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Schakowsky backs striking workers at Juno Lighting Group in Des Plaines

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky on Friday added her support to striking workers outside Juno Lighting Group in Des Plaines.

The Evanston Democrat spoke to a group of some 40 employees walking the picket lines Friday afternoon outside company headquarters at 1300 S. Wolf Road.

"I'm very, very proud of you for fighting back. It is the union movement that built the middle class. That is why they are trying to destroy our unions - because they want to take all the money," Schakowsky said. "We hope ... that this company, which has plenty of money, is going to give you a good contract."

Officials with the Chicago & Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United, the employees' union, say about 380 people from the 400-person workforce walked off the job Wednesday after rejecting terms of a tentative deal.

Company officials have said they believe the contract was fair and negotiated in good faith. They say the agreement also calls for life insurance and short-term disability benefits, and no increases to health insurance deductibles or out of pocket expenses - but some increases to premiums.

Carlos Ginard, a union spokesman, said Juno officials offered a 30-cent per hour raise in the first year of a proposed three-year contract, but says that raise would be offset by the hike in health insurance premiums.

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