All Teamsters in Illinois are strongly urged to call Republican State Rep. Jerry Lee Long and tell him to vote “yes” to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of Senate Bill 1905.

Rep. Jerry Lee Long (76th District)
Springfield Office: (217) 782-0140
Streator District Office: (815) 510-9689

The legislation, which passed the Illinois General Assembly in June and was recently vetoed by Rauner, would successfully prohibit local governments from creating “right-to-work” zones. A new vote to override the veto and enforce the worker-friendly legislation is scheduled to take place either Nov. 7 or 8.

A previous attempt to override the veto failed in the Illinois House by a single vote, and Rep. Long cast a “no” vote to deny the override. The Republican previously voted to endorse the legislation this summer. On his website, Rep. Long proudly touts his union background as a “30-year Teamster” and member of Teamsters Local 179. Before his political career, the legislator drove a truck for USF Holland.

“If Jerry Lee Long is proud to be a Teamster, then he needs to stand up for hardworking Teamster families everywhere and vote ‘yes’ to override Bruce Rauner’s veto.”  -Terrence J. Hancock, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25

“If Jerry Lee Long is proud to be a Teamster, then he needs to stand up for hardworking Teamster families everywhere and vote ‘yes’ to override Bruce Rauner’s veto,” said Terrence J. Hancock, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25. “‘Right-to-work’ zones serve one purpose — to destroy unions and rob workers of their collective bargaining rights. Teamsters and all working men and women need to stand together to oppose these dangerous legislative efforts.”

So-called “right-to-work” zones are cornerstones of Gov. Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda, designed to dismantle unions and deprive hardworking Illinois families of decent wages and earned benefits. SB1905 and an override of Gov. Rauner’s veto would protect workers and Teamsters statewide from the harmful effects of right-to-work, including lower wages, higher poverty rates and eroded workplace protections.

In 2016, workers in states with “right-to-work” laws earned on average more than $6,000 less per year than men and women in states that rejected “right-to-work.”

Teamsters and supporters are urged to call Rep. Long early and often, and tell him to vote “yes” to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of SB1905.

Rep. Jerry Lee Long (76th District)
Springfield Office: (217) 782-0140
Streator District Office: (815) 510-9689

Teamsters Joint Council 25 is America’s premier labor union for Chicago, Illinois and northwest Indiana.