Staffers for Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch say they want to form a union and bargain for better pay and benefits, but Welch has reportedly refused to recognize the workers as a bargaining unit.
Employees of the Speaker’s research and legislative staffs have formed the Illinois Legislative Staff Association, with nearly 70% of the workers in those units supporting the push to unionize.
The group says its members are subjected to low pay and must often work overtime without appropriate compensation.
But they say despite several requests, Welch will not voluntarily grant recognition of the union – and the dispute could ultimately end up in court.
