>> Paris: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM PHIL PENSIE.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND PARIS SCHUTZ HAVE THE NIGHT OFF.ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER, WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR WORKERS IN ILLINOIS WHO WANT BETTER PAY AND WORKING CONDITIONS.

>> WE ARE SPREAD OUT ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> Phil: CHICAGO RESIDENTS HAVE LONG PLAYED A ROLE IN ORGANIZED LABOR, AND WITH MORE WORKERS LOOKING TO ORGANIZE, WE TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF UNIONS.

A NEW BOOK TAKES A COLORFUL LOOK AT PIONEERING ICONS OF THE ARTS IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

AND THE LEGENDARY PARADE IS EXPANDING ITS REACH TO A PROMINENT NEW DOWNTOWN BUILDIN , AT LEAST AN EXISTING ONE.

>>> FIRST TONIGHT, THE WORKERS RIGHTS AMENDMENT IS ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER, IT WOULD GUARANTEE ILLINOIS WORKERS THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN THINGS LIKE WAGES, HOURS, AND WORKING CONDITIONS.THERE YOU CAN SEE THE TEXT OF THE AMENDMENT.

SO, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ILLINOIS WORKERS AND THE ECONOMY?

JOINING US, JACOB HUEBERT, PRESIDENT OF THE LIBERTY JUSTICE CENTER.

AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INDIANA, ILLINOIS, AND IOWA FOUNDATION FOR FAIR CONTRACTING.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.FIRST OF ALL, MARC POULOS, IF I CAN BEGIN WITH YOU, LET'S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE, SO WE CAN GET AN EXACT IDEA OF WHAT IT SAYS.

EMPLOYEES SHALL HAVE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO ORGANIZE AND BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING FOR THE PURPOSE OF NEGOTIATING WAGES, HOURS, AND WORKING CONDITIONS, AND TO PROTECT THEIR ECONOMIC WELFARE AND SAFETY AT WORK.MR.

TRAN ON, IN PLAIN TERMS, WHAT WITH THIS AMENDMENT DO?

>> Marc: YEAH, GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.

IN PLAIN TERMS, THIS AMENDMENT CREATES A SAFER WORKPLACE FOR INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, PUTS MORE MONEY AND THEIR POCKETBOOKS, GIVES THEM A VOICE IN THE WORKPLACE THAT IS BEYOND JUST STATUTORY, BUT IS A CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.

>> Phil: YOU SAY BEYOND STATUTORY OR OTHER LANGUAGE, HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM EXISTING PROTECTIONS?

ARE THERE SOME OF THESE PROTECTIONS AROUND ALREADY?

>> Marc: SURE, THERE ARE THESE TYPES OF PROTECTIONS, BOTH AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT EMPLOYEES HAVE TO RELY ON LEGISLATORS, RIGHT?WHEN YOU HAVE UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS, YOU HAVE TO HOPE THAT THERE IS A STATUTE IN PLACE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY PROTECTYOU.

IF THERE'S NOT, YOU HAVE TO GO TO YOUR LOCAL LEGISLATURE , GET INDIVIDUALS TO APPROVE IT, GET THE GOVERNOR TO IMPROVE IT, AND CREATE A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

MUCH LIKE THE FIRST AMENDMENT, SECOND AMENDMENT, FOURTH AMENDMENT, THIS GIVES YOU A FUNDAMENTAL, CONSTITUTIONAL, IN THE VERY PLACE THAT YOU SPEND MOST OF YOUR LIFE.

>> Phil: AND JACOB HUEBERT, YOU OPPOSE THIS AMENDMENT, HOW COME?

>> Jacob: PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR WORKERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

FEDERAL LAW ALREADY GOVERNS BARGAINING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND THE SUPREME COURT AND OTHER FEDERAL COURTS HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT STATES CANNOT ENACT THEIR OWN LAWS TO GOVERN PRIVATE SECTOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

SO, ALTHOUGH THIS APPEARS TO GIVE NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS TO ALL EMPLOYEES IN ILLINOIS, THE FACT IS, WHAT IT REALLY DOES IS GIVES STRONGER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS TO PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR UNIONS IN ILLINOIS.

THAT'S WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS REALLY ABOUT.

IT LITERALLY WE DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES.

>> Phil: JACOB HUEBERT, DO YOU AGREE, IT WOULD DO NOTHING AND STRICTLY BENEFIT PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR?

>> Marc: I THINK THAT QUESTION WAS FOR ME, MARC POULOS.

WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISAGREE.

>> Phil: THANK YOU, MY MISTAKE.

BUT THE BASIC QUESTION, WOULD IT BENEFIT PRIMARILY WORKERS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND NOT REALLY DO ANYTHING FOR PEOPLE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR?

>> Marc: THIS AMENDMENT DOES EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE.

THE TEXT OF THE AMENDMENT STARTS WITH THE TERM EMPLOYEES SHALL HAVE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT, TOO.

THAT'S HOW IT STARTS AND THAT'S HOW IT ENDS.

THIS AMENDMENT APPLIES TO EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE, EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS ON THE BALLOT ON NOVEMBER 8.

SO, YOU CAN CHOOSE POLITICIANS THAT YOU WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE, YOU THINK YOU WANT TO FAVOR THEM, YOU CAN FAVOR YOURSELF AND VOTE FOR YOURSELF IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

HER ARE A PLETHORA OF EXCLUSIONS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE RAILWAY ACT AND ALL OTHER FEDERAL ACTS, SO IT APPLIES EQUALLY TO BOTH.

BOTH JACOB AND THE FOLKS AT IPI AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS ATTEMPTED THIS ARGUMENT IN BOTH THE STATE COURT AND AT THE APPELLATE COURT AND FAILED MISERABLY.

BOTH THE STATE COURT DISMISSED A PETITION TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THIS, AND THE FOURTH DISTRICT APPELLATE COURT ALSO CITED WITH THE TRIAL COURT AND DISMISSED THAT.

>> Phil: JACOB HUEBERT, HOW ABOUT THAT?

HAVE YOU HAD A COUPLE DEFEATS IN THE LOWER COURTS?

YOUR APPEALING TO THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT, WHY DO YOU THINK THE OUTCOME MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THERE?

>> Jacob: WELL, THE ILLINOIS COURT HAS SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE I JUST RAISED.

IN FACT, THE ILLINOIS COURTS HAVE ONLY SAID SO FAR THAT TAXPAYERS CAN'T CHALLENGE THIS AMENDMENT BEFORE IT IS PASSED.

BUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HASN'T EVEN ARGUED THAT WE ARE WRONG ABOUT WHAT I JUST SAID, ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS WOULD DO NOTHING FOR PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES.

SURE, IT SAYS ALL EMPLOYEES IN THE AMENDMENT, AND THEY PUT THAT THERE, I GUESS, SO YOU WOULD THINK THAT IT APPLIES TO ALL EMPLOYEES.

SO, IF YOU'RE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, MAYBE WOULD WANT TO VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE IT WOULD DO SOMETHING FOR YOU, BUT IN FACT, THIS LAW IS CLEAR THAT THEY CANNOT GIVE THIS RATE TO PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES, SO AFTER THIS THING IS ENACTED, IF IT IS, IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE PROTECTIONS TO PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES, AND YES, RELATIVELY SMALL HANDFUL OF PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT, BUT OF COURSE, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES ARE COVERED BY THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT, AND THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR THEM.

AND THE COURTS CERTAINLY HAVEN'T SAID OTHERWISE.

AND AGAIN, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN DEFENDING THIS HASN'T EVEN SET OTHERWISE.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS JUST SAID THIS SHOULD GO ON THE BALLOT ANYWAY.

TAXPAYERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHALLENGE THIS RIGHT NOW.

>> Phil: MARC POULOS, ANOTHER ARGUMENT AGAINST THIS BY YOUR OPPONENTS IS THAT IT WOULD BASICALLY GIVE UNIONS TOO MUCH POWER AND RESULT IN HIGHER TAXES.

RESPOND TO THOSE CONCERNS.

>> Marc: WELL, LET'S JUST START WITH THE FIRST POINT, WHICH IS GIVEN UNIONS POWERPOINT BY GIVING UNIONS POWER, GIG WORKERS POWERPOINT UNIONS ARE ONE OF THE MOST DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS, BUSINESS AGENTS, ELECTED BY THE RANKS OF THEIR MEMBERSHIP TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES.

SO, WHEN WE SAY THE TERM UNIONS, IT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE TERM WORKERS, RIGHT?

SO, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS NOT PUT UNIONS ON A PEDESTAL, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS TO SAY WE WANT TO CREATE A GOOD BUSINESS CLIMATE, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO DO IS CREATE A GOOD WORKER CLIMATE.

>> Phil: HOW ABOUT THE ISSUE OF HIGHER TAXES WESTMARK PRESUMABLY, IF YOU ARE COULD MEAN WAGES GO UP AND TAXPAYERS SPLIT THE BILL.

>> Marc: WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THIS IS THERE IS NO DATA THAT WOULD SUGGEST THAT TAXES WOULD GO UP BY VIRTUE OF THIS AMENDMENT BEING PASSED.

NOW, THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE THAT JUST LOST AROUND THINGS LIKE INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAXES, BUT WHAT I WILL GIVE YOU IS SOME DATA POINT ILLINOIS ECONOMICS POLICY INSTITUTE ACTUALLY JUST PERFORMED A STUDY WHERE I LOOKED OUT STRONG COLLECTIVE BARGAINING STATES, WHICH ILLINOIS IS, AND WOULD BE STRONGER WITH THIS AMENDMENT, VERSUS THOSE THAT ARE NOT STRONG.

AND WHAT HE FOUND IS THAT INDIVIDUALS IN STRONG COLLECTIVE BARGAINING STATES ARE THREE PERCENT LESS LIKELY TO LIVE BELOW POVERTY LEVEL, THREE PERCENT LESS LIKELY TO RELY ON MEDICAID, TWO PERCENT LESS LIKELY TO RELY ON FOOD STAMPS AND GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE, AND CONTRIBUTE EIGHT PERCENT MORE IN STATE INCOME TAXES.SO, IN TERMS OF WHETHER THIS IS GOOD OR BAD FOR THE ECONOMY, THE DATA SPEAK FOR ITSELF, AND CLEARLY, IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE ILLINOIS ECONOMY TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE POCKETS OF WORKERS AND CREATE A SAFER WORK ENVIRONMENT.

>> Phil: WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME, I WILL GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD, JACOB HUEBERT, THIS IS A BIG DISCUSSION.

BUT DO UNIONS MAKE THE ECONOMIC LIGHT FOR EVERYBODY BETTER?

>> Jacob: WELL, ILLINOIS HAS VERY STRONG PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS, SOME OF THE STRONGEST IN THE COUNTRY.

TAKE A LOOK AT ILLINOIS ECONOMY, LOOK AT OUR TAXES, LOOK AT THE BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS FLEEING THIS STATE BECAUSE OF THE BURDEN OF THEIR GOVERNMENT AND THEIR TAXES PUT ON THEM.

AND ASK OURSELVES, WHO PUT US IN THIS SPOT?

WHO IS INFLUENTIAL THAT ADVOCATES FOR THE TAX INCREASES THAT WE HAVE, FOR THE HIGH TAX BURDEN?

IT'S THE PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS WHO PUSH FOR THESE THINGS.

PEOPLE CAN THINK ABOUT WHETHER PUBLIC-SECTOR UNIONS HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR ILLINOIS ECONOMY WHEN THE GOING TO THE BALLOT BOOTH TO VOTE ON AMENDMENT ONE, IF IT ENDS UP ON THE BALLOT.

>> Phil: THAT'S WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT, THANK YOU BOTH FOR PARTICIPATING AND IMPORTANT INSIGHTS FROM BOTH OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

GOING UP NEXT, A COLORFUL NEW BOOK BY A LOCAL ARTIST SHOWCASES INFLUENTIAL ICONS OF THE ARTS IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, SO STICK WITH US.

[MUSIC] >> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

[MUSIC] >> THE GYM AND K NAVY FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONOR : [MUSIC] >> FROM SWAN LAKE TO FRANKENSTEIN MOVIES TO THE POP CHARTS, THE ARTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DEEPLY INFLUENCED FROM ARTISTS FROM THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

A NEWLY RELEASED BOOK SHINES THE LIGHT ON 50 PIONEERING ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD MADE INDELIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO CULTURE.

PRODUCER MARK PATEL RECENTLY SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE BOOKS CREATORS, WHO IS HIMSELF, SOMETHING OF A LOCAL ARTS ICON.

HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

[MUSIC] >> RUSSIA DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TCHAIKOVSKY WAS GAY.

A NEW BOOK RECOGNIZES THE COMPOSER OF SWAN LAKE FOR HIS ARTISTRY AND FOR A PART OF HIS PERSONAL LIFE THAT HAS BEEN REDACTED FROM SOME BIOGRAPHIES.

>> ALL OF THESE PEOPLE DID SO MUCH TO ENRICH OUR DAILY CULTURE THAT WE HEAR OR SEE ALL THE TIME, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE BOOK ARE PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT THAT WE WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND TELL YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THEM.

>> THE RECORD COMPANIES WANTED TO PORTRAY HER AS THIS GIRLY GIRL, AND SHE SAID NO.

WE MET ARTIST DAVID LEE SISCO, WHO WITH WRITER OWEN KEENAN, MADE THE BOOK TO HONOR LATE ARTS ICONS, INCLUDING SOME LAST-MINUTE ADDITIONS.

>> OWEN AND I HAD A CONVERSATION IN THIS BOOKSTORE BACK IN FEBRUARY THE YEAR AGO, WE WERE LOOKING AT THE PUBLICATIONS THAT WERE OUT THERE, AND I SAID, I THINK WE CAN DO A MUCH BETTER JOB AND MAKE A REALLY LIVELY, FUN BOOK THAT CELEBRATES THE HISTORY OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN THE ARTS.

AND SO, THE BOOK SORT OF CAME OUT AS A PROJECT THAT THE TWO OF US THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COOL TO DO THIS BOOK.

>> SISCO'S WORK IS ALL OVER TOWN, FROM THE MOSAICS AT THE BELMONT STATION TO STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS IN LORI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL TO TOTE BAGS FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS, INCLUDING LYRIC OPERA AND OUR SISTER STATION, WF MT.

EXIT STARTS OUT AS SKETCHES, THEN I SCAN THE SKETCH WITH MY iPhone TO MY COMPUTER, AND THEN I BUILD IT FROM THERE.

I LOOK FOR WONDERFUL PICTURES OF THE SUBJECT.

IN THE CASE OF THE MAN WHO WROTE THE FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE LESBIAN NOVEL, WHICH IS A TERRIBLE TITLE, THE WELL OF LONELINESS, BUT THERE ARE PICTURES OF HER AND HER PARTNER WITH THEIR CHAMPION DIOXINS IN ENGLAND, AND SINCE I HAVE A DACHSHUND, I WAS THRILLED TO FIND THAT PICTURE, SO I DREW HER WITH JACKSON.

>> JAMES WELL, THE DIRECTOR OF FRANKENSTEIN, WAS DRAWN WITH AN ELECTRODE ON HIS NECK.

FREDA KAHLO GOT A LITTLE MUSTACHE ON HER LIP.

FROM FREDA TO FREDDIE MERCURY, THE MAKERS OF THE BOOK HAD A TOUGH EDITING PROCESS.

>> WE LOOKED BACK AND MADE A LIST OF OUR FAVORITES, AND THEN WE BASICALLY ARM WRESTLED AS TO WHO GOT IN THE BOOK, BUT WE REALLY WANTED TO BE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, EVEN THOUGH ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE PASSED AWAY.

WE REALLY WANTED TO CELEBRATE THEM.

CELEBRATORY OR NOT, THE BOOK IS BEING PUBLISHED IN A CHALLENGING POLITICAL CLIMATE.

X SOONER OR LATER, EVERYTHING BECOMES POLITICAL, AND ESPECIALLY THE TIME WE LIVE IN NOW, WHERE CERTAIN POLITICS ARE TRYING TO ERASE CERTAIN THINGS OR TAKE FREEDOMS AWAY FROM VARIOUS GROUPS, AND THE FACT THAT WE MADE THIS AS A BOOK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, NOW THAT IS BEING CHALLENGED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN FLORIDA.

[MUSIC] >> WE ARE REALLY LUCKY TO LIVE WHERE WE LIVE, WHERE WE CAN BRING THINGS FORWARD AND BRING THEM TO THE TABLE.

HOPEFULLY, THIS BOOK IS A WONDERFUL BOOK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR RELATIVES AND THEIR FRIENDS TO CREATE DISCUSSION AND JUST MAKE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD.

[MUSIC] >> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, THIS IS MARK PATEL.

[MUSIC] >> Phil: THE BOOK, LGBTQ ICONS WAS JUST PUBLISHED, AND YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

UP NEXT, A DEEP DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF UNIONS AND THE CONVERSATION THAT FIRST AIRED ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, ALEX FERNANDEZ, SO STAY WITH US.

>> DON'T MISS ONE OF OUR STORIES.

GET THEM ALL DELIVERED TO YOUR DESKTOP OR MOBILE DEVICE WITH A SUBSCRIPTION TO THE WTTW NEWS DAILY BRIEFING.

GO TO NEWS.WTTW.COM/DAILY BRIEFING AND SIGN UP.

[MUSIC] >> Phil: CHICAGO UNION ORGANIZING HAS PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN EVERYDAY LIFE, RANGING FROM LABOR DAY TO EIGHT HOUR WORKDAYS, BUT IT'S NOT ALL HISTORY WITH WORKERS AND A VARIETY OF FIELDS TRYING TO UNIONIZE AND CHANGE LABOR LAWS IN THE STATE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON THE LABOR MOVEMENT HERE IN CHICAGO ARE SECRETARY-TREASURER FOR THE CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR AND LENNY SANCHEZ, AN ORGANIZER WITH RIDESHARE AND DELIVERY DRIVER COALITION JUSTICE FOR WORKERS.

AS WELL AS JOSI, PRESIDENT OF PAINTERS LOCAL 184 DISTRICT COUNSEL 14.

WELCOME, GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

AND WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN LABOR ORGANIZERS, BOTH NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY.

DON, HOW HAS CHICAGO TRADITIONALLY BEEN A HOME FOR ORGANIZERS?

>> ALEX, YOU KNOW, CHICAGO, WE LIKE THE AMERICAN LABOR MOVEMENT.

1887 IN THE GREAT RAILROAD STRIKE, WHOEVER WAS IN CHICAGO, THEY GOT UP AND THEY FOUGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS.

IN 1886, WHEN WORKERS AT THE HAYMARKET, IN THEIR FIGHT FOR AN EIGHT HOUR DAY ON THE WEEKEND, THAT STARTED HERE IN CHICAGO.

AROUND THE WORLD, THEY CELEBRATE ON MAY DAY.

IT IS CELEBRATED HERE.

AND IN 1896 IN CULLMAN WHERE THE RAILWAY WORKERS STRIKE THERE, AND THAT LED TO WHY WE CELEBRATE LABOR DAY.

DAVID ADE IS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN CHICAGO, IN CULLMAN.

AND THE GREAT STREAK STRIKE.

AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY, CHICAGO AND WORKERS IN CHICAGO HAVE DONE A LOT IN THE WORKERS RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT TODAY.

WE ARE TRYING TO ENSHRINE THE RIGHT TO HAVE A UNION IN AN ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION.

>> Phil: DEFINITELY BIG HISTORY OF UNIONS HERE IN ILLINOIS, ESPECIALLY IN CHICAGO, AND AS WE KNOW, ILLINOIS IS SURROUNDED ALSO BY RIGHT TO WORK STATES, WHICH MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR EMPLOYEES TO UNIONIZE.

JOSI, HOW IS ILLINOIS DIFFERENT, AND YOU EXPECT ANY LEGAL CHANGES WHEN IT COMES TO ORGANIZED LABOR?

>> Jose: NO, AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE COURT OF THE GOVERNOR HERE AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHICAGO FED AND DON BEHIND US, WE WON'T HAVE ANY CHANGES, THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO CHANGE AND MAKE THAT CHANGE TO THE CONSTITUTION WITH WORKERS RIGHTS AMENDMENT THAT WILL GIVE YOU BARGAINING RIGHTS WHEN YOU GO, ALSO HELP YOU WITH YOUR SAFETY.

IF YOU SEE ANYTHING, YOU CAN SAY SOMETHING, THEY CAN'T MESS WITH YOU.

IF WE DON'T GET THAT CHANGE, THEN IT MIGHT BECOME A RIGHT TO WORK STATE, WE DON'T WANT THAT.

>> Phil: DEFINITELY.

>> Jose: A LITTLE BIT ON THE HISTORY OF CHICAGO, JUST SO YOU KNOW, FROM 1967 TO THE PRESENT, FROM THE HANCOCK TO THE SEARS, THE DRYWALLER'S AND THE DRYWALL FINISHERS WERE MEXICAN-AMERICAN MEN, JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW A LITTLE HISTORY.

WE BUILT THIS CITY FROM THE GROUND UP.

>> Phil: VERY INTERESTING, DEFINITELY.

LENNY, YOU WORK WITH INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGE EYES ?

>> Lenny: INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, IT'S A MAJOR HURDLE IN UNIONIZING.

AND WITH WORKERS THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON BEING UBER, DOORDASH, GRUBHUB, LYFT, ETC., THIS IS NOT YOURTRADITIONAL WORKFORCE THAT'S ALL FOUND UNDER ONE ROOF .

WE ARE SPREAD OUT ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND IT HAS AN INSANE TURNOVER RATE.

IT'S A RETENTION RATE OF FOUR PERCENT YEARLY IN THIS INDUSTRY.

SO, WITH THE FIGHTING BODY, THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH ORGANIZING EVERYBODY, BUT WE ARE DOING OUR ABSOLUTE BEST AND THIS COALITION IS A BIG STEP TOWARDS DOING THAT.

>> Phil: JOSI, YOU WORK WITH PAINTERS.HOW IS UNIONIZING WITH PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE TRADES DIFFERENT THAN LIKE THE EFFORTS AT PLACES LIKE STARBUCKS AND AMAZON?

>> Jose: STARBUCKS AND UBER, WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IS TRYING TO GET WHAT WE HAVE.

WHEN YOUJOIN A UNION , AFTER 300 HOURS, YOU GET INSURANCE, VISION, DENTAL, AND MEDICAL, AFTER 300 HOURS.

AND AFTER THREE YEARS, YOU MAKE CLOSE TO $90,000.

A YEAR.

THE GATE WORKERS, THEY ARE TRYING TO COME IN, THEY ARE TRYING TO GET INSURANCE, TRYING TO GET COVERAGE, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LABOR UNION AND A GATE UNION, AND HOPEFULLY, THE GATE WORKERS AND THE RIDESHARE WORKERS, AND STARBUCKS PEOPLE CAN COME AND JOIN IN AND GET MEDICAL INSURANCE, GET ATTENTION, AND GET WELFARE, YOU KNOW?

THAT'S THE MAIN THING.

>> Phil: THANK YOU.

LENNY, WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE HAVE YOU GOTTEN FROM LIKE LARGE RIDESHARE COMPANIES LIKE LYFT OR UBER?

HAVE YOU HAD ANY SUCCESS?

>> Lenny: VERY LITTLE.

THEY REALLY ARE ROBOTIC, COLD-BLOODED COMPANIES THAT DON'T CARE.

AND I TELL YOU THAT FROM EXPERIENCE, I HAVE HAD A PASSENGER PULL OUT A GUN ON ME, AND THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO NEVER PAIR ME WITH THAT PASSENGER EVER AGAIN.

ALL THE EXPERIENCES, SPEAKING WITH SO MANY DRIVERS AND VICTIMS OF ATTACKS, CARJACKINGS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE ONES WHO HAVE SURVIVED , THESE COMPANIES ARE AS ROBOTIC AND COLD-BLOODED AS IT GETS.

THE ONLY WAY WE WILL GET ANYWHERE IS IF WE ARE ALL UNIFIED AND GATHER FOR WHAT WE DESERVE.

>> Phil: DEFINITELY.

GOING BACK WITH YOU, DON, IN THE PAST, THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS TO DIVIDE WORKERS ALONG RACIAL LINES TO PREVENT UNIONIZING.

WHAT KIND OF TACTICS DO YOU SEE NOW WHEN COMPANIES FIGHT UNIONIZATION EFFORTS?

>> Don: TODAY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE SEEN, ESPECIALLY FOR A LOT OF OUR LATIN NEXT AND ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR, THERE WAS A REPORT THAT CAME OUT BACK IN APRIL THAT LATINO WORKERS HAVE A HIGHER RATE OF DEATH OR INJURY ON THE JOB, BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMIGRANT STATUS BECAUSE OF THEIR MINORITY STATUS.

SO, WORKER SAFETY IS AT RISK, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY PIT US AGAINST EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF OUR IMMIGRATION STATUS, BECAUSE OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, THAT'S BEEN THE HISTORY WORKERS HAVE BEEN PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER.

WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT TODAY.

AND WHAT LENNY WAS MENTIONING, OFTENTIMES, WORKERS, THE GATE WORKERS, THEY TEND TO BE WORKERS WHO ARE MARGINALIZED.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT STATUS, THEY BECOME VICTIMIZED.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE LABOR MOVEMENT, WE ARE ALWAYS FIGHTING, WE'RE FIGHTING FOR PEOPLE'S RIGHTS, WE ARE FIGHTING FOR WORKPLACE SAFETY, AND TO GIVE THEM A VOICE, AND TO FIGHT AGAINST THAT DISCRIMINATION, THAT MARGINALIZATION OF WORKERS.

THERE IS VALUE IN ALL WORK AND VALUE IN ALL WORKERS.

>> Phil: UNION MEMBERSHIP HAS DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY IN RECENT DECADES, DO YOU THINK THAT TREND WILL REVERSE?

I WILL GO BACK WITH YOU, LENNY FOR THIS LAST QUESTION.>> Lenny: 100 PERCENT.

FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, FROM TALKING TO DRIVERS FOR YEARS NOW, THE SUPPORT FOR UNIONIZATION IS VERY STRONG AND IS VERY POPULAR AND IS VERY COMMON AND AM VERY CONFIDENT HE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, THANK YOU LENNY SANCHEZ, JOSI, AND DON.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT RIGHT AFTER THIS.

[MUSIC] >> ONE OF THE OLDEST PARADES ON THE CITY'S SOUTHSIDE IS MARCHING ITS WAY DOWNTOWN.

THE BELOVED PARADE IS BEING CELEBRATED IN A FILM PROJECTED BENEATH THE STARS.

OUR CORRESPONDENT ANGEL RECENTLY TOOK US TO THE LOOP FOR THE STORY, AND HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> THE CHICAGO DEFENDER NEWSPAPER.

SELLING THE NEWSPAPER.

THE IDEA TO CELEBRATE.

TO GO DOWN THE STREET AND CELEBRATE.

THAT'S HOW WE HEARD OF THE PARADE IN 1929.

>> 93 YEARS LATER, THE BLOOD IS STILL MARCHING DOWN KING DRIVE, CELEBRATING ONE OF CHICAGO'S MOST INFLUENTIAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS.

>> WE ARE ABLE TO SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER, KIDS CAN COME TOGETHER IN A VERY POSITIVE AND PEACEFUL WAY.

>> THE PARADE MARCHES FROM 39TH TO 55TH ON KING DRIVE, RINGING TOGETHER BLACK CHICAGOANS THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD, AND FUN.

BUT THIS YEAR, THE PARADE IS ALSO TAKING OVER A PROMINENT DOWNTOWN BUILDING AND THE PROJECTION FILM.

IT FEATURES DANCERS FROM THE BRINGING OUT TALENT DANCE COMPANY.

>> WE DID GET SOME FOOTAGE LAST SUMMER, NOT EVEN KNOWING WE WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE IT, BUT JUST TO HAVE THE FOOTAGE ALREADY PREPARED AND READY, DEFINITELY EXCITING TO SEE IT.

>> Don: AS ONE OF MANY DANCE GROUPS TO PERFORM REGULARLY IN THE PARADE, SHKUNNA STEWART SAYS WATCHING THEMSELVES DOWNTOWN IS IMPORTANT.

>> PUSHES THEM TO WANT MORE AND DO MORE, SO WE ARE GOING TO HOPE THAT WHEN THEY SEE THIS AND THEIR FAMILIES SEE THIS AND THEY SEE THAT WE ARE DOING THINGS WITH THE KIDS THAT WE NORMALLY DON'T DO, IT'S GOING TO GET BIGGER.

>> BUT THAT EXPOSURE THE FILM PROVIDES ISN'T JUST FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ATTEND THE PARADE REGULARLY.

>> Shkunna: IT'S SO POWERFUL THAT BUD WILL BE DISPLAYED, BECAUSE IT GIVES PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN AND OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS GREAT EVENT THAT'S HUGE, BEYOND MEASURE.

BUT ALSO, THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN FEEL PROUD ABOUT THEIR TRADITION.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 93 YEARS.

SO, 93 YEARS AND MANY GENERATIONS GET A CHANCE TO SEE BUD DISPLAYED IN A WAY THAT IT'S NEVER BEEN DISPLAYED BEFORE.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, ANGEL.

[MUSIC] >> Phil: AND YOU CAN SEE ART ON THE MARKET EVERY NIGHT AT 9:00 AND 9:30.

BUT ACT FAST.

LAST DAY TO CATCH THE SHOW IS WEDNESDAY.

AND WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

[MUSIC] X CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE GYM AND KATE NAVY FAMILY, THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS: [MUSIC] >> Phil: AND THAT IS OUR CHAUFFEUR THIS MONDAY NIGHT, DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

AND PLEASE JOIN PARIS SCHUTZ AND BRANDIS FRIEDMAN TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00.

WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH SOME ARCHIVED FOOTAGE OF THE BUD PARADE.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM PHIL PONCE, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAPPY LABOR DAY.

GOOD NIGHT.

[MUSIC] >> REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD