SPRINGFIELD — State government agencies may soon be more efficient, thanks to a measure led by State Senator Graciela Guzmán that would clarify the scope of the Department of Innovation and Technology that passed the Senate on Friday.

“Clarity is beneficial to everyone—for the employees of DoIT, employees of other state agencies, and the people of Illinois,” said Senator Guzmán (D-Chicago). “With this initiative, our state agencies will be able to operate with more efficiency, and deliver results for the people of Illinois.”   

SPRINGFIELD — Working Illinoisans may soon have more protections against employers backing out of good faith negotiations, thanks to a measure led by State Senator Graciela Guzmán.

“In Illinois, the state that led nationwide movements for worker’s rights in the 18 and 1900s, we have protections for workers on the books, including the right for employees to collectively bargain and enter negotiations with their managers,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Under this bill, workers would be even more protected should their employer attempt to withdraw from the negotiation out of bad faith, so that their needs and interests are heard and their employer is brought to justice for their actions.” 

The Public Labor Relations Act, which went into effect in 1984, establishes many protections for Illinois workers, including the right for employees to approach their employer to negotiate their contracts, health and safety policies, hours, and more. According to the law, employers must meet with them in good faith before working on an agreement. 

SPRINGFIELD — As a union organizer and strong protector of worker’s rights, State Senator Graciela Guzmán is proud to advance legislation that would further protect working Illinoisans, and their right to collective bargaining.

“Laborers in Chicago laid the foundation of the worker’s rights movement nationwide, and are the reason our state has enshrined so many protections to this day,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “This measure builds upon their work, and makes sure that employers are held accountable should they try to deny an employee or a group of workers their rights.”

The Public Labor Relations Act, which went into effect in 1984, establishes many protections for Illinois workers, including the right for employees to approach their employer to negotiate their contracts, health and safety policies, hours, and more. According to the measure, employers must meet with them in good faith before working on an agreement. 

SPRINGFIELD — Teachers may soon be able to utilize a central, easy-to-find website that shows the current standardized tests the state has contracted, thanks to a measure led by State Senator Graciela Guzmán that recently cleared the Senate.   

“Without a public, state-regulated location, our teachers may waste hours of their already scarce free time searching for up-to-date information on what assessments their students will be taking so that they can adjust their curriculum for their success,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “By creating a standard website where this information is kept and updated, teachers will be able to better prepare their students and ease the burden they are facing now by doing this research in their spare time.”

State assessment contracts are agreements between a state government agency and a vendor for the administration of standardized assessments. Based on which standardized assessment the state is under contract with, teachers may need to alter their curriculum to properly prepare their students to get the best scores on these tests.