, while saving employers from the long-term costs of workforce turnover. Continue reading “Facing COVID-19 Recession – Illinois Work-Share Program Could Shrink Unemployment, Boost Incomes, and Save Taxpayer Dollars”
Facing COVID-19 Pandemic, Nearly a Quarter of Illinois Workers Currently Lack Access to Paid Sick Days Continue reading “REPORT: Paid Sick Leave Would Boost Incomes of 1.5 Million Illinois Workers and Limit Spread of Infectious Disease”
Workers in Midwestern States like IL, MN, OH, and MO Seeing Biggest Gains Continue reading “STUDY: Prevailing Wage Laws Boost Homeownership for Construction Workers”
La Grange: From the number of training hours and graduation rates to the diversity of classes and the lifetime earnings of graduates, Illinois’ joint labor-management construction apprenticeship programs are rivaling– and in some cases exceeding– the performance of the state’s … Continue reading STUDY: Illinois’ Construction Apprenticeship Programs Rival State Colleges and Universities on Key Performance Metrics
With persistent state funding gap, Illinois property taxes have risen to 7th highest in the nation Continue reading “Study Offers Roadmap to Stem Growth of Illinois’ Property Tax Rates”
La Grange: As Illinois lawmakers continue debating whether to enact nurse staffing standards in the state’s hospitals, a new national survey of registered nurses has linked the proposal with dramatically superior workplace outcomes in California, the only state that has enacted such a law. The survey was sponsored by grassroots organization Nurses Take D.C. and compiled over 9,000 responses in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The results were then aggregated and analyzed by the Project for Middle Class Renewal (PMCR) at the University of Illinois and the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI).
Continue reading “National Nurses Survey Offers Strong Evidence for Safe Patient Limits Law”
Chicago: A fast-tracked $15 minimum wage by 2021 in the City of Chicago would increase paychecks Continue reading “REPORT: $15 Minimum Wage Would Boost Incomes for 430,000 Chicago Workers and Lift 100,000 Residents Out of Poverty”
Unions Boost Worker Wages by 11% Continue reading “Study: Unionization Fell Last Year, But Illinois’ Middle Class Still Depends on Unions”
