Teamsters Union Condemns Illinois Governor's Veto of Worker Protection Act
Editorial StaffThe Facts -
- The Teamsters Union condemns Gov. Pritzker for vetoing the WWPA bill.
- The bill aimed to protect workers from abusive warehouse quotas like Amazon's.
- Similar laws exist in California, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Washington.
Billionaire Governor's Decision Criticized as a Setback for Warehouse Workers' Rights
Press Contact: Matt McQuaid Phone: (771) 241-0015 Email: mmcquaid@teamster.org
(CHICAGO) – Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's recent veto of House Bill 2547, the Illinois Warehouse Worker Protection Act (WWPA), has drawn harsh criticism from the Teamsters Union. The bill, which received strong bipartisan support in the statehouse, sought to regulate warehouse quotas to prevent exploitation of workers by companies such as Amazon.
Thomas W. Stiede, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25, expressed his disappointment, stating, “We are deeply disappointed that the governor has vetoed the Warehouse Worker Protection Act. In doing so, he has abandoned the very people who give their all every day, working under inhumane production quotas that are not only unacceptable but also dangerous.” Stiede emphasized the harsh conditions faced by warehouse workers, drawing on his own experiences in the industry. "Warehouse workers, including those at Amazon, are simply trying to provide for their families honestly and safely, and the Illinois governor has turned his back on them,” he added.
While Illinois is grappling with this setback, other states including California, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Washington have successfully enacted similar protections. At the federal level, a comparable measure has garnered bipartisan backing.
Sean M. O’Brien, Teamsters General President, called the WWPA the most practical solution to combat the exploitation of warehouse workers by major corporations. He asserted, “The Warehouse Worker Protection Act is the most commonsense, effective solution to the rampant abuse of warehouse workers by greedy and dangerous companies like Amazon.” O'Brien vowed that the Teamsters would continue their advocacy efforts, both nationally and within individual states. “In light of the governor’s reckless act, Illinois clearly needs stronger leadership that has the backbone and compassion to put hardworking families first,” he stated.
Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents over 125,000 workers across Illinois and northwest Indiana.
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