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Lawmakers Say More Needs to be Done for Workers
One local state lawmaker, and one local U-S Congressman, both say there's always more that can be done to help the state's, and the country's, workforce.

Both 74th District State Representative Don Moffitt, and 17th District Congressman Phil Hare, were a part of this year's Labor Day Parade in Downtown Galesburg.

Moffitt tells WGIL while the state has done plenty to help some employees with, for example, raises in the minimum wage, that's not the kind of help he really is thinking of. "The most important thing to do is create an opportunity for job creation, and encourage and cause job creation, so we bring those good jobs, the kind of jobs you need to raise a family, that are above minimum wage," Moffitt said.

Hare, meanwhile, tells WGIL the best thing that can be done on a federal level is the passage of a bi-partisan measure that, among other things, would protect workers who want to join a union. "If we do that, I think labor (unions) will go from 15 percent...it may double membership," Hare said. "If it does, it gets these people under collective bargaining agreements. When you poll people, 65-70 percent of people say that if they could join a labor union, they would do so, because they want somebody to be able to go in and sit down with the employer."

Hare says the Employee Free Choice Act would, among other things, create strong penalties for employers who violate the rites of workers who seek to form a union.


(State Rep. Don Moffitt rides in Galesburg's Labor Day Parade Monday.)


(Rep. Phil Hare rides in Galesburg's Labor Day Parade Monday.)

Story by Will Stevenson. WGIL News Photos by Chris LaGrow.
09 01 08 by Newsroom
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