It has come to our attention that a deceptive mailer is being circulated by the Illinois Policy Institute to Public Employee members of several affiliate Local Unions encouraging them to resign from membership.

Teamsters Joint Council No. 25 condemns this blatant attack at weakening your voices and your Union.  Most importantly, we are aggressively investigating the matter in regard to any State or Federal laws that may have been violated in relation to members’ personal information.  The privacy of our membership is of the utmost importance.

It appears the mailer was drafted and sent by the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI), a right-wing think tank that wants to destroy organized labor and the ability of workers to stand up for fair wages and working conditions. They have routinely criticized any and all actions that benefit blue collar populations.

In 2020 when State Employees received a well-earned pay raise, the IPI called it “unfair” and asked the Governor to cancel the raises. They have a record of endorsing police reform that weakens the ability of unions to collectively bargain and fight for the rights of their members. The IPI blames the state’s budget woes on the cost of public employee pensions and healthcare, while backing amendments to the Illinois Constitution that would reduce pension benefits for public employees throughout Illinois.

Teamsters Joint Council 25 is committed to fighting the forces trying to divide us as a union, as we remain focused on providing the finest representation on behalf of our Public Employee members.