Deere workers strike reminds potential electric vehicle makers Illinois wants to ban right to work

Bloomberg

WATERTOWN – Governor Pritzker is working to attract electric vehicle manufacturers to Illinois, but the ongoing strike at Deere is throwing a wrench into his plans. The strike reminds all those potential manufacturers that Illinois is not a right-to-work state. 

Indeed, Governor Pritzker and his Democrat supermajority in the Illinois General Assembly are set on being the first state to ban ANY non-union shops in the state. Next year, Illinois voters will be able to determine if they want such a ban placed in the state's constitution. 

Crain's tells what's going on …

The first strike at Deere in 35 years, and the first large-scale walkout at a major manufacturer in Illinois since a Caterpillar strike ended in 1995, is generating national headlines just as the state makes a play for new factories. Gov. J.B. Pritzker is vying with right-to-work states such as Tennessee and Texas, as well as Midwest neighbors, for electric vehicle and battery plants that could bring billions in new investment and thousands of high-paying jobs. As Illinois tries to propel its century-old automotive and heavy equipment manufacturing forward for another generation, it must grapple with its past. 

The Deere strike “puts the spotlight on Illinois not being a right-to-work state,” says John Boyd, a principal at the Boyd Company, a site-selection consultant in Boca Raton, Fla., that has worked on electric-vehicle manufacturing projects. “Most searches prioritize right-to-work states: Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas.”

The situation at Deere could be embarrassing for Pritzker and the Illinois Manufacturing Association, which declared Monday how supportive they are of Governor Pritzker's effort to make bring electrical vehicle production to Illinois.

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) said regarding HB1769, which provides incentives to help grow electric vehicle and auto battery production in the state:  

“Illinois has a long, proud history of auto manufacturing and this legislation would build on that legacy by positioning our state to become a national leader in electric vehicle and battery production. The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association was glad to partner with Gov. JB Pritzker and lawmakers on the development of this proposal, which will attract economic investment and grow good-paying manufacturing jobs,” said Mark Denzler, president & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.

“Illinois has many innate advantages including our central location, transportation system and workforce. By providing incentives to locate and grow in Illinois, we are better able to compete with our neighboring states in this expanding and exciting industry.”

IMA's Denzler conveniently overlooked the 2022 General Election ballot initiative to ban any right-to-work or non-union shops coming to the state. They've remained very quiet on the topic. 

Illinois Policy Institute sees huge repercussions for the amendment to the state constitution: 

The proposed constitutional amendment filed by state Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, and passed by the Illinois General Assembly is now set to go to voters in the Nov. 8, 2022, general election. Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 11 is being sold by proponents as a barrier against any future legislation that would attempt to make Illinois a right-to-work state, where agreements mandating that private sector employees join or pay fees to a union as a condition of employment are prohibited.

But SJRCA 11 does more than that. The broad language could drastically expand the ability of public sector unions to strike, keep children out of public school classrooms and potentially hike taxes.