Springfield, Ill. — Climate Jobs Illinois (CJI) today named Joe Duffy as its new executive director to lead the labor coalition’s work to enact pro-climate, pro-worker policies in the state. A native of Northbrook, Illinois, Duffy has deep experience in Illinois politics, issue advocacy and campaigns.
Duffy steps into the role after previous executive director Nikki Budzinski took a position with the Biden Administration.
“Illinois’ climate agenda must put working people at the center,” said CJI Executive Director Joe Duffy. “Climate Jobs Illinois will make the voices of working men and women heard in Springfield and across the state as our leaders debate how to build a cleaner and better future.”
In 2018, Duffy served as Kwame Raoul’s campaign manager, leading all statewide efforts through a competitive eight-way primary and general election for Illinois attorney general in 2018. His work with Everytown for Gun Safety in Nevada resulted in a successful ballot initiative to require background checks on all gun sales. Duffy has also served as Executive Director of the Missouri Democratic party and worked for President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s reelection and Organizing for America.
Duffy holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Illinois State University.
Climate Jobs Illinois represents the hundreds of thousands of Illinois working men and women who are best suited to build Illinois’ new clean-energy economy from the ground up. Executive Committee members of Climate Jobs Illinois are: Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters, Illinois Education Association, Illinois Federation of Teachers, International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers State Council, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, Laborers International Union of North America Great Lakes Region, Laborers International Union of North America Midwest Region, Service Employees International Union State Council and United Auto Workers Region 4. With today’s announcement, the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers joins the board.
Climate Jobs Illinois is a state affiliate of the Climate Jobs National Resource Center. CJI has partnered with The Project for Middle Class Renewal at UIUC, Illinois Economic Policy Institute and Cornell University Worker Institute.
By advocating for bold clean energy investments with comprehensive labor standards, including prevailing wage, apprenticeship requirements, labor peace agreements, project labor agreements and responsible bidder requirements, Climate Jobs Illinois is working to ensure these jobs create more pathways to the middle class, especially for communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.
Read the CJI’s full 10-point proposal, visit https://climatejobsillinois.org/our-work, and follow CJI at @ClimateJobsIL on Twitter or join its Facebook page.
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