 By Will Evans
As a teenager, Carol Ammons worked as a temporary employee for a factory that needed extra labor over the holiday season. Now, as an Illinois state representative, Ammons is hoping to change the very nature of temp work in Illinois. The Urbana Democrat announced new legislation Wednesday that takes on discrimination and exploitation in an industry that’s among the fastest-growing sectors in the workforce. The bill would impose new rules on how temp workers are hired, paid and treated on the job. “We know there are good temp work firms that follow the law,” Ammons said in an interview. “But there are also those that are unfortunately predatory in their actions, and they take advantage of their workers.” Read More at Reveal By Claire Bushey
A new bill in Springfield that would add protections for temporary workers follows the playbook for labor advocates nationwide: Push for change in the states, because the federal government isn't coming to help. Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, plans to introduce legislation targeting staffing companies that supply temporary workers to companies in industries like manufacturing and logistics. Staffing companies employ roughly 800,000 workers in Illinois. If passed, the bill would mandate that temporary workers receive the same pay as full-time employees and make it harder for companies to fire them for questioning pay or working conditions. Read more at Crain's Chicago Business By Tom Kacich
SPRINGFIELD — Legislation aimed at improving working conditions for Illinoisans who work in the temporary-jobs industry was introduced Wednesday by state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana. HB 690, referred to by supporters as the Responsible Job Creation Act, would affect as many as 800,000 Illinois residents employed by temporary-job agencies, primarily in manufacturing and warehouses, according to the American Staffing Association. "Unfortunately in Illinois, people are suffering, are abused in hard, worn-down temporary jobs, all with no benefits for their families," Ammons said at a Statehouse news conference. "While direct hires at least receive a wage that they can live on, the conditions for temporary workers are not the same." Read More at the News-Gazette |
