CHICAGO, IL—After a five-year effort to increase job opportunity in Illinois, grassroots leaders from the Chicago-based
Gamaliel network and
Transportation Equity Network (TEN) helped win the passage a key state law to expand opportunities for workers and businesses that have too long suffered discrimination and exclusion.
On July 27, IL Governor Pat Quinn signed the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Act into law, requiring state agencies to consider using PLAs on public works construction projects. These agreements:
- ensure a level bidding field for minority- and women-owned businesses
- help increase minority and female job access by setting goals for work hours to be performed by minorities and women
- help build careers by setting goals for apprenticeship hours performed by minorities and women
Local community leaders from the TEN and Gamaliel networks, including
Gamaliel of Metro Chicago, Madison-based
United Congregations of Metro East (UCM), Springfield-based
Faith Coalition for the Common Good (FCCG), had pressed for the measures in the law since 2006.
“We worked with IDOT secretaries, the Black and Hispanic caucuses of the state legislature, organized labor, and other groups to get their support on minority workforce issues,” said Dr. Ron Trimmer, a community leader with United Congregations of Metro East.
“This law is a victory for everyone who believes that America is about access to opportunity,” said Shelly Heideman, executive director of FCCG. “Thanks to the efforts of faith and community leaders and our allies, excluded workers across the state will now have the chance to build their careers, lives, and communities.”
Gamaliel is a Chicago-based grassroots network of non-partisan, faith-based organizations in 18 U.S. states, South Africa and the United Kingdom, that organizes to empower ordinary people to effectively participate in the political, environmental, social and economic decisions affecting their lives.
The Transportation Equity Network (TEN) is a grassroots network of more than 350 community organizations in 41 states working to build a more just, prosperous, and connected America. TEN is a project of Gamaliel.
CONTACT: Stephen Boykewich,
stephen@transportationequity.org, Mob. 718-791-9162