Jim Oberweis on Jobs

Keep "right to work" laws; limit collective bargaining

Analysis by CBS-2 Chicago: With the support of labor unions, a new bill prohibiting municipalities in the state from enacting "right-to-work laws" was signed into law by Gov. Pritzker. The "Collective Bargaining Freedom Act" prohibits local right-to-work ordinances & imposes penalties for violations. [Voting "Yes" empowers unions by enforcing "collective bargaining"; voting "No" supports "right-to-work" laws that weaken unions].

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 42-12-5 on Mar/7/19; State Sen Jim Oberweis voted NO; Passed House 101-8-9 on Apr/3/19; Signed by Gov. Pritzker on Apr/12/19

Voted NO on raising minimum wage from $8.25 to $11

• [Previous law]: from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2015 every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees who is 18 years of age or older in every occupation wages of not less than $8.25 per hour
• [New law]:
• From July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 every employer shall pay wages of not less than $9.00 per hour;
• from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 every employer shall pay wages of not less than $9.50 per hour;
• from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 every employer shall pay wages of not less than $10.00 per hour;
• from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 every employer shall pay wages of not less than $10.50 per hour;
• and after July 1, 2019 every employer shall pay wages of not less than $11.00 per hour

Minimum wage of $10 (and less for those under age 24)

State Sen. Jim Oberweis prefers a minimum-wage hike only for workers who are in their mid-20s or older. His campaign calls closing the pay gap a "handy campaign prop" with no chance of becoming law. Oberweis believes lower taxes and fewer federal regulations would help improve workers' fortunes.

In April, Oberweis proposed a state measure to gradually boost the minimum wage for workers 26 and older until their hourly wages hit $10 in 2017. On the federal level, Oberweis might favor raising the minimum wage for workers who are at least 24 years old. Oberweis' campaign points to a CBO report which found that most low-wage workers would receive higher pay under the federal proposal but that once the increases were fully implemented in 2016, total employment would be reduced by about 500,000 workers because some low-wage jobs would be eliminated.