Rauner’s political assault defeats fair arbitration bill
By slim margin, House fails to override veto after unprecedented threats to legislators
Following an intense barrage of false claims about the fair arbitration bill by the Rauner Administration, naked threats of political retaliation by the Republican leadership and paid attacks by right-wing super-PACs, the Illinois House of Representatives today fell three votes shy of the 71 needed to override the governor’s veto and enact Senate Bill 1229.
Although the bill did nothing more than extend to child protection workers, nurses, caregivers, emergency responders and other state employees the same independent arbitration process provided to police, fire and other public safety personnel in Illinois for more than 30 years, the Rauner Administration justified its veto with an array of false claims about the bill’s provisions, constitutionality and potential cost, as well as unsubstantiated ad hominem attacks on the independence and fair-mindedness of arbitration professionals.
Multi-million-dollar super PACs allied with the governor — including Turnaround Illinois and the Koch Brothers-funded Americans For Prosperity — flooded legislative districts with robocalls and attack ads that repeated many of the same false claims, confusing voters about the bill’s true intent.
In reality, public service workers and their unions supported SB 1229 to help avert the potential conflict, hardship and disruption of a statewide strike or lockout by offering arbitration as an alternative means of resolving contract disputes between state employees’ unions and the Rauner Administration if ongoing negotiations fail to produce agreements.
Finally today, House Republican leadership publicly threatened rank-and-file lawmakers with political retaliation if they voted to enact the bill–a threat that longtime statehouse watchers called unprecedented in its brazenness.
“The governor’s ferocious and false attacks on this moderate and responsible bill clearly show he wants conflict, not compromise,” Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan said. “The governor’s assault on this bill may have won the day but poisoned the well for legislators of both parties who want to work together responsibly to solve problems and serve the people of Illinois. It is clear that Governor Rauner will stop at nothing to carry out his scorched-earth agenda against working people, their rights and well-being.”
“Day in and day out, public service workers in state government keep us safe, care for veterans, protect kids and much more,” said Roberta Lynch, executive director of the largest union of state employees, AFSCME Council 31. “State employees don’t want to be forced out on strike, but we’re determined not to let Governor Rauner undercut workers’ rights, jeopardize workplace safety or threaten the economic security of working families.”
As a candidate, Governor Rauner repeatedly vowed to “take a strike and shut down state government for a few weeks” in order to force workers to accept his extreme demands. More recently, the governor has made stripping the rights of workers to bargain collectively a precondition of enacting a state budget. And in a possible signal that he is preparing to provoke a work stoppage, the Rauner Administration has solicited retirees to serve as strike breakers and reportedly considered mobilizing the National Guard.
The governor’s assault on the arbitration provisions of SB 1229 has now derailed the best hope of amicably settling union contracts that are fair to all.
“The Illinois labor movement will remain united,” Carrigan said. “Even though today’s outcome is deeply disappointing, we appreciate that the vast majority of legislators stood with working people and did the right thing. Our fight to protect the middle class from the governor’s extreme agenda is only just beginning.”
Following is the statement of SEIU Healthcare Illinois President Keith Kelleher following the House veto override vote Wednesday on Senate Bill 1229.
“Rauner Inc. spent a lot of time and effort mischaracterizing this legislation, which would have prevented damaging service disruptions forced by the bargaining approach Rauner has chosen, specifically in hopes that no deal will be reached. Yet despite Rauner’s threatening and bullying of both Democrats and his fellow Republicans in unprecedented ways - leveraging limitless money and every last ounce of his political capital - a strong majority still voted to in favor of these common sense reforms.”
“Now that this fight is over, we hope that Bruce Rauner heeds the advice of Gov. Jim Edgar and other Republicans to abandon his “my-way-or-the-highway” approach and come together with legislative leaders to fashion a budget that benefits all Illinoisans-not merely a political document that punishes his enemies and satisfies his extreme ideology.”
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 7:45 am:
Look, I get it. Union members don’t want to strike and unions can’t afford to finance one. I don’t believe Rauner wants a strike either. Politically, it would be too damaging to him and Republicans in general. It’s just not good for anyone. However, interest arbitration is just not good public policy right now. Arbitrators have said consistently that breakthroughs in collective bargaining agreements are to be achieved at the bargaining table - not through arbitration. Clearly, the state needs to do some things differently - it needs some break throughs in the contract to right the ship. If this bill had passed, the unions could have prevented that by declaring an impasse and sending things to an arbitrator. Then, no break throughs - only minimal or incremental changes.
I hope that the parties get to the table and work something out. Maybe both can put away their rhetoric machines and move forward?
- A Jack - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 7:46 am:
Work slowdowns worked pretty well out on the west coast. Perhaps AFSCME should be talking about how it would implement such a strategy if an agreement isn’t reached by October 1. As usual, it’s up to labor to find a solution. But we have been doing this for over 100 years against stronger adversaries than the current group.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 7:55 am:
It will truly be interesting when this contract is settles, whenever that might be. Once the dust settles and the budget is back in focus, we all will find out that it is not the state employees who have created a massive crater in the state’s finances. But then, who will there be to pick on?
- illinoised - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:00 am:
Robocalls determine what happens in the GA. Therein lies the problem.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:02 am:
No sympathy for Labor.
Elections have consequences, and when you try an end-around, you better make sure you score.
Rauner doesn’t fear you. That’s on you. Labor still refuses to speak with one voice when discussing this Administration, that’s on Labor too.
To the members, I wish you the best. Good luck. I wish I had better news, but right now is probably as good as its going to get.
To the Labor Movement, cutting off your nose to spite your face isn’t a political strategy. Sleep well knowing Pat Quinn is gone.
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:03 am:
“P.S. But we sure taught that Pat Quinn a lesson, huh?”
– MrJM
- Amazing - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:04 am:
Organized labor? Like organized crime? Not really organized at all.
- A Jack - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:11 am:
I didn’t vote for Quinn, but do we really know that things would be that much different if he was reelected? He certainly raised health care costs also and tried to stop pay raises for some employees and even the GA.
No labor is going to have to go it alone, like always. At least we have a majority of allies in the GA. So let’s stop moaning about what could have been and look to where we are trying to go.
- Politix - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:15 am:
Wonder what AFSCME’s Plan B is. Oh wait…its AFSCME. There is no Plan B.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:17 am:
This shows that republicans will never do more than pay lip service to labor. When your backs are to the wall, your republican friends will be nowhere to be seen.
- Pete - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:19 am:
Compromise is less desirable than collaboration.
I think the Governor wants collaboration over conflict.
Arbitration does not promote collaboration. All it does is squash the process for immediate resolution.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:20 am:
- Pete -
Rauner wants to end collective bargaining.
That ain’t being collaborative
- Aldyth - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:24 am:
I will state, as I have many times before, why would anyone in their right mind even consider going to work for the State of Illinois?
What are the long term consequences of having to settle for new state employees who come on board because they can’t get anything better?
- Wondering - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:26 am:
Rainer wants to end some aspects of collective bargaining. Let’s be fair…
- One of Three Puppets - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:28 am:
I love how groups that never would support Edgar use his statements to make their case now. Goofy.
- Very fed up - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:28 am:
Labor brought this on themselves. Should of gone all out to find a stronger nominee than Pat Quinn. Especially when it was clear Rauner would be GOP nominee
- Slick Willy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:28 am:
- Aldyth -
I am sure there are a lot of resumes being updated this morning.
- Cassidy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:30 am:
Take the teamster deal and move on.
- AC - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:31 am:
Aldyth, haven’t you heard, consulting is the new patronage. Your question assumes there is a desire for state government to function in its current form. Hint: the goal is just the opposite.
- RetiredStateEmployee - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:31 am:
Why no outrage about all of the GOP votes being controlled by one individual? Not one GOP voted representing their constituents. I am sure that if the veto would have been overridden, we would have heard it’s all MJM’s fault.
- Slick Willy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:31 am:
- VFU -
Are you arguing that labor chose Quinn as the Democrats candidate to run against Rauner? Get another cup of coffee.
- pundent - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:33 am:
==I think the Governor wants collaboration over conflict.== This is the governor who proclaimed crisis creates leverage. Where in that statement do you see a man that’s interested in collaboration? If collaboration was his goal he would be explicit about what he meant by “structural reforms”. His goal is unchanged and unwavering. He wants to end collective bargaining by any means necessary.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:34 am:
- Cassidy -
Do you even KNOW the parameters of the Teamsters’ deal and if it even matches what is being bargained with AFSCME. You don’t, I’ll help you.
Has Rauner offered the Teamsters’ deal? Why not? Why can’t Rauner?
Geez Louise…
- Arizona Bob - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:35 am:
@Aldyth
=I will state, as I have many times before, why would anyone in their right mind even consider going to work for the State of Illinois?=
Because those jobs are far better than the private sector jobs available for the employee’s skill set and mentality. Aggressive, accountable and ambitious people are less likely to look for non-political public jobs. Every job opening causes a FLOOD of applications from these kinds of folks. I doubt the quality of candidate has changed much. Despite CPS paying about $15K above state average for teachers, they STILL only have teachers whose average ACT is only 19 while 21 is the average for state students. They still keep laying off smart, effective new teachers every year because of antiquated and counter productive tenure and seniority rules.
There’s STILL a lot less chance of pay CUTS and increased benefit contributions in state and local government than the private sector, and the pension and retirement health plans can’t be beat.
=What are the long term consequences of having to settle for new state employees who come on board because they can’t get anything better?=
If they COULD get better jobs they could handle, they would’ve taken them. One exception here is IDOT engineers. They’re prohibited from working in better jobs for engineering firms doing work for IDOT. When you have to do that for professionals to keep them working for you, you have a problem….
- Strangerthings - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:36 am:
Really? Is it really that unprecedented? I think you exaggerate in the extreme. I am willin to bet I could find some moments in Illinois history that prove it’s not that shockingly unprecedented. Disappointing yeah. But not unprecedented. And I say that meaning it has been done by both sides of the aisle.
- Cassandra - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:39 am:
I see that Mayor Rahm has finally said it–he wants to raise property taxes in Chicago. Chicagoans will be paying more.
Let’s hope the state negotiators keep this in mind as they seek to decide how much more state taxpayers will be paying in state bureaucracy personnel costs when labor negotiations, about to begin again, are finished.
- AC - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:41 am:
Arizona Bob, if revolving door rules only applied to IDOT engineers, a lot of purchasing, procurement and IT folks would rest easier knowing that they could find employment elsewhere without waiting a year.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:42 am:
You would think that AFSCME and SEIU would be even slightly conciliatory after their ugly power grabbing end around the Executive Branch of Government yesterday. Their attempt at changing the rules midstream should have been nearly unanimously rejected.
I repeat: Time for everyone to put their Big Boy Pants on and negotiate. That includes remaining labor contracts and a balanced budget that serves the Citizens of Illinois, and not those who have paralyzed government since the election last November.
Everyone.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:45 am:
===You would think that AFSCME and SEIU would be even slightly conciliatory…===
Rauner would love the kissing of the ring, lol.
===Their attempt at changing the rules midstream should have been nearly unanimously rejected.===
You sure, nearly unanimous? It still got 68 votes.
Look, - Louis G Atsaves -, your guy won, if you still have to be a shill after a win, what does that say?
- anon - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:45 am:
It’s time for the Democrats to approve a balanced budget that includes a surcharge on millionaires to cover the shortfall and then sent it to the governor. He wants a balanced budget, give him one. It’s simple. If he vetoes it, then we can see which Dems side with the 1 percenters over everyone else.
- jknell - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:53 am:
Louis G. Atsaves… is this what you had in mind?
Rauner to ASFME - go die.
ASFME - Yes sir!
- Demoralized - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:53 am:
==Because those jobs are far better than the private sector jobs available for the employee’s skill set and mentality.==
Are you saying that public sector workers are somehow less intelligent and have less skills than those working in the private sector? Please tell me you aren’t being that ridiculous. I’m guessing you are but I can hope.
- Almost the Weekend - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:55 am:
I’m going to guess that AFSCME members wore their union t-shirts to work today to send Rauner a message. That’s a bold move Cotton, let’s see if it pays off.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:56 am:
Labor’s “good faith” bargaining strategy, of going behind the back of the guy across the table to strip his power, failed. Perhaps now they’ll actually try to live up to real, actual “good faith” bargaining.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 8:59 am:
== that includes a surcharge on millionaires==
Are you new here,just trolling, or have yo never read the Constitution to realize what implementing that “millionaires tax” would require (both in time til effectiveness and votes needed)?
- CB - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:01 am:
==Labor’s “good faith” bargaining strategy, of going behind the back of the guy across the table to strip his power, failed. Perhaps now they’ll actually try to live up to real, actual “good faith” bargaining.==
Well said Anon.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:03 am:
I hate to tell you all but there hasn’t been much “good faith” negotiating going on by either side.
- Time for reality - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:03 am:
After 28 years of democrat/Madigan’s “I can spend whatever I want” approach, we are where we are. Adrift in a sea of red ink, with programs abd grants we can’t afford. Had the Democrat controlled legislature made changes years ago, it would be far less painful. But Democrats love to spend. So, now it’s time for reality. It’s gonna take some pain to drain the red ink, shrink the expensive programs, cut the grants & raise some revenue. But that is the reality. The bills have come due. The Democrat spending spree is over. Deal with it.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:06 am:
==After 28 years ==
I can think of a few Republican Governor’s during that period of time who might have had a little skin in the game also. Reality really isn’t really an appropriate moniker for you.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:10 am:
- Time for reality -,
We’re not on your lawn.
You do realize how silly you sound, don’t you?
===After 28 years of democrat/Madigan…===
Thompson, Edgar, Ryan, President Phillip, Speaker Daniels…
Then in 1995, Republicans controlled all of Illinois state government, that was 20 years ago.
Kinda blows your ridiculous rant out of the water, doesn’t it?
Don’t hyperventilate breathing so heavily out if your mouth…
- ? - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:16 am:
State government is almost entirely entirely unionized. Where else can you with only a HS education and your seniority get you 100K plus position.
- Austin Blvd - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:16 am:
Where were Pritchard, Leitch, Stewart and Winger?
Everyone wants to cast stones at Dunkin, but these heroes should have been at work too. Why weren’t they in Springfield? Is it OK for them to be gone because they are in the minority Republican Party?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:19 am:
- ? -
What so you base your rant on?
Be very specific
- Demoralized - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:22 am:
==Where else can you with only a HS education and your seniority get you 100K plus position.==
Microsoft.
- jknell - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:25 am:
Time for Reality… is the Republicans who have refused to raise the lowest state income tax in the region for 15 years. Spewing GOP talk radio points just makes me more angry and motivated.
- jknell - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:26 am:
==Where else can you with only a HS education and your seniority get you 100K plus position.==
UPS
Costco
- RD55 - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:29 am:
==Where else can you with only a HS education and your seniority get you 100K plus position.==
Heavy equipment operator, $150k if you are willing to travel.
- OneMan - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:32 am:
- Honeybear - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:33 am:
The only question for public servants now is, “how will you go down”? You will be replaced. High level meetings (that I personally know about) have been going on for months. We are in phase one and two of
1)Starve it
2)Break it
3)Replace it
Will you help them replace you? Will you place a part in your own oppression? Or when the vote comes will you fight? Either way you will need to get a new job. You will not make as much. You will not have protection. The days of a secure job and good pay are over. That died 9/2/15. Wake up brothers and sisters. It’s on
- chiagr - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:34 am:
Rauner has been on a crusade to take away Unions Collective bargaining rights-so I don’t know how that is considered negotiating ??? Now Rauner will have to put HIS Big Boy Pants on and change the Income tax structure in Illinois! The flat tax is outdated-time for a tax structure based on income levels!
- Mason born - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:35 am:
-?-
Oh yes the State Workers are all just overpaid hamburger flippers. Let me guess fire them all and the nearest McDonald’s will supply replacements. The only requirement is a pulse correct?
You know it might behoove you to learn about the duties of the people you throw under the bus. I would bet you’d find yourself unqualified for most of those jobs but hey they’re all hs losers right.
- X-prof - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:35 am:
- ? -
Governor of Wisconsin and US presidential candidate. - ? -
- Cassandra - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:36 am:
And those same Democrats have been working tirelessly on behalf of the middle and working classes, witness their intensive efforts to make
the income tax progressive and shift more of the tax burden to the rich, who have profited so greatly from recent economic events in the US. Yup.
- Bluegrass Boy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:44 am:
I miss Judy Baar Topinka more than ever. Always brutally honest but fair.
- Time for reality - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:49 am:
There were Republican governors under Madigan’s 28 year reign. But everybody knows who ran the state up to now, and that was Madigan and his democrat super majority. Funny how some people want to ignore that reality.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:52 am:
==their intensive efforts to make
the income tax progressive and shift more of the tax burden to the rich==
They were in complete power to do those things for over a decade in Illinois, yet they didn’t do any of those things.
- RNUG - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:52 am:
== Take the teamster deal and move on. ==
According to reports, that wasn’t on the table. Plus the health insurance portion of the Teamster deal wouldn’t even apply to AFSCME since AFSCME doesn’t have a health insurance program for their members.
- nixit71 - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:54 am:
On the plus side, it looks like Illinois gained a new business: Rauner Inc. Maybe the business climate isn’t so toxic after all.
- Time for reality - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:56 am:
Without Rauner, we could raise the income tax to 10% and Democrats would simply spend the extra revenue. We need cuts and revenue. Extra revenue without cuts just equals more spending.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:59 am:
===Without Rauner, we could raise the income tax to 10% and Democrats would simply spend the extra revenue. We need cuts and revenue. Extra revenue without cuts just equals more spending.===
Based on what? LOL
===But everybody knows who ran the state up to now, and that was Madigan and his democrat super majority===
LOL, except when Pate and Lee both had the gavel…
Take your meds, don’t hyperventilate. Take a nap. Read a book, garden. Fish, go for a stroll.
You are clueless, and I’m being nice.
- RNUG - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:59 am:
== Where else can you with only a HS education and your seniority get you 100K plus position. ==
You don’t get that walking in the door with a high school diploma. You might get that after many, many years of working your way up … which usually includes various classes / continuing education.
Heck, some of the positions even require up to a year and a half of specialized training before you are allowed to do your job without very close review / supervision.
- One of Three Puppets - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 10:00 am:
Working tirelessly to make that progressive tax an advisory question and not actual law. Boy do the dems really make it happen around here for the working man.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 10:06 am:
@Oswego Willy, “kiss his ring?” Who said that? Not me. I thought the union responses should have been more conciliatory. I didn’t ask for any union cave in or humiliation.
I know you are bitterly disappointed that 71 turned into 68, but please stop putting words in my mouth.
- zonz - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 10:14 am:
BTW, Smiddy shoulda USED the opportunity of Durkin’s aggressive questioning.
Smiddy did a terrible job.
- Kodachrome - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 10:14 am:
Az Bob - Low skill level workers in state government absolutely get better wages and benefits than they ever would in the private sector. Why? Steps and COLA raises every single year, a fixed pension benefit, significant vacation and holiday time, and very good health/STD/LTD benefits. Some are very deserving and work hard to do a good job for the people of this state; others are lazy sacks, but the union (and various lawmakers) does not differentiate who they will protect - they protect everyone, even those who don’t deserve it. Higher skilled workers do NOT do as well as they would in the private sector in wages, and their steps and COLAs don’t even approach the potential they have for raises and bonuses in the private sector. Unless of course they are well connected wsith legislators, in which case quite often they are low skilled workers in positions requiring higher skills. Which is a good chunk of the problem in this state - unqualified workers in higher level jobs. Anyone who tries to lump state workers together as one homogenous group is not paying attention.
RNUG, I am not saying it is a bad thing, but lower skilled workers do way better in the state than in private. Better job security, consistent raises, and seniority keeping you in your job in situations where the private sector might say bye bye, you make too much money now. I know workers making $70K+ without even a HS diploma, and in pretty easy jobs - that does not happen in the private sector, no way no how.
On another note, looking at the last 10 years in this state and the current situation, what exactly causes people to have so much respect for MJM?? I really dont get it. He carries significant responsibility for the mess we’re in and the constant kicking of the can down the road. He is the common denominator, including has caucus’ agreement with past mistakes of GOP governors. How does he continue to get accolades from anyone here, other than the district he takes good care of? Look at our situation in IL - seriously - tell me why?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 10:23 am:
===I know you are bitterly disappointed that 71 turned into 68, but please stop putting words in my mouth.===
What?
I’m not part of AFSCME. Heck, if anything, I’m embarrassed for them.
===“kiss his ring?” Who said that? Not me. I thought the union responses should have been more conciliatory. I didn’t ask for any union cave in or humiliation.===
Ok, counselor, then write what you would’ve said, lol.
This will be fun.
Use your words. What would’ve pleased you as conciliatory?
- Theo's House Boy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 10:35 am:
I do enjoy those that come out banging the drum of “yeah! They make too much! Take that, public employees!” without stopping to think about the ramifications. Be careful what you wish for: unionized workplaces will almost always pay more than unionized ones. It’s the benefit of negotiating versus having your employer decide what they think you’re worth. If their salaries and benefits get slashed, guess what will happen to you?
- Theo's House Boy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 10:36 am:
That second one should say “non-unionized.” Oops.
- Mama - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 10:36 am:
There are very few “low skilled State workers”. If you are looking to save taxes on their backs, keep looking since there are not enough of them to move the decimal point.
- Mama - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 10:40 am:
“Why no outrage about all of the GOP votes being controlled by one individual? Not one GOP voted representing their constituents.”
The unions should be more outrage at the Republican where it counts by voting Democrat in all election days!
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 10:47 am:
Because those jobs are far better than the private sector jobs available for the employee’s skill set and mentality.
You obviously don’t understand what it means to serve the public as a citizen working for a democratically elected government. You obviously haven’t a clue why your rights exist in this area of law. You are simple minded. You can’t fathom the idea that being a civil servant and being a lumberjack for a private business isn’t the same thing.
What we have in place is not a mistake. It is the result of constitutional laws. It is the result of doing it your way, and discovering that it doesn’t work. Sadly, even the late Chester Arthur understood the issue today, back in 1882, better than you or the majority of “run government like a business” understand it now.
The bottom line problem is that you are cheap and think government should be run like the corner Wal-Mart. Yet, I bet you complain every time you waddle one of them. You complain about the people shopping there. You probably complain about how long you have to wait to buy your generic white undies and how the price of sugar-free butterscotch candies can’t seem to stop going up. You complain about the families paying their groceries with government assistance ahead of you in line.
Stay in Arizona. Give up. Just stop complaining about how other people don’t deserve what it is you don’t have.
Only a Bruce Rauner could sit on a near-billion dollars and finger point at a civil servant earning $50,000 and claim that they are overpaid. You see this and applaud?
Sure - of course you would. Misery loves company, and you can’t wait to see others miserable.
- LBJ - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 10:49 am:
Way to go Keith at SEIU! Wait until the fights almost over and THEN jump in. Maybe you should have waited until today and claimed victory.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 10:51 am:
Demoralized : 100K…if you look at the Treasure website. .those 100K salaries belong in large part to political appointees who are Merit Comp administrators who names must go through the Gov’s office for approval.They are non union.Very Very few Afscme members. .even with over 20 Years seniority. .make close to that annual income .
- Chicagonk - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 10:59 am:
AFSCME needs a new leadership team, just like CTU needs a new leadership team. The Teamsters look pretty smart right now.
- Mason born - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 11:05 am:
Ok. As to the state employees with high school diplomas making 60k or more. Yes there are more than a few in fact a good chunk of the work force. However what you all that quote this as a sign of overpaid folks seem to ignore is that those folks are usually IDOC prison guards. It isn’t their education that draws the salary it’s the risk to their lives and health. They do work most of us don’t want to do many of their salaries are inflated due to understaffing requiring ever increasing overtime hours.
- Sue - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 11:09 am:
Hey as a favorite son of Illinois once said - elections have consequences. Just maybe Rauner can now make some progress before the State t orally goes off the fiscal rails
- Sue - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 11:10 am:
Totally
- walker - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 11:16 am:
In any political diatribe or commentary, the phrase “everybody knows” is almost always followed by a general talking point without solid basis or evidence.
- nixit71 - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 11:22 am:
==AFSCME needs a new leadership team==
Roberta Lynch has been lurking in the AFSCME Executive Director’s shadow for over a decade now. Perhaps AFSCME’s internal leadership training is lacking.
Or perhaps the old AFSCME ED’s, Henry Bayer, transition plan was lacking. Per capfax last year: “To ensure a smooth transition, he will continue to work for the union through the calendar year…” AFSCME paid Bayer over $225K last year for this “smooth transition” while paying Lynch $136K to occupy the same role. It doesn’t appear that the members got what they paid for.
- More info please... - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 11:28 am:
Honeybee please provide more info on the high level talks.
- A guy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 11:36 am:
Think this one is a good one to stay out of. Oy.
- Andy S. - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 11:43 am:
Just out of curiosity, does anyone have any insight as to what the likely course of events from this point forward might mean for retirees? If Rauner manages to impose a contract on state employees that dramatically increases health insurance premiums, deductibles and copayments, can those changes also be applied to current retirees given last year’s Kanerva decision? In reading news reports from earlier this year, I am not even sure state retiree insurance changes were a part of Rauner’s proposal (only changes to downstate teacher and community college retirees). However, AFSCME has claimed that if the veto override fails then retirees would be hurt. Which is it?
- DonaldTrump - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 11:50 am:
=Time for Reality… is the Republicans who have refused to raise the lowest state income tax in the region for 15 years. Spewing GOP talk radio points just makes me more angry and motivated.=
Um, isn’t not raising taxes a good thing?
- DonaldTrump - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 11:51 am:
No mention of Dunkin in that AFSCME press release. Cowards or partisan hacks?
- lost in the weeds - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 11:52 am:
” State government is almost entirely entirely unionized. Where else can you with only a HS education and your seniority get you 100K plus position. ”
Steve Jobs and Bill Gates only had high school educations.
Governor of Wisconsin.
QED.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 11:58 am:
I guess I could be called Honeybee but I prefer Honeybear. Sorry I’m be’in spicy. As to the high level meetings they were often with Darth Arduin and folks charged with figuring out the impacts of certain moves. I can’t say any more so as to not jeopardize my source. But this happened more than two months ago. Thus I’m saying that what has been unfolding has been in the works. It is orchestrated. I think the plan has been underway from January. This is a LOOONGGGG game I suspect.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 12:01 pm:
Honeybear:
Those “meetings” were about temporary workers in the event of a strike. I’ve been in those meetings. Been involved in the planning as a matter of fact and I can tell you with absolute certainty that there isn’t any sinister plot as far as those meetings go except to prepare to continue to provide services should a work stoppage occur. Take a breath.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 12:41 pm:
I spent over 30 years in the private sector. When I found myself in need of a job, I thought I could give back to the state and maybe help with some of the problems I had seen over the years. I work in information technology. As is true in every state agency, there are people in information technology that don’t deserve what they are being paid. However, to paint everyone with the same brush of ‘low skilled’ is an insult to every technical employee. Maybe I should have stayed in the private sector and not tried to ‘give back’ by trying to help. I could be making at least half again as much as I do as a state employee
- Arizona Bob - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 12:43 pm:
@Dem
=Are you saying that public sector workers are somehow less intelligent and have less skills than those working in the private sector?=
Absolutely not, Dem, but many low skilled jobs pay FAR better in public than private sector jobs. Clerical work, janitorial and refuse services are other examples.
Education is another matter. Those “type A” people who get in education either get on an administrative track or get into the private sectors within five years. Those who are there to get summers off, get raises without having to show why they deserve one, and get fat early retirement benefits in their 50’s stick it out and get paid $120K in many suburban HS districts regardless of how well they do their job. Thank you, Dems, Edgar, Thompson, IEA, SURS, IFT, CTU…..
- Almost the Weekend - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 1:05 pm:
If was in AFSCME leadership my first assignment for rank and file should be to read “What’s the Matter with Kansas” by Thomas Frank. I have a feeling that this book will really hit home.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 1:05 pm:
AZ Bob, you are right. But the way I see those undereducated public employees who make more than their counterparts in private is as pillars of their community. Here in East St. Louis those public servants are pillars of the community, generous (actually to a fault) and civically involved. They instantly stand out. Many of the older workers at the “Aid Office” were once recipients of aid. Now they are highly respected, greeted in the store, church, and called at home regarding issues. Take away those pillars and a whole community loses the little support it has.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 1:23 pm:
AZ Bob:
Thank you for your clarification.
As for raises just because you exist, I agree. I always said I have no idea why they even do performance evaluations at the state because they don’t matter. Good, bad, indifferent, everyone gets the same raise. I’d fight to change that system.
- nixit71 - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 1:34 pm:
@Demoralized - I agree. Along those lines, I keep hearing there is a shortage of STEM and Special Ed teachers. But how are we going to attract those skill sets when they are lumped into one contract under the same pay scale as everyone else? Shouldn’t they command a premium over everyone else, considering supply/demand? Shouldn’t they be entitled to a larger share of the salary pie than the others?
Furthermore, how do you expect to attract ANY new teachers when those contracts explicitly state that the newest get fired first in any layoff, regardless of performance?
- Allen D - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 1:47 pm:
Amen, raises for performance only… in the military we also had perform to serve evaluations… If you were doing no more than taking up air and a marginal sailor at the end of your enlistment (1st and 2nd only) you might find that you could not re-enlist, you just received your honorable discharge and see you later… That would work for the State as well, but it would take supervisors who actually had a backbone to do it. I see many who are yellow yes people… I say make everyone really earn their pay, we work for the people not the other way around, or go get a job somewhere else.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 2:06 pm:
Allen D, I totally agree with that shipmate. I have said that State service should be like the military several times on this blog. My God that would be a dream to have biannual performance evaluations just like the Navy. I agree with that!
- blue dog dem - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 3:48 pm:
No amount of budget cuts or tax increases will stop the inevitable…..force CPS and the Windy City into bankruptcy. Then, and only then, will Rauners legacy be secured.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 4:09 pm:
===…force CPS and the Windy City into bankruptcy. ===
Can’t happen.
You’re welcome. Ugh.
- RNUG - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 5:41 pm:
== However, AFSCME has claimed that if the veto override fails then retirees (health insurance) would be hurt. Which is it? ==
In the past, the SERS state retiree got the same health insurance as a SERS employee … and if they had 20 years of service, they got the insurance premium free.
Until a couple of years back, all Medicare eligible retirees had Medicare as primary and (chose one of) the state programs as secondary, with the state insurance providing the prescription coverage basic Medicare lacks. Then the State forced those 65+ retirees into a Medicare Advantage program that eliminated that arrangement in favor of the single program that requires some co-pays and other out of pocket costs the old combined program did not have. So far, no one has sued over that change although the oral arguments and questions by the ILSC in Kanerva raised the possibility the State to go too far in those kinds of changes.
As stated above, today the under 65 retiree and / or dependent(s) under 65 have just (choose one of) the State offering, same as a State employee. Traditionally, whatever AFSCME negotiated for the State employees was extended to the retirees: same coverage, same dependent cost, same deductibles and co-pays, etc. Until told otherwise, we have to assume that will be the pattern for this year.
However, if the plan were to drop from the current (more or less) Platinum / Gold level to either Bronze or Tin, it is highly likely a small group of retirees will be back in court over it since that was one of the scenarios the IL SC was specifically asking about re diminishment. Don’t know if they would win, but if I was asked to participate in such a law suit, I would because I think they have a better than 50/50 chance of winning.
- Blue dog dem - Thursday, Sep 3, 15 @ 9:20 pm:
Oswego-weren’t you the a.k.a Michelin man in Motown?
- Nickname#2 - Friday, Sep 4, 15 @ 9:33 am:
==I say make everyone really earn their pay, we work for the people not the other way around, or go get a job somewhere else.==
Why is it that no one ever says that about corporate CEOs making $20-100 million per year? The only people who get criticized for how much they make are people who actually work for a living.