Manufacturing Industry News

It usually begins this way: “Do you know someone at the Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) that does X or Y?”
The question most often comes from a TMA member via inperson conversation, an email, text, or phone call, and the search to assist that small or midsize manufacturer commences.
An array of recommendations may be made to the TMA team members, taking on the challenge of finding what the TMA member is looking for as a place to start. If that doesn’t produce results, somebody may distribute the query through the TMA-SIG.
However, sufficient answers are usually found among TMA’s Associate and Affiliate members, or TMA’s Supplier Network, thanks to TMA’s knowledgeable and experienced staff, recommendations from fellow members, and/or information found in TMA’s online member directory.
TMA Associate members are businesses that offer services, equipment, machinery, or materials unique to companies that qualify as manufacturer members that are not normally performed by manufacturer members.
Affiliate members consist of companies providing services to manufacturer members by neither manufacturer nor Affiliate members.
Together, the Associates and Affiliates create TMA’s robust Supplier Network.
And why do suppliers join TMA? To find businesses that benefit from or need the services they can provide.
Everyone wins.
 More at ​https://tmanews.com/tmas-supplier-network-transforming-needs-and-ideas-into-solutions-and-actions/ 

​TMA’s Legislative Scorecard Shows 32 Lawmakers in the Illinois House and Senate Had Perfect Scores Voting for Legislation that Impacts Manufacturing
TMA Encouraged to See More Perfect Scores This Legislative Year Compared to Last
SCHAUMBURG, IL – In their  newly released 2023 Legislative Scorecard, the Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) reports 32 lawmakers in the Illinois House and Senate voted 100% in line with small and midsize manufacturers on 7 key pieces of legislation that impacts manufacturing.
In order to score perfectly, the lawmakers’ voting records showed they agreed with TMA’s positions on behalf of small and midsize manufacturers on key legislation 100% of the time during the 2023 Illinois legislative session. 

First-in-the-Midwest Submarine Manufacturing Program
Will Help Strengthen Our Country’s Submarine Industrial Base

SCHAUMBURG, IL – Not since the Cold War has the United States Navy seen such a significant demand for building new submarines. Supporting the Navy’s efforts to maintain our country’s strategic undersea advantage in an increasingly complex international security environment, BlueForge Alliance has engaged the Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) to launch a new manufacturing training programs to ensure the country has the workforce it needs to build a new generation of submarines.

​More at https://tmanews.com/tma-partners-with-blueforge-alliance-to-boost-us-submarine-fleet/ 

NEW ILLINOIS EMPLOYMENT LAWS for 2024

With the start of a new year, Illinois employers face some new state laws.
INCREASE IN STATE MINIMUM WAGE
Illinois has increased its minimum wage from $13.00 to $14.00 per hour statewide, including Cook County (except Chicago). The minimum wage for employees in Chicago is higher.

• For large Chicago businesses employing 21 or more workers, the minimum wage for employees is $15.80 per hour

• For smaller Chicago businesses employing between 4-20 workers, the minimum wage for employees is $15.00 per hour

Employers with less than 4 employees are required to comply with the State minimum wage, except for employers of domestic workers who are to be paid at $15.80 per hour. 
STATUTORY PAID LEAVE FOR ANY REASON 

More at https://tmanews.com/2024-illinois-employment-laws/ 

BY TMA HR PARTNER SESCO MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS –
Just over a month after passing the Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick Leave Ordinance (the Ordinance), which brought sweeping new paid leave and paid sick leave requirements to employers with Chicago employees, the city has amended the Ordinance to delay its effective date and limit the number of covered employees.

​More at https://tmanews.com/chicago-2023-paid-leave-delayed/tmanews.com/chicago-2023-paid-leave-delayed/

By Jeffrey A. Risch of Amundsen Davis
With the January 1, 2024, effective date of the Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act (IPLAWA) quickly approaching, employers need to ensure they are analyzing their existing paid leave policies to determine what changes need to be made before the end of 2023.

​More information at tmanews.com/tmaillinois-paidleave-2023effect/

Temp Workers to Receive Same Benefits as Full-Time Employees After 90 Days
​
SCHAUMBURG, IL – More than 70% of Illinois small and midsized manufacturers anticipate a negative impact from a new state law, according to a survey of Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) members.

​Read more at  https://tmanews.com/il-manufacturers-temp-workers/ 

The Technology & Manufacturing Association’s Human Resource provider, SESCO, offered a short, concise update of a decision made last week by the National Labor Relations Board which affects company/union relations.
New Framework for Union Representation Proceedings

• The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a decision in Cemex Construction Materials Pacific, LLC announcing a new framework for determining when employers are required to bargain with unions without a representation election. The Cemex decision alters what employers can say about their direct relationship with employees, bans mandatory employee meetings about unions, and revives the Joy Silk doctrine (see below). It will transform union recognition procedures substantially. 
  

More information at https://tmanews.com/nlrd-2023-union-labordecision/ 

SCHAUMBURG, IL – The Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) is calling on the Illinois General Assembly to return to session as soon as possible to clarify the state’s flawed Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) that threatens business operations and jobs in our state.

​More than 30 small and midsized manufacturers joined an online briefing recently where Illinois Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse Executive Director Phil Melin explained how the BIPA threat grows daily with inaction. Delaying a response to the Illinois Supreme Court’s request for the 2008 law’s clarification is raising serious concerns within the business community as more and more companies are finding themselves being hit with exorbitant legal fees.

​More at TMANews.com -