Speaker Welch Champions Labor Rights, Passes Measure Allowing Legislative Staff to Unionize
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch passed legislation Wednesday allowing state legislative employees in the House and Senate the right to join a union and bargain collectively for the first time in Illinois’ history.
“This legislation is the culmination of months of diligent and thorough research,” Speaker Welch said. “As someone who watched his dad work two full-time jobs to make ends meet for our family, workers’ rights are a personal issue for me. I watched my dad go to his first job at 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. then drive to his next job to work from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. every day.
“I can tell you why I believe in unions and the right to bargain collectively. Unions have always provided a path for people to do better. I’ve witnessed what unions can do for my family, as well as families across this state. Illinois will always stand for workers’ rights.”
Historically, states across the country have prohibited legislative staff from forming unions and collective bargaining. Speaker Welch’s House Bill 4148 empowers employees in his office and other Illinois legislative offices to decide whether to form a bargaining unit, along with other similarly situated House and Senate staffers. The bill would begin in 2026, giving the state time to create an office of labor relations which will oversee the organizing process.
“From janitors to researchers, every member of our legislative staff is critical to what we do in Springfield,” said Speaker Welch. “They deserve the right to unionize, and I am proud to spearhead the legislation that makes Illinois one of the first states in our nation to allow that to happen.”
Highlights of House Bill 4148 include:
The creation of the Legislative Employee Labor Relations Act to provide legislative employees with the right to collectively bargain for wages, hours, and other conditions of employment.
The creation of the Office of the State Legislative Labor Relations which is responsible for representing and managing the interest of the General Assembly in collective bargaining.
Unionized employees may collectively bargain over policy matters directly affecting wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment, but cannot bargain over items such as inherent managerial policy, qualifications and elections of senators or representatives, chamber rules, or establishing committees.
From The News
Capitol News Illinois: “During debate on the bill Wednesday, Welch told the story of his family voting to remain in the suburbs of Chicago after his father, a union factory worker, was told his company was moving to Georgia – a right-to-work state where he could’ve kept his job but would no longer be unionized.”
WBEZ: “A measure that would let Illinois’ state legislative employees unionize for the first time is advancing through the statehouse.”
AP: “Welch urged lawmakers to discard “finite” thinking when they're engaged in “an infinite game," responsible for improving the machinations of government for the future.”
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