“Right-to-work is wrong for Illinois.” - State Senator Bill Cunningham

SPRINGFIELD – A veto of legislation preventing local governments from enacting “right-to-work” laws was overridden by a huge bipartisan majority today. The legislation, Senate Bill 1905, codifies the opinion of the federal court which ruled that only states have the authority to pass such laws.

Right-to-work laws are designed to financially cripple unions by allowing workers to not join a union and not pay dues. Despite not paying those dues, the union is still required to negotiate on behalf of those workers.

State Senator Bill Cunningham voted to override the governor’s veto.

“Right-to-work is wrong for Illinois,” Cunningham said. “Right-to-work and other anti-union measures are designed to do nothing more than lower workers’ wages to pad corporate profits.”

The veto was overridden with forty-two votes, six more than required. The legislation now goes to the House where seventy-one votes are needed.