Kane County Reporter

Republican candidate for the 65th District Dan Ugaste feels lawmakers fighting to keep right-to-work laws out of Illinois was a bad idea even before legislators holding that position moved to criminally charge those who oppose it.

“I’m completely against it (whether) it has criminal penalties or not,” Ugaste, who is running to replace retiring Rep. Steve Andersson (R-Geneva) in the 65th District, told the Kane County Reporter. “To criminalize someone for trying to pass right-to-work laws is unheard of and I can’t imagine it happening anywhere else but here.”

Illinois state senators overwhelmingly voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of Senate Bill 1905 back in late October. The House failed to override the veto Nov. 7. The bill would have banned local governments from enforcing their own right-to-work laws by exposing officials who might seek to enact such measures to the possibility of being slapped with Class A misdemeanor charges, punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine.

Presently, right-to-work laws, which protect workers from being forced to pay union dues to keep their jobs, are on the books in 27 other states, including most neighboring ones.

“We need to allow places to adopt this law if they feel it is best for their community, Ugaste said. “Even places like Michigan, which has the largest UAW (United Automobile Workers) presence there is, has right-to-work. We keep losing because of this, and it all goes back to who is getting money in the legislature for pushing this kind of legislation.”

The Illinois Policy Institute reports Illinois was recently scratched off a list of potential sites for a new, $1.6 billion Toyota and Mazda plant looking to hire 4,000 workers because it is not a right-to-work state. 

And back in 2015, Crain’s Chicago Business reported that the former director of Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity claimed more than 1,100 companies had “blacklisted” Illinois because it does not have a right-to-work law.

“It makes no sense, you can’t criminally charge someone just because you have a policy disagreement with them," Ugaste said. "Just think of the message that sends.”

The 65th District includes Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Pingree Grove, Hampshire and Huntley.