Secretary-Treasurer John Coli, Jr. to Submit Resolution to Support Gaming Expansion at Illinois AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention
Teamsters Local 727 Secretary-Treasurer John Coli, Jr. will submit an official resolution in support of gaming expansion at the Illinois AFL-CIO’s 43rd Constitutional Convention today, Thursday, September 20th. The Constitutional Convention provides members of the Illinois labor movement the opportunity to discuss and establish the legislative and political agenda of the Illinois AFL-CIO for the next two years.
Secretary-Treasurer Coli’s resolution calls upon the Governor and AFL-CIO affiliate members to join together to pass legislation that will save and create jobs by expanding gaming facilities in Illinois.
“Illinois loses millions of dollars of gaming revenue every year to neighboring states,” asserts Coli. “By expanding gaming we can create an estimated 20,000 new jobs and generate much needed revenue for our communities.”
As a representative of Local 727 members employed by Arlington Park and Hawthorne racetrack, Secretary-Treasurer Coli has advocated for the expansion of gaming in Illinois for years. Most recently, he wrote letters to multiple state legislators arguing for the passage of legislation to allow gaming at Chicagoland racetracks.
“Legislation allowing Arlington Park, Hawthorne, and Fairmount Park racetracks to offer slot and table games would lead to the revitalization of an industry that has struggled to compete with tracks in two bordering states where these games have been present for some time,” wrote Coli. “In racetracks with union workers, the introduction of these games has meant not only more jobs, but better jobs with higher wages and benefits.”
To read the proposed resolution, click here.
Local 727 Secretary-Treasurer John Coli, Jr. has served as the sole Teamster labor leader on the Illinois AFL-CIO Executive Board for more than a year.
Nothing in this article should be read as the union’s waiver of any legal argument, position or additional grievance. The union does not forfeit its right to make any and all supplemental arguments.
Category: Union News
