Illinois Governor Applauds Public Employees on MSNBC
Quinn: Public Workers Entitled to Democracy in the Workplace
Gov. Pat Quinn defended public employee unions and workers’ rights to collectively bargain when he appeared on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews on February 28, 2011.
“[Public employees] are on the front line for democracy in our world and they should be entitled to democracy in the workplace,” said Quinn. “That’s what collective bargaining is all about.”
Matthews welcomed Quinn to weigh in on the attempt by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to strip that state’s public workers of their union rights. Delegates and volunteers of Teamsters Joint Council 25 and Teamsters Local 700 visited the Wisconsin capital on February 27-28 to join local union members in opposition to the proposed legislation.
“Teamsters throughout Illinois and Indiana stand with the workers of Wisconsin in their battle to preserve their rights as hardworking Americans,” said John T. Coli, President of Joint Council 25. “It’s encouraging to see Gov. Pat Quinn really go to bat for public employees on a national stage and recognize the sacrifices they make each and every day.”
During his Hardball appearance, Quinn also addressed the courageous response by public workers during the 18-inch snowstorm that ravaged Chicago only a few weeks ago. Hundreds of members represented by Local 700 worked consecutive 12-hour shifts for days to clear snow, salt streets and plow the runways at O’Hare and Midway International Airports. Some workers even resorted to sleeping at the airports rather than traveling home during shifts.
Quinn applauded their efforts to dig out the city.
“With debates and protests continuing in Wisconsin, local unions across the country have been stepping up to stand with workers,” said Coli. “Joint Council 25 and our affiliates support working families throughout the United States to rally against this unprecedented attack on the fundamental right to organize.”
Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents more than 100,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and Indiana, including more than 14,000 public employees.
