J.B. Pritzker on Jobs

	J.B. Pritzker on Jobs

Support for childcare aids women's workforce participation

Illinois has created the nation's largest childcare grant program, with $290 million going directly to 5,000 childcare centers and homes in 95 counties, allowing them to stay afloat over this challenging year. In short: even absent necessary federal action, Illinois gave our all to keeping an entire industry alive--an industry that has the power to make or break women's participation in the workforce--in a way that other states failed to do. Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 17, 2021

Bipartisan infrastructure bill creates 500,000 jobs

For the first time in a decade, we passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill. Rebuild Illinois will create and support 500,000 jobs in the state as we fix our aging and crumbling roads and bridges, bring broadband to parts of the state that are internet deserts, as well as modernize our hospitals, our community centers, our state police facilities, our universities and colleges--all of the things that keep us going and growing. Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address , Jan 29, 2020

Illinois Works set strong goals for diversity in hiring

Rebuild Illinois is about more than just roads, bridges and universities; it's about jobs: middle class careers with wages and benefits, the kind of jobs that help you raise a family. And together, we did more to make these jobs more inclusive and diverse, by investing in the Illinois Works program to recruit new construction apprentices and set strong goals for our public works projects to include diverse employees. Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address , Jan 29, 2020

Diversity & inclusion in hiring not just a talking point

When I took office, I hired people who came from all walks of life, all different backgrounds--who were diverse in gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, geography and life experience and whose only loyalty is to good ideas and good results. A commitment to diversity and inclusion is not just a talking point for me. I have an administration that looks far more like the state we represent than any that has come before it. Our state is doing better because of it. Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address , Jan 29, 2020

Bans "right to work" laws; supports collective bargaining

Legislative Summary: SB1474: Employers and labor organizations may execute and apply agreements requiring membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment to the fullest extent authorized by the National Labor Relations Act. It is the policy of the State that employers, employees, and their labor organizations are free to bargain collectively.

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; Passed House 101-8-9 on Apr/3/19; Signed by Governor J. B. Pritzker on Apr/12/19

Source: CBS-2 Chicago on Illinois voting record SB1474 , Jun 21, 2019

Increase number of minority businesses for state contracts

We can grow our economy and make it more inclusive by taking advantage of the talent among the diverse people of our state. That's why we must promote the development of sustained wealth in black and brown communities by being purposeful about increasing the number of minority-owned businesses eligible for state procurement opportunities and by attracting private capital to build out new businesses and jobs in Opportunity Zones. Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 20, 2019

Equal pay for equal work, not 79 cents for women

JB Pritzker released the following statement on Equal Pay Day: "Today and every day, we must fight for equal pay for women across our state and country, and as your governor, I will not relent until we make that a reality in Illinois," said JB Pritzker. "When white women make 79 cents, African-American women make 65 cents, and Latina women make 54 cents for every dollar a man makes, a fundamental injustice is harming so many of our communities, and it's time for it to come to an end. Unlike Bruce Rauner who vetoed the Equal Pay Act, I will prioritize signing that critical bill and ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment in Illinois. Let's end the inequality and finally achieve equal pay for equal work in our state."

Pritzer's Lt. Gov. nominee, State Rep. Juliana Stratton, added: ""No woman should ever earn less for doing the same job, period. Equal pay for equal work is a critical foundation from which we will build true equality in all aspects of our state and our country."

Source: 2018 Illinois Gubernatorial website JBPritzker.com , Apr 10, 2018

Private initiatives can create new jobs

Not all that long ago, Illinois was way behind when it came to creating technology jobs--and we were missing out on the high-paying jobs those businesses create. I led the creation of a non-profit small business incubator called 1871, which in the last five years is responsible for creating 6,000 new jobs in Illinois, and we're now ranked among the top ten tech hubs in the world. Source: 2018 Illinois gubernatorial campaign website JBPritzker.com , Jul 17, 2017

State & local business share vocational training

Restoring vocational training for high school students and designing regional workforce development programs that are aligned with the needs of the local labor market and responsive to the unique characteristics of the communities they serve will help Illinoisans gain the technical training and accreditation they need to transition into new & emerging jobs. [I'll] foster greater coordination between industry partners and local community colleges on curriculum design & the sharing of labor market data. Source: 2018 Illinois gubernatorial campaign website JBPritzker.com , Jul 17, 2017

Uphold unions and living wage

By leveraging Illinois' strong agricultural base and energy generation sector, we can attract new industries and businesses to communities that need it most. Our state must restore its vital partnership with working families and labor unions, and uphold the principle that every worker deserves a living wage. Source: 2018 Illinois gubernatorial campaign website JBPritzker.com , Jul 17, 2017

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