* From AFSCME Council 31, in response to an e-mail sent to state employees by the Rauner administration…
The Rauner Administration’s latest misleading missive is full of falsehoods and clearly intended to divide and distract state employees at the same time the members of AFSCME’s rank-and-file bargaining committee are holding informational meetings with their co-workers statewide. Already thousands of union members have attended those meetings to get the true facts from their representatives on the bargaining committee, not Bruce Rauner’s political spin.
AFSCME members are keenly aware that it was Bruce Rauner who vowed to “shut down the government” in order to “re-do everybody’s contract.” More recently, we learned that when Senator Durbin offered his assistance in union negotiations, it was Governor Rauner who said, “This is not about negotiating with them. They just have to go away.”
A year later, the governor is still demanding that public-service workers in state government such as child protection investigators, disability caregivers and emergency responders get zero pay increase for four years while paying double their current costs to keep their health care. No other union has agreed to these demands for both a pay freeze and a huge hike in employee health costs.
Rauner’s also pushing a program of selective bonuses where bosses could reward a chosen few employees based on unknown criteria, opening the door to cronyism and favoritism. He wants a blank check to contract out public services for private profit, insisting on eliminating basic safeguards that prevent irresponsible privatization. And rather than do the hard work of finding compromise, he’s walked away from the table and asked for the power to impose his own demands. That’s a recipe for the kind of conflict that candidate Rauner boasted he would cause.
State workers want a compromise that’s fair to all, and we believe that’s what the people of Illinois deserve—not a governor unwilling to modify his my-way-or-no-way demands.
Discuss.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 2:58 pm:
Kevin Bacon, “thank you sir [Rauner], may I have another”
- AC - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 2:58 pm:
The language contained in Rauner’s proposed contract convinced me that the summary given by the union was, if anything, insufficient in its description of how destructive management’s offer is. AFSCME members would be setting themselves up for destruction if they were to accept such an agreement, even if management modified their offer to include a massive raise and free health insurance premiums for current employees.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 2:59 pm:
Reasonable yet compelling. Keep hammering away with past statements. You never know when the governor will let the tiniest bit of truth slip out. So don’t let them go to waste.
- The Captain - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:00 pm:
AFSCME does a great job of staying on message and sounding reasonable (as compared to, say, CTU) and it’s always a pleasure to watch someone do their job well.
- D.P.Gumby - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
Brucie’s CMS is just as honest as Brucie himself.
- There is power in a union... - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:05 pm:
“Brucie’s CMS is just as honest as Brucie himself.”
I have to say this was a disappointing performance by terranova today. Many of the “old hands” regard him as a straight shooter and a genuinely nice person. But he works for a mad man. He has to know today’s email made things worse. And opens the state up to more ULP’s.
Wonder how much longer he will stick around. The guy is a cossumate professional. Does he really want to go down being known as party to a total farce?
- Norseman - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:08 pm:
I would hope for a more in-depth rebuttal. Keep working folks. Not only are you playing for the hearts and minds of your members, you’re also playing for the perception of the folks. Given the public’s propensity to hate government and it’s employees, you need to put forward a good case to those who are more open-minded.
- Politix - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:08 pm:
Goof response from AFSCME. Looks like they were finally whittle things down into some serious talking points.
- Politix - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:09 pm:
Good response!
- cannon649 - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:09 pm:
The “discussion” needs to advance.
Clearly the funding is major problem for all.
In the mean time the Illinois suffers.
- Anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:11 pm:
I’m surprised the union didn’t address this, but I’m concerned that the email represents an inappropriate use of state resources.
Coming from a Deputy Director of a state agency, the email specifically requested that state employees read and review a 357 page document, which may have resulted in tens of thousands of dollars wasted as state employees review an labor agreement that doesn’t impact them on state time.
I’m also concerned that some of the potentially misleading statements may also fit within the ethics law and on the surface this document may be considered political in nature.
At some point, the state may be asked to demonstrate that they’ve bargained in good faith and there’s going to be stuff like this that shows they’ve actively attempted to circumvent the negotiating process.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
I hope AFSCME is this vigilant about March 15th too…
Fair response, but Rauner won, and the best deal possible, even if this is it, will have to eventually be struck… with Bruce Rauner.
Good luck.
- Ottawa - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:25 pm:
Great response from AFSCME. The meetings they are holding are providing the full picture. State Employees are not as dumb as Rauner thinks they are, in fact the exact opposite. Keep the truth coming AFSCME.
- Former State Worker - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:25 pm:
Are these emails even legal? They are trying to go around the Union to get people to agree to a contract that eliminates job security. This is the second time they have done this.
Bruce made an error when he wanted to divide the Union. He should have offered wage increases and minimal health care changes in addition to eliminating layoff protections and reducing bumping rights. That may have tricked some workers into agreeing to slit their throats and allow Bruce to get rid of Tier 1 employees in favor of contracted employees.
Instead he can point to 17 contract agreements for a minimal number of employees, which may help with public perception, yet few AFSCME members are demanding that the current proposal be accepted.
- mcb - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:30 pm:
So Rauner’s letter hits on issues point by point, and AFSCME’s response really only challenges one, and then just repeats the same rhetoric and old Rauner quotes they keep pushing out.
This will fire the base up, which isn’t a challenging task, but if I’m a resident with no dog in the fight, Rauner made a much better argument. That also comes with the knowledge that, whether it’s an accurate reflection of ASCME members, if you or someone you love isn’t a state worker, you probably don’t have that high of an opinion of state workers.
AFSCME needs to figure that out to win the non-union public over.
- Omega Man - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:43 pm:
Another ham-fisted attempt to intimidate union state employees backfires.
- anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
Several things should be noted about the email sent out by CMS. Apparently, it is only against ethical practice to send union materials out using state equipment if you are AFSCME. Also, when negotiating, AFSCME has never detailed the actual offer until it is time to ratify it.
- Johnnie F. - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:51 pm:
It really doesn’t matter what Rauner or AFSCME say in their email message to impacted employees. The propsed contract speaks for itself. It us a significantly raw deal for state workers.
- Moby - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
Mcb - If 18,000 Sangamon County jobs are outsourced to Chicago-area contract companies and elsewhere, I wonder if just state employees and their loved ones will care, or if area realtors, home builders, car dealers, grocery stores, retail stores, hospitals, physicians’ offices, etc. might have an opinion on the issue as well. Oh, did I mention bankers?
- AC - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:58 pm:
==zero pay increase for four years while paying double their current costs to keep their health care==
More like decimating promissed retiree health insurance for those that decide to pay double to keep their current health coverage until they’re are laid off and replaced with consultants that cost the taxpayers more than the employee would have.
- Trolling Troll - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:01 pm:
@Moby
Thank you. If state workers are hit hard, there will be a ripple effect. Kinda counter intuitive for a bidness man.
- Georg Sande - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:02 pm:
mcb +1
- Commonsense in Illinois - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
Our choice: Three more years of Rauner to go…a lifetime with AFSCME to go.
Lord, let us choose wisely…
- Crescans - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
LOLOLOLOL comparing this to the Holocaust small town girl? I love how hateful, incindiary, hyperbolic speech is tolerable to union apologists when it is supporting what they believe.
- Hollie Van Hinkle - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:06 pm:
Finally Union members in Southern and Central Illinois will be voting their pocket book on the Ides of March. Get ready and beware !
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:08 pm:
mcb @3:30
As Honeybear has previously commented, the importance of the court of public opinion may be overstated in this instance. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which side the public chooses. State workers are already unpopular with much of the general public and nothing AFSCME says is going to change that. It will only matter is when/if AFSCME strikes and the public cannot access state services. The public will then blame whomever they choose but ultimately it is the Governor who controls whether or not services are provided and to what extent.
- Onlooker - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:13 pm:
If Rauner’s goal is to push AFSCME to a strike and have the support of the public that doesn’t have a direct immediate connection to a state employee, I think Rauner won this round. While the email was sent to the employees, maybe the real audience was the public.
@Moby and Trolling Troll - IF 18,000 jobs move from state workers in Sangamon to private workers in Chicago, you are correct about all the realtors, car dealers, bamkers, etc. will not be happy. But at the same time, the realtors, car dealers, bankers, etc. in Chicago will be happy. For Rauner, it is a wash.
- Earnest - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:13 pm:
>that’s what the people of Illinois deserve—not a governor unwilling to modify his my-way-or-no-way demands
Little did we know, his only business skill was: do it my way or face destruction.
- Cassandra - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:13 pm:
As I’ve been saying, this is a struggle over money, and the rest is the usual rhetoric surrounding a difficult negotiation.
The question for the voters is not are you for or against public workers. The question is, are you willing to have your taxes raised, and by how much, to meet their demands in this negotiation. Because unless you want to cut, say, Medicaid or school funding or higher ed, we are talking about a tax increase here. So, how much. And who should pay?
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:17 pm:
C’mon Cassandra! Even Rauner admits taxes have to be raised and that was well before the contract ‘dispute’. The cost of the contract is miniscule in the grand scheme of things.
- Me too - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:19 pm:
Except Cassandra that the tax increase is necessary regardless, and if Rauner hadn’t been so revved up to destroy unions, we’d be better off by 6 billion dollars. That’s not including how much better things would be if the tax hadn’t sunset. So the question becomes, are you willing to pay and how much in taxes to destroy AFSCME? Too late we already spent that. How much for extending this stunt and reducing services while devastating social service nonprofits?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:20 pm:
Cassandra -
“Because unless you want to cut, say, Medicaid or school funding or higher ed, we are talking about a tax increase here.” So if we cut all state employee pay, no new revenue sources are needed?
- Me too - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:29 pm:
Anon gets it. Cut it all and there’s no need for anything. No cops, SOS articles of incorporation, license plates, also no medicaid, food stamps, child welfare workers, prison guards… But wait, we’re still in the hole by three and a half billion, not including the pension fund contribution… Uh oh, and no revenue generating from DOR, SOS, OAG, DAg, DFPR and many others. At least we get to live in a state that doesn’t tax wealthy people at higher rates. Too bad there’s no police to protect their money and property. That’s where concealed carry comes in… Shoot no one can process applications. Silly governor, dirty tricks are for nursing home sales.
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:31 pm:
What a joke. Munger has already said the flat income tax needs to go back up to between 7% and 8% today regardless of what else happens. A few more months of no budget insanity and it will have to be 10%.
- Norseman - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:35 pm:
=== Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which side the public chooses. State workers are already unpopular with much of the general public and nothing AFSCME says is going to change that. ===
Cubs, with all due respect, I do think it’s important for AFSCME to try and change that or at a minimum to consider it in their actions. I don’t disagree with the premise that state workers are already unpopular with the general public, but you can’t abandon the effort to educate them as to the facts of the situation. Rauner is going to use his pile of money to reinforce this negative view and encourage folks to take it out on solons supportive of labor. Your task is to dampen that motivation.
Frankly, I think AFSCME should have been more willing to offer up a multi-year wage freeze in exchange for minimal insurance concessions.
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:40 pm:
-Norseman-
AFSCME should have offered it but I suspect it would have been a non-starter. There appear to be two main objectives to this proposed contract:
1) eliminate job security
2) decimate health insurance … and if you can stick it to the future and currentretiree as a side effect, so much better
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:40 pm:
Norseman,
Point taken. AFSCME may be open to your idea of wage freeze combined with modest insurance concessions but the Admin. broke off negotiations before that could be proposed. Plus, I have zero faith that Rauner is willing to drop the collective bargaining poison pills.
- The finest - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:43 pm:
Small town girl just equated the labor movement to the holocaust. And most of you didn’t bat an eye. This is disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself.
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:47 pm:
-The finest-
Not all comments merit a response.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:48 pm:
The finest: Or it could be we were just refraining from feeding trolls.
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:52 pm:
-The finest-
I caught it. She was alluding to Rauner’s divide and conquer strategy that has been / is being attempted in almost every action (union related or otherwise) that Rauner has tried or proposed. Or, as a friend describes his wife’s attempts at it, salami slicing until you get to your goal. But it’s obvious that Rauner thinks in terms of divide and destroy all at once instead of achieving incremental victories on the way to the ultimate goal.
- Norseman - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:52 pm:
RNUG & Cubs, I don’t disagree with your point that Rauner wouldn’t leave it at that. I’m focused on the propaganda war. Asking for pay increases during this “financial crisis” will engender a negative reaction among the general public.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:56 pm:
Well played - cubs - and - Skeptic. Well done.
- Norseman - and - RNUG -
===AFSCME should have offered it but I suspect it would have been a non-starter. There appear to be two main objectives to this proposed contract:
1) eliminate job security
2) decimate health insurance … and if you can stick it to the future and currentretiree as a side effect, so much better===
This. All day.
You guys are good, always enjoy you both talking it out. Thanks
- Crescans - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:57 pm:
Based on her previous comments, I don’t think she is a troll.
- Unicorn - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:57 pm:
@ the finest - I believe small town girl wasn’t equating the labor movement to the Holocaust. I believe it was aimed more at equating the way this great state is being picked apart, piece by piece, much like those in power came in purging group by group, as “I did not speak out” because “I” was not the one under attack. Take down the Unions, take down higher education, take away from our most vulnerable citizens. For those citizens sitting back idly watching because it’s not affecting them, just wait because you may be next.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:00 pm:
I want going to go to the informational meeting. Congratulations Rauner, now I am.
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:00 pm:
-Crescans-
I don’t think she is either … But the finest might be since I don’t remember that name being around.
- Me too - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:01 pm:
Wasn’t and that was me
- The finest - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:03 pm:
She isn’t a troll. And it’s not reasonable to equate Rauner to hitler. I’m sorry I know you are upset that things are happening you disagree with. And yes there is strategy. And I would say you would have to be fairly incompetent to not recognize this clear divide and conquer strategy. But the minute you equate this to the holcaust, you have lost all credibility. I’m pretty sure losing a step increase does not sit on par with marching someone to a gas chamber.
And to those of you who said its better to not respond to the comment. Then you are just giving credence to this individual to make an outlandish statement again at some point in the future. Saying nothing doesn’t assure that someone won’t make the same disgusting comparison again.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:12 pm:
RNUG
Thank God for RNUG
- Small Town Girl - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:21 pm:
No troll here. And I meant no offense. RNUG, thank you for looking further into my thought. This was more to how we allowing the decimation of social services and many don’t care until it is the social service that affects us or our loved ones. Again please no offense. It would have been more appropriate on another post.
- Crescans - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:26 pm:
Small town- don’t use that quote ever unless you are talking about the actual Holocaust.
- AC - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:29 pm:
==Asking for pay increases during this “financial crisis” will engender a negative reaction among the general public.==
There’s another angle that this should be viewed from. Asking for huge concessions in contact language and in job security while also asking for wage and insurance premium concessions may not be a winning strategy for the Rauner administration. It may go so far as to cause him an issue with the ILRB even knowing the role he had in appointing and reappointing members if that board. In the court of public opinion, Rauner may have been better served by offering a contact with frozen pay, increased health insurance premiums, but without all of the other changes. Like so many interactions involving the Rauner administration, their poison pill addiction makes it nearly impossible for them to reach an agreement with anyone. I should say almost anyone, they were able to reach an agreement with the protech Teamster’s because they were willing to spend about 30% more on their insurance premiums were under the CMS group insurance plan.
- Railrat - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:35 pm:
I can’t wait til CTU SEIU AFSCME “expect ” the CBT and other state trade unions to honor picket lines, hope it doesn’t happen, but to my knowledge those mentioned never honored the trades disputes ! United we stand ? Right Karen Lewis !
- Chicagonk - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:36 pm:
To quote OW, elections have consequences.
Rauner never hid his disdain for the union and he still won. Who knows if that would have been the case had AFSCME supported Quinn.
It’s obvious to me that the negotiations are at an impasse and AFSCME members should start preparing for a strike.
- Former State Employee - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:37 pm:
I agree with Anonymous @5:12. RNUG should be a First Ballot Capitol Fax Hall of Famer.
- Not it - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:44 pm:
I’ve never understood the unions complaint that rewarding employees based on performance is equal rewarding employees based on politics. How does the rest of the universe reward employees? Only in government is it assumed the older employees are the better ones.
- PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:51 pm:
Not it-
Many of the bosses who determine performance are political appointees. Or their bosses are.
- bccs staff - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:52 pm:
==Asking for pay increases during this “financial crisis” will engender a negative reaction among the general public.==
agreed….BUT, when it comes to contract negotiations, AFSCME cannot give their last & final offer - that would equal impasse - AFSCME does not want to strike, they want to be at the table negotiating, so…if the middle is what AFSCME will accept & rauner is 10 miles to the west, the n afsme has to be at least 1 mile to the east
- bccs staff - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:59 pm:
sorry: then AFSCME has to be at least 1 mile to the east, wiggle room for more negotiations
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 6:05 pm:
“- Crescans - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 5:26 pm:
Small town- don’t use that quote ever unless you are talking about the actual Holocaust.”
Who appointed you as the judge?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 6:11 pm:
- Chicagonk -
Ugh.
===To quote OW, elections have consequences.===
Yep. That is true
===Rauner never hid his disdain for the union and he still won.===
This is an utter crock after the Primary.
Use the search key here. Numberous times Rauner tried to refute or deny earlier statements.
===Who knows if that would have been the case had AFSCME supported Quinn===
… or Dillard.
They did support Quinn, the fooled rank and file, after the Primary got duped. The real Rauner revealed himself in Decatur after being sworn in, although many warned the unions, but I digress.
Please, do rewrite history, and me to do it. K?
- bccs staff - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 6:14 pm:
@- Not it -I’ve never understood the unions complaint that rewarding employees based on performance
in my shop (around 50 employees) I already know who will get the performance raises - 3 at most & 1 of the 3 might deserve it
- thoughts matter - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 6:20 pm:
I would not be upset about performance based raises. However, I am not a member of AFSCME, and am a technical skilled employee. I honed my skills in the private sector long before I got a state position…. and I know my own worth as do my bosses. Some agencies are better at fair performance evaluations than others. I would venture that had Gov. Rauner negotiated wage freezes and small insurance increases (without decimating retiree insurance) that AFSCME might have bended on performance based pay.
However, by now, he’s shown that he can’t be trusted to tell you the color of the sky truthfully.
- bccs staff - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 6:26 pm:
@ thoughts matter: i totally agree with you
afscme is willing to bend but his proposal is ludicrous, i hope it doesn’t come to a strike but what choice will we have with this proposal?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 6:29 pm:
“matter - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 6:20 pm:”
Many of us are like you. I do not like performance bonuses because I do a great job and my boss knows less then me and plays politics.
- justdoingtime - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 6:47 pm:
Interesting the state says no pay increases, yet approx 2 weeks ago they reinstated semiautomatic promotions retroactive to July 1st with backpay to that date.
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 7:06 pm:
-thoughts matter-
Being good and respected is no protection.
I was skilled at what I did also and a recognized authority / author in my field. I worked for people who respected and understood their staff. But there were still years I and others ended up on the short end of the deal because of misguided quota and top management imposed caps on evaluations and pay.
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 7:15 pm:
-Anonymous-, -Former State Employee-, et al,
Thanks … but I’ve already been thinking of asking Rich to exclude me from the nominations next year
- Anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 8:11 pm:
Rauner is attempting to divide state workers. Don’t fall for it. Vote no to his contract.
- Ret Prof - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 9:49 pm:
Rauner’s figures that employees pay 8% of insurance costs don’t match the “FY 2016 Liabilities of the State Employee’s Group Health Insurance Program” (p 15) by the Commission on Government Forecasting & Accountability: “For FY 2015, retirees and retiree dependents pay 6.9% and 25.3% of their healthcare costs respectively. This contrasts with active employees and their dependents, who pay 20.8% and 16.9% respectively. In total, the net state cost of active employees and dependents remains significantly higher than retirees and retiree dependents. This cost difference results in part from retirees utilizing Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans and resulting savings for the State of Illinois.”
http://cgfa.ilga.gov/Upload/FY2016GroupInsuranceReport.pdf
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 9:50 pm:
“- justdoingtime - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 6:47 pm:
Interesting the state says no pay increases, yet approx 2 weeks ago they reinstated semiautomatic promotions retroactive to July 1st with backpay to that date.”
Where did you hear that?
I did not receive my Step increase.
- Property of IDOC - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 9:56 pm:
I have been a registered republican for 27 years.
I will be voting a democratic ticket this election cycle.
I see no other way to fight the madness he is promoting.
I hope others will bravely follow suit…most especially
Every AFCSME member.
- There is power in a union... - Friday, Feb 5, 16 @ 6:29 am:
“state says no pay increases, yet approx 2 weeks ago they reinstated semiautomatic promotions retroactive to July 1st with backpay to that date.”
Semi-automatics are in their final offer. So now they have to move forward when them all.
Steps have not made it into their final offer. So all of us who had a step coming to us since 7-1-15 have to wait for the lawsuit to run its course.
- There is power in a union... - Friday, Feb 5, 16 @ 6:43 am:
*move forward With them all.
Sorry, still waking up -_-