Latest news with #IllinoisDepartmentofLabor
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
IDOL recovers unpaid wages for workers on Saline County solar project
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) has recovered over $85,000 in unpaid wages. The IDOL has recovered these unpaid wages for 17 workers that were employed on a construction project in Saline County. IDOL also recovered more than $17,000 in penalties from D&D Electric, LLC (D&D). Eggs sold at Walmart, other grocers in 9 states recalled amid salmonella outbreak 'Illinois law requires that employees on publicly funded projects be paid a fair wage for their skilled work,' said Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan. 'Making these workers whole reflects IDOL's commitment to enforcing the Prevailing Wage Act and holding employers accountable when they violate workers' rights.' IDOL says it began its investigation of the Harrisburg, Illinois-based contractor in 2024 for its work on a solar panel installation. The department says it determined D&D violated the State's Prevailing Wage Act by allegedly failing to properly classify workers and correctly compensate them for fringe benefits and overtime. IDOL explains the Prevailing Wage Act requires contractors and subcontractors to pay laborers, workers and mechanics employed on public works projects no less than the general prevailing rate of wages, which consists of hourly cash wages plus fringe benefits, for work of similar character in the locality where the work is performed. U.S. Supreme Court to hear Representative Bost's case on mail-in voting IDOl says the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) ensured that new clean energy construction jobs are also quality high-wage jobs by requiring that contractors pay prevailing wages for workers on projects receiving incentives through the Illinois Power Agency. Officials say if a worker believes they have not been properly compensated for work performed in Illinois, they can file a complaint online or call 312-793-2800 with questions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's Justice Department sues Illinois over worker privacy provisions feds say interfere with immigration enforcement
President Donald Trump's administration has filed a lawsuit alleging the state of Illinois is undermining federal immigration laws with a measure passed by the General Assembly last year aimed at protecting the privacy of workers who are non-U.S. citizens. The lawsuit is the latest challenge to Illinois' progressive immigration policies from Trump's Justice Department. Earlier this year, the department sued the state and city of Chicago over so-called sanctuary policies that limit the cooperation of local police with federal law enforcement on immigration matters. The lawsuit filed Thursday challenges amendments the state made to the state's Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act, which lays out a number of privacy-related workplace requirements including guidelines that govern employers' use of systems to check workers' employment eligibility, such as the federal E-Verify program. The measure was signed into law in August by Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker after being passed by the General Assembly largely along party lines, although three moderate GOP senators, party leader John Curran of Downers Grove, Donald DeWitte of St. Charles and Seth Lewis of Bartlett, joined Democrats in voting in favor of the measure. The federal lawsuit alleges that changes made to the state law last year violate the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution, which bars state and local governments from impeding the federal government's ability to enforce federal laws. The Justice Department accuses the state of Illinois, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Jane Flanagan, the head of the Illinois Department of Labor, of unlawfully carrying out changes to the E-Verify portion of the privacy and workplace law meant to protect workers without U.S. citizenship. Pritzker was not named as a defendant. The Justice Department is requesting the court to halt enforcement of the state law's amendments. 'The United States has preeminent authority to regulate the administrative processes governing Form I-9 (federal employment eligibility verification forms) documentation and inspection, and E-Verify,' the Justice Department wrote. 'Illinois therefore has no authority to enforce laws that obstruct or otherwise conflict with federal immigration enforcement efforts by imposing additional regulations, requirements, and possible sanctions on employers that seek to participate in the federal 'E-Verify' program.' Raoul's office said it was reviewing the lawsuit and had no further comment. A spokesperson for the state's Labor Department said in an email the agency is 'committed to protecting the employment rights of all Illinoisans and upholding federal and state laws' but declined further comment. Two Chicago Democratic lawmakers who sponsored the amendments issued statements Friday defending the measures and calling the lawsuit 'politically-motivated.' 'The Illinois law I sponsored was crafted to provide workers and employers with a clear process. Nothing in that law restricts the use of the e-verify system,' said state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado. 'I have full faith in the judicial process and expect the law will be upheld.' 'States have always maintained the authority to regulate working conditions and employment rights when not in conflict with federal statutes — a fundamental principle that the DOJ seems determined to ignore,' said state Sen. Javier Cervantes. 'What our law does is ensure transparency and fairness in employment verification while fully respecting federal authority.' An employer can use E-Verify to electronically compare the information the employer enters from an employee's Form I-9, or employment eligibility verification form, to records already available to the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The verification check would notify the employer of a mismatch and prompt further action by the employee to confirm employment eligibility. The amendments to the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act, which took effect Jan. 1, include a provision that requires employers to let workers know within 72 hours of any inspections being conducted by federal immigration enforcement of Form I-9s or other employment records. The amendment also states that employers 'shall not impose work authorization verification or reverification requirements greater than those required by federal law.' Employers found to be in violation are subject to fines. The lawsuit takes issue with the civil penalties as well as the advance notice requirements. 'Not only are these fines inconsistent with federal law, but such advance notice requirements could prompt an alien employee to not show up to work on the day of inspection or avoid detection by immigration authorities,' the lawsuit states.
Chicago Tribune
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Trump's Justice Department sues Illinois over worker privacy provisions feds say interfere with immigration enforcement
President Donald Trump's administration has filed a lawsuit alleging the state of Illinois is undermining federal immigration laws with a measure passed by the General Assembly last year aimed at protecting the privacy of workers who are non-U.S. citizens. The lawsuit is the latest challenge to Illinois' progressive immigration policies from Trump's Justice Department. Earlier this year, the department sued the state and city of Chicago over so-called sanctuary policies that limit the cooperation of local police with federal law enforcement on immigration matters. The lawsuit filed Thursday challenges amendments the state made to the state's Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act, which lays out a number of privacy-related workplace requirements including guidelines that govern employers' use of systems to check workers' employment eligibility, such as the federal E-Verify program. The measure was signed into law in August by Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker after being passed by the General Assembly largely along party lines, although three moderate GOP senators, party leader John Curran of Downers Grove, Donald DeWitte of St. Charles and Seth Lewis of Bartlett, joined Democrats in voting in favor of the measure. The federal lawsuit alleges that changes made to the state law last year violate the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution, which bars state and local governments from impeding the federal government's ability to enforce federal laws. The Justice Department accuses the state of Illinois, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Jane Flanagan, the head of the Illinois Department of Labor, of unlawfully carrying out changes to the E-Verify portion of the privacy and workplace law meant to protect workers without U.S. citizenship. Pritzker was not named as a defendant. The Justice Department is requesting the court to halt enforcement of the state law's amendments. 'The United States has preeminent authority to regulate the administrative processes governing Form I-9 (federal employment eligibility verification forms) documentation and inspection, and E-Verify,' the Justice Department wrote. 'Illinois therefore has no authority to enforce laws that obstruct or otherwise conflict with federal immigration enforcement efforts by imposing additional regulations, requirements, and possible sanctions on employers that seek to participate in the federal 'E-Verify' program.' Raoul's office said it was reviewing the lawsuit and had no further comment. A spokesperson for the state's Labor Department said in an email the agency is 'committed to protecting the employment rights of all Illinoisans and upholding federal and state laws' but declined further comment. Two Chicago Democratic lawmakers who sponsored the amendments issued statements Friday defending the measures and calling the lawsuit 'politically-motivated.' 'The Illinois law I sponsored was crafted to provide workers and employers with a clear process. Nothing in that law restricts the use of the e-verify system,' said state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado. 'I have full faith in the judicial process and expect the law will be upheld.' 'States have always maintained the authority to regulate working conditions and employment rights when not in conflict with federal statutes — a fundamental principle that the DOJ seems determined to ignore,' said state Sen. Javier Cervantes. 'What our law does is ensure transparency and fairness in employment verification while fully respecting federal authority.' An employer can use E-Verify to electronically compare the information the employer enters from an employee's Form I-9, or employment eligibility verification form, to records already available to the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The verification check would notify the employer of a mismatch and prompt further action by the employee to confirm employment eligibility. The amendments to the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act, which took effect Jan. 1, include a provision that requires employers to let workers know within 72 hours of any inspections being conducted by federal immigration enforcement of Form I-9s or other employment records. The amendment also states that employers 'shall not impose work authorization verification or reverification requirements greater than those required by federal law.' Employers found to be in violation are subject to fines. The lawsuit takes issue with the civil penalties as well as the advance notice requirements. 'Not only are these fines inconsistent with federal law, but such advance notice requirements could prompt an alien employee to not show up to work on the day of inspection or avoid detection by immigration authorities,' the lawsuit states.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pritzker vetoes bill aimed at protecting warehouse workers from quota penalties
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Gov. JB Pritzker vetoed a bill that would have protected warehouse workers from punishments for failing to meet quotas or using the restroom. Pritzker said the Warehouse Worker Protection Act was too vague on who would be covered by it and said the process for enforcing the policy is unclear. 'In this tight budget year and in the face of unpredictable enforcement and funding from the federal government, it is critical that advocates, legislators and my administration work together to ensure any new labor laws are straightforward to implement and do not create a risk of legal challenges,' Pritzker said. 'I am also charging the Illinois Department of Labor with streamlining and prioritizing resources to build a field enforcement team that can respond quickly and effectively to dangerous conditions, lack of meal and rest breaks, and other concerns in warehouses,' Pritzker added. The bill passed the House with bipartisan support from 79 lawmakers in January, meaning it could have enough support to break the 71 vote threshold needed to override the governor's veto. Thirty-six votes are needed to override a veto in the Senate, where the bill received 35 votes when it passed in January. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
