Who is financially supporting, opposing the Workers' Rights Amendment in Illinois?

Illinois' Amendment 1 has attracted millions of dollars into campaigns both for and against it with two weeks to go before Election Day.

Commonly known as the Workers' Rights Amendment, the ballot issue would codify workers' right to organize into the Illinois Constitution's Bill of Rights and further enshrine the right to collective bargaining for "negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work."

Now in campaign crunch time, the amendment's primary backer, Vote Yes for Workers Rights Amendment, and detractor, Vote No on Amendment 1, have been and continue to receive contributions following the end of the July-September campaign finance quarter.

Recent:Top of the Illinois ballot: What to know about the Workers' Rights Amendment

Contributions to the VYWRA far exceeded those sent to Vote No by a ratio of nearly 6 to 1 that quarter, a similar margin now commonplace in statewide races enjoyed by the Democrats.

When taking a look at the historical context, where right-to-work advocates have funneled even more millions into efforts to reduce union power, Northern Illinois University history professor Rosemary Feurer said the funding by labor unions to support Amendment 1 was not a surprise.

Having a constitutional amendment could prevent blows to union strength seen in surrounding states such as Indiana and Wisconsin, she said.

A looming U.S. Supreme Court case that could allow companies to sue union members for the economic consequences of strikes has motivated union organizations to spend major money to see this measure pass.

"My understanding is that this campaign is meant to say 'We're going to do something that makes it impossible to wage those campaigns in the future,'" she said in a Tuesday interview. "You are not going to be able to easily get a legislator to agree with you that we are going to restrict workers' rights tomorrow."

Who is contributing to Vote Yes for Workers Rights?

A selection of union organizations helped the VYWRA campaign rack up $5.8 million in contributions, according to its quarterly report filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Combining for more than $3 million, three organizations — UA of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipefitting Industry, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, and the Great Lakes Region Organizing Committee — led the way in contributions during the quarter.

While more than $2 million of the contributions and nearly $105,000 in transfers came from out of state, several local groups such as the Illinois Pipe Trades PEF and the Springfield and Central IL Trades and Labor Council have also financially supported the campaign.

VYWRA could afford to have more expenditures than contributions since it had $2.8 million in reserves to begin the quarter. Most of its $6.4 million in expenditures went toward production of its television commercials produced by Adelstein and Associates LLC of Chicago.

Receiving nearly $5 million from VYWRA, he same company also received funding from Springfield Democratic state Sen. Doris Turner's campaign last quarter.

The Springfield and Central IL Trades and Labor Council is also one of multiple contributions in the new quarter, which has seen more than $225,000 go toward the campaign this month alone.

Who is supporting the Vote No campaign?

Unlike VYWRA, Vote No on Amendment 1 had only one contributor in its latest campaign finance quarterly filing. Conservative megadonor Richard Uihlein is that sole contributor. He has played a funding role in several statewide campaigns including that of Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey.

In the last quarterly report filed by Vote No, the Uline Industries CEO was the sole contributor with $1 million in early September. Having spent less than $340,000 in expenditures mostly on printing and website costs, the campaign had $662,567 in available funds at the end of the quarter.

Last week, Uihlein sent the campaign another $1 million just two days after sending $2 million to Bailey. An opponent of the amendment, Bailey said during the first debate earlier this month that unions should "stay in their lane" and passage of the amendment would ensure higher property taxes.

There have also been two contributions from an individual and organization in Peoria combining for $2,000.

For the amendment to pass, 60% of those voting on the issue or a simple majority of those voting in the election would have to vote "yes." Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. The amendment is at the top of the ballot.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Workers' Rights Amendment IL: Who's giving money to support, oppose it?