Chicago Teamsters Sit Down With Labor Department Director

Coli: Teamsters Will Combat Unfair Labor Practices in Illinois

Acknowledging the critical role of the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) to protect the rights and advantages of working families, the 20 affiliates of Teamsters Joint Council 25 organized a labor luncheon on September 26, 2011, with the department’s new Director Joe Costigan.

“At a time when corporations and companies across America, particularly in the Midwest, are waging a relentless war on workers, the Teamsters recognize the vital support and protections the Department of Labor offers,” said John T. Coli, President of Joint Council 25. “Defense of our members isn’t left at the bargaining table. We’re taking advantage of every available resource to combat unfair labor practices in Illinois.”

Costigan, the former Secretary-Treasurer of Workers United and past Vice President of the Illinois AFL-CIO, was appointed to lead IDOL by Gov. Pat Quinn in March 2011. The director played a key role in saving hundreds of Illinois jobs after Chicago-based Hart Schaffner Marx filed for bankruptcy in 2009. He also notably campaigned to save jobs at a Hugo Boss clothing facility in Ohio.

In a recent interview, Costigan said he’s eager to advocate for all working families statewide.

"Many of the issues that the labor movement championed over a period of many, many years are things that our department looks out for,” Costigan said. “We work to make sure that workers are guaranteed the minimum wage. We make sure that workers are actually paid the wages that they earn. If not, we have the ability to go in and ensure that employees receive their wages.”

Principal officers from all of Joint Council 25’s affiliated local unions discussed important issues with the IDOL director during the luncheon, including prevailing wage enforcement in the construction trades, mediation and equal employment opportunity for minorities. The Joint Council represents more than 100,000 men and women in myriad industries across Illinois and northwest Indiana, including construction, highway maintenance, waste management, aviation, law enforcement, health care, grocery, pharmaceutical, packaging, transportation, delivery and beyond.

Headquartered in Springfield, the Department of Labor maintains offices in Chicago and Marion. To learn more, visit www.state.il.us/agency/idol.

For the latest Teamster news and regular updates, visit Teamsters Joint Council 25 online at www.ChicagoTeamsters.org.

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