[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 3, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6820-S6821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MIKE CARRIGAN

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, nearly one-quarter of Illinois' 
workforce will see the benefit of a $15 an our minimum wage by 2025. 
Also, the State of Illinois is about to embark on a massive $45 billion 
infrastructure modernization and construction plan. Simply put, these 
are life-changing achievements. And behind both is Michael Carrigan.
  Since 2010, Mike Carrigan has served as the president of the Illinois 
AFL-CIO, fighting for working families across the State. At the end of 
the year, Mike is retiring from his decades' long service to Illinois' 
labor unions and its nearly 900,000 members.
  In the fall of 2011, Mike was my guest for then-President Obama's 
joint session of Congress focusing on the economy. Mike had been an 
authority on creating jobs and putting people back to work for years so 
the invitation made perfect sense. And Mike was there to applaud a 
President he had worked hard to elect.
  Michael Carrigan was born in Kankakee, IL, and grew up in Kankakee 
County. After graduating from MacMurray College in Jacksonville and 
completing a 4-year apprenticeship in Decatur, he became a journeyman 
electrician. Mike installed wiring at construction sites for everything 
from nuclear powerplants to fast-food restaurants. Later, he became the 
business manager and financial secretary for the International 
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 146 in Decatur.
  In 1995, Mike ran for the city council in Decatur and won. Four years 
later, Margaret Blackshere chose Mike to be her running mate in an 
historic bid for the leadership of the Illinois AFL-CIO. Margaret was 
the first woman to serve as president of the labor organization, and 
they were the right people for the jobs at the right time. Under the 
leadership of Margaret and Mike, the AFL-CIO led the fight to raise the 
State's minimum wage multiple times, developed infrastructure plans, 
and strengthened labor union membership in Illinois. They brought 
together diverse groups and built coalitions to improve the lives of 
working families in Illinois, from infrastructure to healthcare.
  When Margaret stepped away from her post in 2007, Mike seamlessly 
continued the hard work of leading Illinois AFL-CIO. In 2008, the mayor 
of Decatur resigned abruptly, and the city council picked Mike to 
finish the term. Like his work in labor, Mike took to his temporary 
role with enthusiasm. He served for 10 months, providing steady 
leadership, before returning full time to the AFL-CIO.
  In 2015, a newly elected Republican Governor purposely chose Mike's 
hometown of Decatur to launch a campaign to break Illinois unions with 
right to work laws. Mike Carrigan did not back away. Mike fought then-
Governor Rauner's efforts to weaken workers' rights in every corner of 
our State. From courtrooms to the picket line, Mike took the fight to 
Rauner. In 2018, the voters of Illinois retired Bruce Rauner. Within 6 
months, Mike had worked behind the scenes to ensure that State workers 
had a new contract under our new Governor, J.B. Pritzker.
  After 20 years of service to the Illinois AFL-CIO, Mike is retiring. 
Thanks to his hard work and dedication, the outlook for Illinois labor 
is bright.
  Even in retirement, I know Mike will keep busy and will only be a 
phone call

[[Page S6821]]

away. I look forward to catching another Illini/Mizzou Braggin' Rights 
basketball game with Mike. And his holiday dinner is a favorite of the 
season for my wife, Loretta, and me.
  I am excited to see what Mike does next and I am proud to call him a 
friend.
  (At the request of Mr. Schumer, the following statement was ordered 
to be printed in the Record).

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