HR0639 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0639 LRB102 26022 MST 35450 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Eighteen to 34 year olds comprise 48 percent of our civilian labor workforce across the United States and are heavily employed in precarious industries, including retail, leisure, hospitality, and part-time work; and

WHEREAS, Seventy percent of young adults are living paycheck to paycheck; and

WHEREAS, During a recession, the unemployment rate for younger workers often rises faster and higher compared with other workers; and

WHEREAS, In the State of Illinois, employers are free to terminate workers at any time without providing a reason, preventing workers from accessing reliable employment and preventing workers from improving their workplaces; and

WHEREAS, Median wages have declined or have remained unchanged in the last decade in the industries employing young adults; and

WHEREAS, Workers at the 10th percentile saw only 3.3 percent cumulative growth in hourly wages between 1979 and 2019; meanwhile, workers at the 50th percentile saw 15.1 percent growth over that period, and workers at the 90th percentile saw a staggering 44.3 percent growth; and

WHEREAS, Not all employers offer paid family and sick leave, disproportionately impacting young adults and working families in Black and Latinx households; and

WHEREAS, Eighty-three percent of those workers who contracted COVID-19 reported they did not receive paid sick leave from their employer nor any government assistance, such as unemployment benefits; and

WHEREAS, Unstable, unpredictable, and rigid scheduling practices disproportionately affect low-wage workers, heavily skewed with working young adults, making it nearly impossible for them to balance work responsibilities and personal needs; and

WHEREAS, Unpredictable schedules are associated with financial insecurity, high stress, poor health outcomes, and less time spent with family; and

WHEREAS, Fluctuation in hours and compensation make it extremely difficult for young adults to earn enough money to live without going in debt; and

WHEREAS, Fifty-seven percent of those who remain in the Illinois restaurant industry say they are leaving due to unlivable wages; and

WHEREAS, Economic barriers, such as child care, transportation, safe housing, and food, impact young adults at a higher rate, creating difficulty in finding and obtaining a high quality job; and

WHEREAS, Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs are not representative of all demographics and communities in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, According to a 2020 report from the Illinois Department of Labor, only four percent of Illinois apprentices are women, and 29 percent are Black and Latinx; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that for young workers in Illinois to thrive in a recovering economy, we urge the Illinois General Assembly to adopt a Young Workers' Bill of Rights, which includes the rights to:

(1) Inherit an economy that provides them the security of a secure wage, a stable work schedule, employer contributions, worker's compensation, and a pathway to consider unionization regardless of their employment classification;

(2) Maintain their income and employment in the event of illness and life changes;

(3) Afford safe, clean housing, food, transportation, and child care; and

(4) Have exposure and access to early career experiences regardless of their socioeconomic background; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Illinois leaders to expand the availability of youth apprenticeships in low-wealth communities and develop regulations to ensure young adults in all industries receive monetary compensation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge policymakers to actively involve young workers and advocates in the policymaking processes that determine the economic prosperity of future generations.