SZALINSKI’S SUMMARY: The Illinois AFL-CIO, one of the state’s largest labor organizations, is holding off on making endorsements in the 2026 election citing “widespread frustration” with the legislative process and a need to evaluate which lawmakers are truly pro-labor. Many legislative priorities for labor unions failed to advance this spring.

“Over the past year, Illinois AFL-CIO affiliates and union members from across Illinois consistently voiced frustrations about the lack of progress around our core legislative priorities,” President Tim Drea said in a statement. “This past state legislative session was especially concerning, as Springfield not only failed to advance key priorities, but the process by which legislation was considered fell short of what working people deserve.”

THE PROBLEM: It was a tough spring session for labor unions as many legislative priorities stalled out, following a broader theme of the session.

Two bills on unemployment benefits failed to advance beyond House committees. House Bill 4416 by Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, would allow school employees like bus drivers and cafeteria workers to receive unemployment benefits during the offseason. House Bill 2565 would allow striking workers to qualify for unemployment benefits. Fiscal notes on both bills show they could be costly to the state.

Pension reform went nowhere, despite a push in recent years. Unions want to reform Tier 2 pensions to improve benefits, and many lawmakers agree. But they’ve struggled to agree on how to make that happen, and there was little discussion about the issue this spring. With lawmaker making other budget pressures a priority during the Trump administration, pensions might not be addressed soon.

A spokesperson for Senate President Don Harmon declined to comment while a spokesperson for House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch did not respond.

PRITZKER’S ISSUE: Unions chalked up a win with lawmakers when a majority of Democrats declined to pause tax incentives for data centers as requested by Gov. JB Pritzker. But it was short lived as Pritzker directed the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity just days after session to pause new data center tax credits beginning July 1.

A coalition of labor groups, which includes the AFL-CIO and its members, issued a statement calling Pritzker’s decision “shortsighted” and arguing “it will send billions of dollars in investment and thousands of union jobs to Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio — states that sit on the same electrical grid, where those data centers will be built anyway, just without Illinois workers protected by nationally leading labor standards.”

“Governor Pritzker remains committed to a strong partnership with organized labor,” a spokesperson for his campaign said in a statement, pointing to various pro-union measures like a higher minimum wage and workers’ rights amendment that have passed under Pritzker’s leadership. “Governor Pritzker looks forward to continuing that progress on behalf of Illinois workers.”

WHY IT MATTERS POLITICALLY: The union is a key voice in Democratic politics. The AFL-CIO’s endorsement can help a candidate turnout voters from a wide base of union members. Democrats often tout their support for unions on the campaign trail and even in legislative hearings. But Drea said the AFL-CIO is going to evaluate which lawmakers actually follow through on their pro-union rhetoric.

“We must be thoughtful about supporting candidates who do not just talk about labor priorities, but deliver real wins for working people,” Drea said.

If or when the union makes endorsements, which Democrats aren’t on their list will likely be more notable than which ones are.

WHY IT MATTERS LEGISLATIVELY: The AFL-CIO has a close relationship with Democrats in Springfield. Its office across from the capitol complex often hosts political meetings Democrats legally can’t hold at the Statehouse. And the union is one of the most visible under the dome.

The processes the majority-party Democrats use to move bills received a lot of attention this year, in part because many people followed every turn of the screw of Bears stadium talks. But the AFL-CIO’s frustrations add to the scrutiny.

The group has tried to make its own changes to the process. It announced last fall it was pulling out of the “agreed bill process” between labor, business groups and members of both parties that is often used to hash out complex legislative issues such as workers compensation. The process has generally remained in place, however.