Labor coalition applauds Gov. Pritzker’s enactment of historic measure putting Illinois on path to carbon-free energy by 2045; sets national precedent for labor standards, equity provisions, climate goals

Creates and protects thousands of new union jobs

CHICAGO — Labor coalition Climate Jobs Illinois (CJI) signaled it was ready to get its members to work building the state’s 100 percent clean energy economy with Gov. Pritzker’s signing of historic legislation today to fight climate change that includes the most robust labor standards and equity provisions in the country. The newly enacted law promises to create thousands of new union jobs and apprenticeships for Black and Latinx communities that have been disproportionately impacted by climate change.

CJI Executive Director Joe Duffy issued the following statement after Gov. Pritzker’s bill signing:

“This law shows just what is possible when labor, industry and environmental advocates come together. This measure is the most pro-worker, pro-climate legislation in the country and establishes Illinois as a leader in fighting the climate crisis.

We’re eager to get our members to work building a clean energy economy that will reverse generations of carbon emissions and build a pathway to the middle class for new generations of highly trained, homegrown workers from historically disinvested communities.

We thank our legislative partners in the House and Senate for their steadfast leadership as well as all of our advocacy counterparts for their commitment to bringing this bill to fruition. What this collective effort proves is that we don’t have to choose between jobs and a cleaner, fairer future. We can do both.”

Climate Jobs Illinois represents the hundreds of thousands of Illinois working men and women who are best equipped 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, the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, 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.

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.

To learn more, visit https://climatejobsillinois.org, and follow CJI at @ClimateJobsIL on Twitter or join its Facebook page.