Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed House Bill 3940 into law, ensuring that automobile technicians at dealerships are paid fairly for their skilled labor.
Currently, technicians who work for car dealerships that provide warranty repairs are not paid fairly, Pritzker said, adding that all work deserves
fair compensation. This legislation ensures that technicians are paid for the actual time and labor it takes to repair vehicles that are under warranty.
"Technicians are receiving unjust pay for their hard work and expertise from manufacturers who are taking full advantage of them," said State Senator Christopher Belt. "This is really a David and Goliath story. Technicians, especially in smaller shops, have little recourse if a major auto manufacturer decides to pay them poorly."
This bill ensures technicians are compensated at the same rate regardless of whether the vehicle is under warranty, and it is a win for workers, consumers, and local business owners, said Tim Drea, president of the
Illinois AFL-CIO.
The IAM Mechanics Union Local 701, Illinois State AFL-CIO, and the Chicago Federation of Labor championed the cause.
"We're pleased and thankful to the state legislature and the governor for proactively addressing a real issue that negatively impacted our Illinois dealerships and the technicians working in our industry," said Sam Cicinelli, directing business representative,
IAM Mechanics Union Local 701.
David Sloan, president of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, added that this new law will "go a long way" in solving the technician shortage at franchised dealerships.
House Bill 3940 will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2022.
