The The State of Oregon, City of Chicago, and Six Other U.S. Cities Currently Have Fair Workweek Laws on the Books La Grange, IL: As face-to-face and essential industries continue struggling to attract and retain sufficient numbers of qualified workers, … Continue reading STUDY: Fair Workweek Laws Shown to Boost Wages and Job Quality in Essential and Frontline Industries
Laws establishing market-rate wage floor delivering best outcomes for People of Color La Grange, IL: In the first ever national study on the application of prevailing wage laws outside the construction industry, researchers from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) … Continue reading STUDY: Prevailing Wages on Service Contracts Boost Incomes, Health Insurance Coverage, and Job Stability for Custodians
The December 2021 Edition of ILEPI’s newsletter, Illinois Insights, has been released. This Edition discusses our two most recent reports: The I-290 reconstruction project that would create jobs, … Continue reading Illinois Insights – December 2021 Edition
Unionized Construction Experiences Significantly Fewer Violations Across Nine Midwestern States La Grange, IL: An analysis of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections at construction jobsites has revealed that unionized construction workers face 34% fewer health and safety violations than … Continue reading STUDY: Unionized Construction Offers Superior Health and Safety Outcomes
Springfield acts to put I-290 in the spotlight under SJR31 La Grange: A multi-modal infrastructure proposal that would modernize the 13-mile stretch of I-290 between I-94 and the I-88/294 interchange would create more than 22,000 jobs, reduce traffic congestion by … Continue reading NEW STUDY Says I-290 Improvements would Deliver Best Economic, Equity, Traffic Outcomes for Chicago Metro Region
Researchers say investment in joint labor-management (union) programs is driving parity La Grange, IL: Graduates of registered apprenticeship programs in Wisconsin’s construction industry achieve near wage parity with workers that have four-year college degrees, according to a new study by … Continue reading Study: Union Construction Apprenticeships in Wisconsin Rival Bachelor’s Degrees on Key Economic and Diversity Metrics
La Grange, IL: A new national study by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) has found that on average, graduates of joint labor-management (union) apprenticeship programs in the construction industry are able to achieve near wage and benefits parity with … Continue reading Study: Union Construction Apprenticeships Rival Bachelor’s Degrees on Key Economic and Social Metrics
The September 2021 Edition of ILEPI’s newsletter, Illinois Insights, has been released. This edition mainly focuses on the construction industry and the labor movement. Some key highlights from … Continue reading Illinois Insights – September 2021 Edition
Union-affiliated programs exceed nonunion alternatives on wages, diversity, and graduation rates La Grange, IL: Joint labor-management (union) apprenticeship programs in Iowa’s construction industry are delivering outcomes that rival many colleges in the state, according to a new study by the … Continue reading Study: Iowa Construction Apprenticeships Rival Colleges on Key Metrics
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This week, the Illinois General Assembly passed landmark clean energy legislation. The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (SB 2408) is a historic law that combats climate change, creates middle-class careers in the clean energy sector, improves public health, and supports disadvantaged communities. The bipartisan legislation overwhelmingly passed by a vote of 83-33 in the Illinois House of Representatives (72% support) and 37-17 in the Illinois Senate (69% support). Governor Pritzker signed the bill into law on September 15, 2021.
Continue reading “Illinois Passed the Most Pro-Worker, Pro-Climate Law in the United States”
Iowa law allows certain highway projects to bypass federal construction rules Chicago: As congressional leaders in both parties consider trillions of dollars in new infrastructure investment, a new report from the Midwest Economic Policy Institute finds that state-level accounting schemes … Continue reading New Study: State-Level “Federal-Aid Swap” Programs Hurt Workers and Fail to Save Money on Infrastructure
Chicago: Minnesota’s unionized construction sector is no more costly than its non-union alternative—though it produces higher wages, greater equality, safer worksites, and less reliance on social assistance while training more than 90% of the state’s skilled trade apprentices according to … Continue reading Study: Union Construction Delivers Superior Value for Minnesota Workers, Economy, and Taxpayers—Without Increasing Project Costs
The Illinois Update 