Bloomington-Normal unions hosted a forum Monday night to hear from candidates for McLean County Board and several countywide positions, including clerk.
Candidates were asked two questions:
- Local governments require publicly funded construction projects to use a Project Labor Agreement [PLA], ensuring work is performed by local workers trained through federally-approved apprenticeship programs. Would you support extending PLA requirements to also apply to projects receiving government subsidies or Tax Increment Financing [TIF] incentives?
- Would you support prohibiting taxpayer dollars from being used to hire outside consulting firms that discourage workers from exercising the right to unionize?
With the rest of their allotted time, candidates could speak more about themselves. Many candidates did so in regard to their standing with or respect of union labor, while others gave more information on their backgrounds and connection to the McLean County area.
Endorsements
Appearing at the forum were all Democrats running for county board positions as well as three Republicans, plus Republican countywide candidates Kathy Michael (incumbent county clerk), Rebecca McNeil (incumbent treasurer, unopposed), and Jon Albee (sheriff, unopposed). Democratic clerk challenger Joshua Crockett also attended.
All 10 Democratic candidates for county board, as well as Crockett, were subsequently endorsed by the union delegates.
Still, the Republicans who participated said they support extending PLA requirements and opposed governments paying consulting firms to help oppose unionization.
“We appreciated that the majority of candidates were favorable toward labor concerns,” said Mike Raikes, Livingston & McLean Counties Building & Construction Trades Council president. “In the final estimate, we wanted to support those who have voted for labor-friendly measures during their term.”
Learn more: Which County Board district do you live in?
Democrat John D. Poling, who was endorsed in the District 7 race over Republican incumbent Geoff Tompkins, said PLAs should no longer have a $25,000 threshold after which they are required to be authorized in certain counties or states. In McLean County, the number is $50,000.
“Why do we need to have a $25,000 limit on them?” said Poling. “Let's let project labor agreements start in at the lowest level. Why not?”
Tompkins also spoke.
“I've been on the board one term. Working men and union labor have a friend on the county board, and that's me. I'm proud to say I've never voted against a Project Labor Agreement. In fact, I've tried to support it,” said Tompkins.
Prevailing wage laws still apply to all public works projects in Illinois, per state law, even for those that do not require a PLA for being below $50,000.
Democratic incumbent Corey Beirne was endorsed over GOP challenger Matthew Steinkoenig for District 10.
“Unions are what build the fabric of our communities. They build the middle class,” said Democrat Buck Farley, endorsed for District 5 over Republican Jeff Lord.
Lord also supported PLAs and was against government dollars being spent on discouraging unionization.
“When it comes to taxpayer funds, I don't like seeing taxpayer funds spent on much. So to use those to try and organize or go against the union, I would not see any use in supporting that whatsoever,” said Lord.
