Metro East Sun

State. Sen. Jason Plummer said this week he opposed Amendment 1, pointing out that it would lead to a property tax hike for his constituents.

The measure, according to Illinois Policy, would give unions the power to strike for an indefinite period of time if negotiations fail to meet their demands. The website noted that while neighboring states do not allow government workers to strike, Illinois seemingly is headed in the opposite direction, with the Chicago Teachers Union staging walkouts in each of the last three years. Plummer also noted that he pointed out on the Senate floor that the amendment will raise taxes.

“I voted against putting it on the ballot because it’s a guarantee property taxes will increase for my constituents who already are the most heavily taxed Americans in the country,” Plummer said in an email interview. “We don’t need higher property taxes in Illinois. This would put some things on the ballot that’s not in any of the other 49 states.”

Amendment 1, according to Illinois Policy, also expands the power of unions, and Illinois Policy noted that it will expand areas that unions can bargain for, leaving taxpayers to pick up the check. The website noted that the amendment would permit “economic welfare” and “safety at work” to be bargaining chips even though they are not clearly defined.

“In Illinois I think it’s pretty clear that the people don’t have a say in government that they should have,” Plummer added in the interview. “We just watched a couple more legislators get in trouble for insider activity and unfortunately in Illinois politics has consolidated to be in the hands of a few. When anything gets too big that’s problematic.”

The amendment expands what unions can bargain over and the taxpayers will be on the hook for the tab. Amendment 1 includes such new bargaining points like "economic welfare" and "safety at work" which don't have a clear definition, leaving unions more powerful.

“There are different types of unions and different unions should have different rights. If there’s trade striking that’s one thing, but you can’t have law striking,” Plummer pointed out in the interview. “What we’ve seen is teachers in Chicago hold the public to their demands and that’s a problem.”

The provision granting unions the permanent right to strike if their demands cannot be granted could prove to be an issue, according to Plummer, who noted performance issues could not be addressed.

“We have poor performance in many cases because their education isn’t the top priority to the teacher’s union,” he said in the interview. “We need to put students above special interests.”

Plummer also pointed out that Amendment 1 seems to cater to special interests.

“I have a lot more respect for average Illinois voters than some; they’re smart people and know when they’re being lied to,” he concluded in the interview. “We shouldn’t be putting things on the ballot to benefit of special interests and at the detriment to the people as a whole.”