FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2022
Contact: Juan Ramiro Sarmiento
(785) 760-6567 | JuanRamiro.sarmiento@younginvincibles.org
The Young Workers’ Bill of Rights
A Step Towards Economic Justice For Illinois’ Emerging Workforce
(Springfield, IL) – On January 27, 2022, State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-39), introduced The Young Workers Bill of Rights (YWBR) in the Illinois General Assembly. The legislation, House Resolution 639, secures support to establish baseline protections and rights across the state, as well as expand career development opportunities for young workers ages 18 to 34. For Young Invincibles in the Midwest region, the resolution represents a top legislative priority. In the context of an ongoing global pandemic and tenuous economic recovery, the need and urgency for robust young workers’ rights and accessible career opportunities cannot be overstated.
The Young Workers’ Bill of Rights calls for the rights of young workers to:
– a secure wage, a stable work schedule, employer contributions, workers’ compensation
– a pathway to consider unionization
– maintain their income and employment in the event of illness and life changes;
– afford safe, clean housing, food, transportation, and child care;
– equitable access to early career experiences
HR 639 also calls on Illinois leaders to expand the availability of youth apprenticeships in low-wealth communities.
Today, young workers in the labor workforce face a precarious landscape. Nearly 50 percent of the civilian workforce is comprised of young people ages 18 to 34 and those young workers are often employed in frontline, part-time, or low-wage jobs concentrated in industries with poor employment security, limited access to paid and sick leave, unreliable scheduling practices, and scarce career opportunities.
These grueling working conditions were only exacerbated by the overwhelming magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic with an acute, disparate impact on Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color. The combined effect of economic and systemic barriers produces an unsustainable environment with significant setbacks for our emerging workforce. For young workers, it means a lower quality of life: financial insecurity, high stress, and poor health outcomes.
What They’re Saying:
“In this pivotal moment, Illinois leaders must prioritize young workers and lay the groundwork for our states’ economic prosperity.
Young workers were facing grueling working conditions even before the pandemic. Median wages have declined or remained unchanged in the last decade in the industries employing young adults. 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. If we want a brighter economy tomorrow, we have to support our young workers today. The Young Workers’ Bill of Rights will be a policy north star for our state leaders in the years to come, and YI will stand by them every step of the way.
We urge the Illinois General Assembly to take action on behalf of young workers across our state and adopt The Young Workers’ Bill of Rights.”
– Lily Rocha, Midwest Regional Director, Young Invincibles.
“All workers deserve a stable job that provides them the income to meet their needs and the predictability to structure their lives,” said Rep. Guzzardi. “Young workers, unfortunately, are especially vulnerable to low wages, poor benefits, and fluctuating schedules. Our resolution will make it clear that Illinois believes in quality jobs for every young person in our state.”
– Representative Will Guzzardi (D-39), Illinois General Assembly
“Having a good job is having a reliable and steady income, schedule, and most importantly transparency between employees and employers…it’s hard to know whether you’ll be able to make the monthly phone bill or even the groceries for the next two weeks. Having a good job that’ll pay at least minimum aside from tips, would not only allow restaurant workers to carry a comfortable life but would provide security and allow others better opportunities.”
– Montserrat Cancino, Restaurant Service Industry
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