The Illinois Manufacturers' Association in cooperation with Kensington International has launched a jobs board to help manufacturers obtain qualified job applicants. IMA Member companies are encouraged to list any job openings they may have at no charge on this exclusive site. By using their IMA member ID and the password - jobs-, most fields will automatically pre-populate with basic information. In addition, the jobs board has all manufacturing job titles described in the federal Dictionary of Occupational Titles already loaded. Administrative and office titles are also available. In recent years a growing number of IMA member companies have indicated a growing interest in the Association creating a jobs board. Creation of the site began last fall when Oak Brook based Kensington International and IMA's Director of Membership, Julie Starsiak, met and discussed how the two organizations could work together to benefit manufacturers. Kensington International is one of the largest and most successful talent management firms that provides Executive Search, Leadership Development and Outplacement services within key industry segments. Kensington International partners with its clients to assist them with their strategic talent needs in the areas of strategy, acquisition, assessment, development, engagement and transition. In addition to hosting the web site, Kensington International offers IMA member companies access to its full line of help in the area of Executive Search, outplacement services and more. Locate the link button on the right side of this page to begin your listing of current job openings. If you have questions, please contact the IMA's Jim Nelson, at 800-875-4462, ext. 3023.

IMA President & CEO Greg Baise appeared as a guest on the CNBC program Kudlow & Company to discuss efforts by some members of Congress to tax foreign income of U.S. companies. Baise pointed out the fallacy of such a policy noting that U.S. corporations are paying the second highest corporate tax rate in the world and that what American business needed more was a predictable and stable tax policy at the federal and state level. Click here to view the entire seven minute segment.

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Janice Christiansen, president of J.C. Schultz, The Flag Source in Batavia, Illinois, has been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA). Christiansen is the first woman to be elected chairman of the venerable 116-year old organization. She succeeds Ron Bullock of Bison Gear and Engineering of St. Charles, Illinois who chaired the IMA in 2008 and 2009.

"The election of Janice Christiansen to the chairmanship reflects the growing number of women who have ascended to head manufacturing companies across the U.S., " said Greg Baise, IMA president and CEO. "Janice is a testament to the tenacious battles women have fought to not only smash the glass ceiling that had prevented them from entering the top echelons of business, but to lead companies of all sizes and in all sectors with distinction."

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The IMA's Annual Holiday Report highlights employers' plans on select holidays throughout the year. This year's survey was conducted in August and September, 2009 and applied to the 2010 calendar year. Four questions were asked ranging from total number of paid days off to a breakdown of full or half day paid holidays, and on which days the member company is actually closed throughout the year.More than 300 IMA members responded. Contact Janie Stanley at jstanley@ima-net.org or 800.875.4462 x 3320 or Click here for the results.

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The IMA is proud to introduce a new partnership with Cennairus Insurance and InsureLinx to offer an innovative Pay-As-You-Go Workers' Compensation Insurance program for the benefit of Illinois manufacturers. Contact Mark Frech, Executive Vice President at 800-875-4462 x 3022 or mfrech@ima-net.org.

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Find out what other Illinois manufacturers are paying their employees. This year's report presents data for 186 manufacturing-related job titles. The data is reported statewide and by six Illinois labor markets and size of organization. We also list information on annual incentives used by manufacturers to retain valued employees and to improve the performance of others. Furthermore, we asked about plans employers had for salary increases in 2009 and their projections for 2010. Those results are summarized by employee category (i.e., hourly nonexempt, salaried nonexempt and salaried exempt). We're sure you will find the 2009-10 Compensation Report to be a valuable tool for determining fair and appropriate compensation levels for your business. Online access, print or both . . . order yours today. If you need additional information, contact Janie Stanley at 800-875-4462, ext. 3020 or email: jstanley@ima-net.org

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The Illinois Manufacturers' Association is among state business associations leading the fight against the so-called Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), legislation pending in Congress. The EFCA is the worst potential change in labor law in nearly a century. After spending $250 million to elect like-minded legislators, powerful union bosses now believe that they have a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to help reverse declining union membership. To learn more follow this link.

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Manufacturing remains a vital part of the Illinois economy and the need for high skilled workers continues. Experts say some 30,000 new manufacturing workers will be needed each year for the next ten years to replace the retiring baby-boomer generation. "Despite the current recession, we are facing a 'pipeline' crisis," says Ron Bullock, Chairman of the Illinois Manufacturers Association Board of Directors.

In response to this challenge, the IMA concluded an agreement on January 26, 2009 with the nationally recognized Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC). This agreement gives the IMA exclusive rights to distribute and take the lead in marketing the MSSC Certification System in Illinois. This agreement builds on a September 2008 IMA Board resolution that encourages its 4,000 members to take MSSC certificates into account in their recruitment and hiring processes.

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The Illinois Manufacturers' Association has created a new Manufacturers' Environmental Group (MEG) within the Association to help our ongoing efforts in the legislative and regulatory arena. To help navigate complex environmental issues at the Capitol and assist individual members address specific issues, the IMA has retained the services of an expert - Dave Kolaz - to coordinate our efforts to make sure that businesses are able to compete in the economy while working in an environmentally-friendly manner.

With our new Manufacturers' Environmental Group, the IMA will continue to be the leading voice on environmental issues for manufacturers at the State Capitol.

If you have inquiries about environmental issues, please feel free to contact IMA Vice President Mark Denzler at (217) 522-1240 ext. 3008 or contact Dave Kolaz directly at (217) 971-3357 or email him at dkolaz@ima-net.org.

Noting that the modern market is characterized by mobile capital and labor, a new state business tax climate report issued by the Tax Foundation ranks the tax climate of every state and highlights that many companies will locate where they have the greatest competitive advantage, particularly in the tax structure. Further, states with the best tax systems will be most competitive in attracting new businesses and be the most effective in generating economic and employment growth. Read about this and more in this week's Springfield Highlights.

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On the day following a rare Committee of the Whole hearing, House lawmakers voted unanimously against a non-binding resolution (HR 402) that asked legislators to indicate their support for a gross receipts tax. Not one legislator voted in support of the GRT while 107 lawmakers went on record in opposition. Prior to the vote on Thursday, May 10, members of the Illinois House debated the Governor's proposed $8 billion gross receipts tax for more than eight hours. The vote sends a strong message directly to the Governor, who appeared personally in an effort to bolster support for his lagging initiative. IMA president & CEO Greg Baise testified at the hearing about the potential job loss that would result from businesses closing or moving out-of-state. He noted that many companies have begun receiving letters from economic development teams in other states, including a recent letter from the Governor of Wisconsin. Baise noted that more than 200,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since 2000 — equivalent to Illinois losing a city larger than Rockford. During the question and answer period, Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) quoted extensively from a recent edition of the IMA's magazine, The Illinois Manufacturer, about the need to work together. The IMA will continue its leading efforts to fight against this unfair tax as the legislative session continues.

The IMA's president and CEO, Gregory W. Baise, has an important message for IMA members. Learn two ways you can become directly involved in helping defeat the Blagojevich Tax Plan. The video signals the beginning of a coordinated effort to combat the Governor's ill-advised business tax proposals. Join us in this fight today by clicking on the link below. Complete tax information can be obtained by clicking on the banner at the right.

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We have heard from many business leaders who want to help stop the Governor's $6 billion tax hike. It will be a long and expensive battle but there are two easy ways in which your company can join the fight to defeat this massive tax increase: (1) attend 2007 Business Day in Springfield and (2) join the Coalition for Jobs, Growth & Prosperity.

On May 2, hundreds of business leaders plan to meet in Springfield to let the Governor and legislators know that the GRT will cripple the Illinois economy. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. The day will consist of lunch, speakers, Capitol visits, and a gala reception. For more information, or to register, click on the link to the left or contact Kim McNamara at 630-368-5300 x2109 or via email at kmcnamara@ima-net.org.

In addition, the Coalition for Jobs, Growth & Prosperity, of which the IMA is a founding member, represents a joint effort by the business community to unify and speak with one voice to defeat this tax. It is a 501c4 organization that allows us to raise money and educate the public on this important issue. If you would like to add your name to the list of Coalition members, or contribute funds to help fund a media campaign, please email Mark Denzler today at mdenzler@ima-net.org.

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As expected, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has proposed a dramatic change in how businesses pay taxes in Illinois, a move that could raise more than $8.6 billion for health care, education and other new spending by implementing two new taxes.

Business groups, however, are emphasizing that the Blagojevich Tax Plan will result in higher prices.

"The governor's proposing the largest tax hike in history on the people of Illinois, period," said Greg Baise, president and chief executive of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association. "Nobody should be fooled, consumers will ultimately pay the tax." Click on the link below for a message from Greg Baise.

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In the most contentious clash between business and labor groups of the new Congress, the House yesterday passed legislation that would make it easier for workers to organize unions -- a measure that President Bush has promised to veto and that Senate Republican leaders have vowed to filibuster.

Continuing in the populist tone of its first 100 hours, the House's Democratic majority pushed through legislation to remove the right of employers to demand secret-ballot elections and to require employers to recognize unions once a majority of workers sign cards saying they want to organize.

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Illinois State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) last week reintroduced several civil justice reform proposals that may end up getting the short shrift in a less than friendly general assembly. The bills, part of the IMA's "Capitol Battle Plan," include measures addressing: Jury Reform, Expert Testimony, Asbestos Evidence, Joint and Several Liability, Class Action Reform, Consumer Fraud Act Amendment, Product Liability Reform, and Full and Fair Non-economic Damages Act.

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When her chief executive husband died and her brother-in-law left the family business in 1989, Janice M. Christiansen suddenly found herself leading a major flag manufacturer.

J.C. Schultz Enterprises Inc., parent company of Batavia-based FlagSource, was floundering in debt and Christiansen had to find a way to keep it afloat.

"I was thinking survival," she said. "We had a good name, despite the financial problems. So I went around and talked with all the vendors to see if they would work with me and they did."

Although she didn't become a lawyer as planned, Christiansen used her law education and experience in payroll to reorganize the company. She whittled the workforce from 90 to 60 and sought government and other contracts.

Then with the 1990 war with Iraq — Operation Desert Storm — and again with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, everyone wanted an American flag.

Business was thriving again.

Christiansen is among 2,500 women statewide to lead a small or mid-sized manufacturing company. In 2005, about 11 percent of all manufacturers in Illinois had women holding positions as CEO, chairman, chief operations officer or owner, according to Oak Brook-based Illinois Manufacturers' Association. Figures for earlier years aren't available, but industry executives agreed the number of women in top roles has been increasing.

Read the full story in our News area, under "About IMA."

IndustryWeek says the Democrats' takeover of Congress will certainly raise the level of attention to issues affecting manufacturing. Many Democrats (and a good number of Republicans) grounded their campaigns, at least in part, on the need to do more to protect our domestic manufacturing base and improve its operating environment.

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According to the latest Energy Market Briefing, metorologists are forecasting a cooler winter than last year, but warmer than average. Coupled with reports that electric reliability will be adequate, winter heat savings for companies taking advantage of IMA's Energy Program through Constellation NewEnergy could be significant. For the full Energy Market Briefing, click on the headline at the left.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has approved legislation that imposes a $1 per hour increase in the state's minimum wage with additional wage increases in each of the following three years. The IMA's president and CEO, Gregory Baise said, "State officials should be concentrating on repairing the competitive disadvantages in Illinois rather than making it more difficult to survive--especially for small businesses. The recent behavior of the General Assembly is especially disappointing since many of those who have professed to be pro-business continue to help chip away at our economic infrastructure even though employers continue to announce they are seeking greener economic pastures in neighboring states."

The Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP), a cooperative effort of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association and the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, supports Illinois workers' efforts to upgrade their skills to remain current in new technologies and business practices. These efforts enable companies to remain competitive, expand into new markets and introduce more efficient technologies into their operations. The ETIP grant program will reimburse companies for up to 50 percent of the cost of eligible employee training taken between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. Don't let competition get you down. Get back in the race by applying for grant funding today! For information, contact Janie Stanley, Revenue & Grant Administrator at (800) 875-4462 extension 3020, or jstanley@ima-net.org.

A recent article stated, "Manufacturers are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain or increase profits, as pressure on margins, rising costs of raw materials and global competition all threaten corporate financial performance goals. To meet these challenges, production in the manufacturing environment typically focuses on increasing productivity, reducing costs, . . ." The Illinois Manufacturers' Association can help through our Recycling Expansion and Modernization grant that covers 75% of the cost of a Solid Waste Assessment. With a nominal ($5,000 maximum) cash match, your company can learn how to reduce or eliminate solid waste streams while increasing efficiencies and saving thousands of dollars in raw materials, energy, tip fees, etc. For more information on this opportunity, please contact Mark Frech,Executive Vice President, at 217-522-1240 extension 3022 or mfrech@ima-net.org. Call today!

Find out what other Illinois manufacturers are paying their employees. This year's report presents data for 186 manufacturing-related job titles. The data is reported statewide and by six Illinois labor markets and size of organization. We also list information on annual incentives used by manufacturers to retain valued employees and to improve the performance of others. Furthermore, we asked about plans employers had for salary increases in 2008 and their projections for 2009. Those results are summarized by employee category (i.e., hourly nonexempt, salaried nonexempt and salaried exempt). We're sure you will find the 2008-0 Compensation Report to be a valuable tool for determining fair and appropriate compensation levels for your business. Online access, print or both . . . order yours today. If you need additional information, contact Janie Stanley at 800-875-4462, ext. 3020 or email: jstanley@ima-net.org _________________________________________

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This week's annoucement by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chartoff that the agency will begin a campaign to crackdown on employers who hire illegal aliens should remind everyone to review their employment practices. IMA's InfoServe has a new document addressing the current state of immigration laws affecting hiring of foreign workers. InfoServ (short for Information Services) is a free service that gives instant access to detailed information on a myriad of topics sharing one common focus: to strengthen the economic, social, environmental and governmental conditions for manufacturing and allied enterprises in Illinois, resulting in an enlarged business base and increased employment.

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Although there currently are no active instances of Avian Flu in the Western Hemisphere, the Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) wants you to know there are resources available for business planning purposes. Federal, state and local governments are taking time to plan for an outbreak, and you should too. Click the "more" link below for a list of Web sites that may be helpful in planning for the possibility of a Pandemic flu outbreak. If you know of other resources we haven't included, please let us know. Planning can save time now and (potentially) lives later.

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