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”
On Friday, April 26, the Illinois House Labor & Commerce Committee held a subject matter hearing on “Workforce Development, Reducing Unemployment, and Improving the Economy.” Frank Manzo IV, MPP, Policy Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) testified before the committee. Here is what he said.
Continue reading “ILEPI Testimony on Registered Apprenticeship Programs”
Savings from HR 2604/SB 1908 would offset 75% of cost of hiring more nurses Continue reading “STUDY: Nurse Staffing Bill Could Save Illinois Hospitals $1.4 Billion”
