* Jason Barclay, Gov. Rauner’s General Counsel on July 6th…
Last week we learned that AFSCME is conducting strike assessments throughout the state. This document confirms that AFSCME is now asking individual members to commit to a strike. And we have also heard that they have already selected a strike date of September 1 – which, depending on the status of the Impasse Case at the Labor Board, could be a violation of the Tolling Agreement AFSCME signed with the State wherein it committed not to strike until the Labor Board determines if an impasse has been reached. An AFSCME strike could result in serious disruptions to its members lives – disruption to pension calculations because of a lengthy strike, loss of wages and health insurance during a lengthy strike, and the possibility of being replaced by replacement workers, potentially permanently.
* State Journal-Register article on July 6th…
Members of the largest state employee union have been getting briefed on what would happen in the event of a strike and some are being polled over their willingness to go on strike over the stalled contract negotiations between the union and the state.
Members of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration said the actions show that the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees “is now asking individual members to commit to a strike,” possibly by Sept. 1.
* An op-ed published in the State Journal Register by John Terranova, Deputy Director, Office of Labor Relations on July 16th…
This paper recently reported on the possibility that AFSCME Council 31 employees could go out on strike, perhaps as early as Sept. 1.
Um, yeah. The reporting relied on the Rauner administration’s memo.
That op-ed was sent out to state employees by Terranova on July 19th.
* From a Rauner spokesperson on July 28th…
These comments demonstrate the lack of judgment and reasonableness of the leaders who are marching our state workers toward a September 1 strike.
By then, it was no longer portrayed as a possibility, the date was a firm fact.
* A John Terranova memo dated August 2nd…
As we near AFSCME’s September 1 strike date, I wanted to update you about a troublesome development.
A September 1st strike looked like a lock by then, according to the administration.
* Gov. Rauner was asked about the September 1st date today…
“That’s, that, we’re just hearing that from, we have many, uh, state employees who are working closely with our administration who like our proposal, who like our contract recommendation and are, and are advising us and there’s been a lot of chatter about strikes and strike dates and strike preparations and raising a strike fund. I don’t know. Nobody, I mean, we, we believe we’re at impasse. Um, and, uh, we’re just going through the process that we all agreed. We agreed with the union how the process would go. We had a toll agreement. We have a legal agreement. And we’re going through that process right now and it’s going to play out in the coming weeks and months.”
* Raw audio…
[The audio link doesn’t seem to be working at the moment. None of the links on the CMS site are working, actually. So, give it some time.]
…Adding… The link is working now.
…Adding More… A senior administration source with knowledge of the administration’s thinking claims signs are popping up in agencies during the past few weeks in AFSCME colors that say “Get ready.”
“We think that’s preparation for a strike,” the source said.
Anders Lindall with AFSCME said the signs mean the union is “Ready for whatever may come. Right now, we’re ready to set straight the frequent falsehoods of the administration’s misinformation campaign. Looking ahead, we’re ready to act if the administration tries to unilaterally impose its unfair terms.” He also said the signs have been up for close to two months.
The administration source also pointed to how they’d asked the Labor Board to expedite the hearing on the impasse declaration by bypassing the administrative law judge. AFSCME opposed that motion, you’ll recall. The Labor Board sided with AFSCME. As of now, there’s been no decision from the administrative law judge. “The union can’t credibly go on strike if judge hasn’t ruled,” the Rauner source said.
The source also said the union was “Likely continuing to raise money for a strike fund,” but, he admitted “that’s never been confirmed.”
…Adding Still More… From Anders Lindall…
Donald Trump is known for using the phrase “people are saying” to spread misinformation and innuendo without any proof. Now Bruce Rauner, who said he would support Trump for President, is employing the same tactic to mislead state employees and all the people of Illinois about the status of contract negotiations between his administration and our union. There never was any “Sept. 1 strike date,” and AFSCME has corrected the record time and again.
Public service workers in state government want to do their jobs and serve their communities, not be forced out on strike by Governor Rauner—but that’s exactly what he’s trying to do. Rauner’s administration walked away from negotiations, has refused to bargain since January, and is seeking to unilaterally impose terms on state employees instead of compromising with them.
State workers deserve a governor who is honest, who understands the important public services they provide, and who treats them with respect. Just because Bruce Rauner supports Donald Trump politically is no excuse for the governor to copy Trump’s ludicrous behavior.
- Juice - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:18 pm:
“None of the links on the CMS site are working, actually”
Umm…obviously this is because the AFSCME members working at IIS have all gone out on strike. Duh!
But seriously, glad to see Governor Gonzo is keeping up with the rumor schtick.
- SAP - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:21 pm:
==None of the links on the CMS site are working, actually.== CMS didn’t go on strike a day early, did they? /s
- RNUG - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:21 pm:
Rauner is being shown an important fact: people actually report what happens in government. And that you can’t just cover it up like in private industry.
The question is can he learn a lesson from it?
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:22 pm:
#ManyPeopleAreSaying
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-lot-of-people-are-saying-how-trump-spreads-conspiracies-and-innuendo/2016/06/13/b21e59de-317e-11e6-8ff7-7b6c1998b7a0_story.html
– MrJM
- South of Sherman - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:22 pm:
“we have many, uh, state employees who are working closely with our administration who like our proposal, who like our contract recommendation and are, and are advising us…”
Are you supposed to talk so openly about the quislings? Doesn’t that kind of defeat the purpose of having them?
- Reality Check - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:22 pm:
@MJM Precisely.
- kimocat - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:24 pm:
Lord, he’s starting to talk like Sarah Palin.
- Anon - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:25 pm:
Who said you had to be smart to be governor?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:25 pm:
Saturday Night Live has a character that appears on Weekend Update that “hears” things wrong. It’s comedy.
The Goveror said “they” hear things, it’s a lack of trust of the Governor of Illinois when he can’t relay… facts.
That’s a Staff/Crew fail or Rauner is an uncontrollable… fibber?
There’s NO strike possible tomorrow.
Give. It. Up.
… and - RNUG - is right.
Y’all… “Learn Something” with this.
Pathetic.
- Sir Reel - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
The Governor got one thing right.
“I don’t know.”
- Archiesmom - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
Unbelievable. It’s becoming the norm that business people running for or in political office appear to believe that you can pretend you never took a position, or never made a statement, and that you’ll get away with it. The sad part is that 40% of people who vote reinforce that belief.
- Deft Wing - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
The Governor’s never been more articulate. /s
- Winnin' - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:30 pm:
We’re heparin’ things and we got some priorities that are movin’ around.
That’s what happens when you move your A Team into political mode.
Things can get a little unhinged.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:31 pm:
“Lord, he’s starting to talk like Sarah Palin.”
Try reading that quote with the voice of Bill Murray’s Carl Spackler in Caddyshack.
“So I got dat going for me.”
- Decaf Coffee Party - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:31 pm:
Hmmm…the CMS links have been mysteriously disabled…Could this be AFSCME’s first salvo, a precursor to the secret midnight strike? Disabling communications is always one of the first strategic targets in war…
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:33 pm:
My thinking is that the Administration is going to give AFSCME a very strong reason to engage in a strike tomorrow and that they (Administration) is trying desperately to plant the narrative that it was AFSCME who was planning to strike all along. Even if tomorrow brings us every reason to go on strike the process will take some time to even hold a strike vote. That’s not to even mention whatever legal options AFSCME might try to exercise first. Whatever it is I think it’s going to be big. Just remember that whatever it is that good people, good public servants like me are going to catch it on the chin. Our families are going to take a hit. Rauner the abuser is telegraphing his punch to our gut.
- Jon - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:36 pm:
All of this goes to reinforce my opinion that politics in this day and age is just messaging and false bravado and not actually governing. At the national level the Republicans have ISIS, Iran, and immigrants as boogeymen, the Democrats have the specter of the 1% and I fear soon the specter of the police.
Rauner and crew’s boogeyman is AFSCME and how calculatingly evil AFSCME is. I love the language “troublesome development” “potentially permanent” and “working closely”. So we have that administration trying to: (1)scare AFSCME members about their jobs,(2) make members question AFSCME leadership, and (3) make members suspect there a collaborators about.
The scary part is the politics of fear more often works than not…
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:36 pm:
Disabling communications is always one of the first strategic targets in war…
bwahahahaha….bwahahahahaha!!!!!!
As much as I would like to take credit. It’s more likely the Rauner administration not wanting people to see or understand the change in insurance benefits.
- Anon - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:36 pm:
I’m just waiting for Rauner’s other shoe to drop.
- SinkingShip - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:42 pm:
I just imagine the “governor” feels a sense of relief when he stops talking. Like, “wow, I have no idea whether I actually answered the question or made any sense, but I’m so glad that’s over.” Because I listen to things he says, and read transcripts of what he says, and I have no idea how he gets from beginning to end. I firmly believe that he does not know what he is going to say when he starts talking.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:48 pm:
Maybe he was holding a sea shell up to his ear and heard about the strike there?
Only reading what he said, he exhibits many indicators of being deceptive aka lying. The multiple “pregnant pauses” as he searches for a response while knowing he is busted are a classic indicator of deception.
MrJM is so completely on it- I didn’t say it, just said I heard someone say it…blah, blah, blah.
- Truthteller - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
Just because we didn’t find weapons of mass destruction doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Just because there won’t be any picket lines doesn’t mean there isn’t a strike. Doesn’t saying it make it so on the second floor?
- Decaf Coffee Party - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:50 pm:
Listening to the governor and some of his staff brings back memories of watching Baghdad Bob…
- Liberty - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:51 pm:
I suspect he has been prepping for massive changes to group health to celebrate labor day.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:52 pm:
Crickets.
All I hear when he finishes speaking is crickets.
- Anon - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
OW @ 2:25
Anthony Crispino. My wife likes to compare me to him.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:54 pm:
“we have many, uh, state employees who are working closely with our administration who like our proposal, who like our contract recommendation and are, and are advising us and there’s been a lot of chatter about strikes and strike dates and strike preparations and raising a strike fund”
Yeah, okay.
Rauner’s contract proposals are available in black and white, and they are awful, from the drastic increases to healthcare costs to subcontracting to no step increases/COLA’s to a merit pay system that is unknown, like Rauner’s TA ROI and estimates.
Rauner is all about conflict and wielding the sledgehammer to smash folks economically and politically. If not, he’d be seeking a mutual and orderly resolution.
- A Jack - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:55 pm:
It must be the whispers of ear mites that Madigan controls.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:56 pm:
I wonder if we’ll get locked out tomorrow?
- steward - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:57 pm:
“That’s, that, we’re just hearing that from, we have many, uh, state employees who are working closely with our administration who like our proposal, who like our contract recommendation”
Funny we have yet to hear from this so called silent majority begging us to let them be easier to lay off.
My guess is that tomorrow was when he was planning to impose the new health care. Watch us go nuts over it. But labor board through a curve when they didn’t agree to expidite. So he has had trouble turning off all his plans for 9-1. And he’s caught planning for something he was hoping to happen but which he had no real control over.
A strike vote comes from the membership. They haven’t been asked for an authorization vote from the bargaining team.
Poor rauner caught in his own yoda loop.
- The_Equalizer - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 2:59 pm:
“Rauner is being shown an important fact: people actually report what happens in government. And that you can’t just cover it up like in private industry. The question is can he learn a lesson from it? ”
This is the first time this has been questioned. I doubt anyone will ask again, so there’s really no risk to what he does. Tronc, the IPI and its “news” outlets, and quite a few other outlets will question his statements like this. It seems appallingly rare when he does get questions about these “I heard…” Trumpian statements.
- NoGifts - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:01 pm:
Not to mention “chatter” which has previously been a term reserved for terrorist activities. LOL
- NoGifts - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
“chatter about strikes and strike dates” I can’t stop laughing.
- Dee Lay - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:04 pm:
The union should have started the lock out/work rule changes / insurance changes talk for Sept 1, and let the gov stumble bumble through another talk.
Because people are saying….
- Ghost - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:06 pm:
Union has confirmed a one day strike on 09-05
- milkman - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:06 pm:
Looks like Rauner is wrong as usual
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:08 pm:
I’m glad he isn’t my union leader.
- steward - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:10 pm:
“Union has confirmed a one day strike on 09-05″
False. Would have had to been voted on. Plus illegal while under tolling agreement.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:12 pm:
“I wonder if we’ll get locked out tomorrow?”
We will find out tomorrow morning when our key cards don’t work and the security guard at the front door won’t let in the building.
- walker - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:13 pm:
RNUG plus one
You cannot pretend as Governor, like you can as CEO. Unlike what many of the public assume, government often has higher behavioral standards than private industry.
- Consideration - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:13 pm:
- - -“Union has confirmed a one day strike on 09-05″
False. Would have had to been voted on. Plus illegal while under tolling agreement. - - -
I took a vote - no one will be in our office on the 5th.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:15 pm:
Most state employees will stay home next Monday, September 5, but it’ll be due to a state holiday, not a strike.
- steward - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:16 pm:
Plenty of state workers work during holidays…
- Ratso Rizzo - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:17 pm:
Supposedly, my Lodge 41 arbitration is going to be decided by Labor Day. I believe there were something like 16 different issues at stake. One of those issues was health insurance. The State, as usual, is now trying to stall and wants the insurance issue sent to the Labor Board (where it will stall for another 1-6 months). Last contract, the Labor Board confirmed that insurance was an issue that could be bargained. From what I heard from my Union contact, the State is worried about a domino effect from an arbitrator deciding upon our insurance issue and the ramifications for AFSCME.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:19 pm:
Gonna have to yell out that, “LAST QUESTION!”, earlier. /s
Maybe Rauner thinks the annular solar eclipse is going to “drive” ASFCME to strike;)
http://www.space.com/33784-solar-eclipse-guide.html
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:22 pm:
- Anon -
They should hire him as a Superstar.
To the Post,
At this point, either Rauner has the most inept set of gossipers in the history of ever…
… or Rauner needs to learn, still learn…
…words matter.
Dates matter. Trust matters.
Governor, you’re not in Venture Capital anyone. Words matter.
Capiche?
- steward - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:23 pm:
“no it has been confirmed that there will be a one day lock out on sept. 5th.”
People who work in prisons, mental health facilities, veterans homes, and child protection will still be at work.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:24 pm:
steward:
You’re completely missing the snark
- steward - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
Then it’s bad snark. A lot of state workers have to work during holidays.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:30 pm:
steward:
You really have to lighten up. Sheesh.
- steward - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:32 pm:
Says who? People are claiming a strike day when a lot of people are actually going to be at work. Gonna be awkward when 9-5 rolls around and hundreds of people still go to work in state facilities…
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:36 pm:
Have a good afternoon steward. This whole conversation went straight over your head since you apparently don’t understand the joke. We’ll let you in on it later.
- steward - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:36 pm:
What is funny is that the governor will probably use this thread as evidence of “chatter” about the union’s 9-5 strike date…
- steward - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:37 pm:
Nothing went over my head. A whole lot of state workers are going to go to work on 9-5. So it completely negates the “strike snark.”
Learn the basics of state government.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:39 pm:
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE BASICS. We all understand some people work on state holidays. For crying out loud give it a rest already. If you don’t understand the joke then I can’t help you. Lighten the heck up already and eat a snickers.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:40 pm:
The September 1 date was a completely Gov. administration-generated rumor from the get-go. Superstar lawyer Barclay gave his “we have heard” spiel, the SJR dutifully reported it the same day, and ever since then, the administration has been using that to keep its lie alive.
Beats governin’, I guess, but what a load of horse hockey. I’ve never seen anything like it.
- Yiddishcowboy - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:41 pm:
Good lord, steward. It was humor, something we need more of around here, in general. If you’re planning on working on Monday, please consider taking it off instead…you need a 3 day weekend, some R&R.
- steward - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:41 pm:
I understood the joke. I just thought it was stupid. Because a lot of state workers work during holidays. Therefore 9-5 couldn’t be a credible joke regarding a strike. Though i amused you are this invested in schooling me on the joke. Bravo.
- steward - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:45 pm:
Dang it stoner now the governor will report this as “chatter!” /s
- New Slang - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
Steward, you point is taken. But it was kinda funny. Generally, Monday is a holiday for most. Having said that, I respect the serious nature of this topic. Going into very uncharted areas…
- SOIL M - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
It is confirmed. AFSCME has revoked all sense of humor as of this afternoon in preparation of strike
- steward - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:53 pm:
Not on your lawn guys. All is good in the neighborhood. Commence with the “chatter.”
- Flynn's mom - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
@Steward, are you BVR in costume?
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:56 pm:
Hey look. You have to understand things are real tense amongst us stewards. We’re stuck in this trench warfare and we’re super worried about what Rauner is going to throw at us tomorrow. If it’s a retroactive insurance increase my family is looking at my paycheck going down by hundreds of dollars. We’ve got our bills lined up in such a way that I need every cent of my check to hit. This could be a real financial mess for me. Yeah, I’ve been in an okay mood today but I’m really worried. Tomorrow could be horrific for a lot of folks. Cut my fellow steward some slack.
- steward - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:58 pm:
Flynn, I don’t wear the cowboy outfit at well…
- Moby - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
Reminds me of another famous response:
“I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uhmmm, some people out there in our nation don’t have maps and uh, I believe that our, I, education like such as, uh, South Africa, and uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uhhh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for us.”
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
1) Your comedic generalization was not funny due to a premise that does not comply with the terms of the current work agreement.
2) I have a fully-functional sense of humor.
– MrJM
- Juice - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
“claims signs are popping up in agencies during the past few weeks in AFSCME colors that say “Get ready.””
First, this is an hilariously absurd rationale for claiming that AFSCME was both preparing for a strike and providing a specific date in which they were going to do so.
Second, “popping up the past few weeks” doesn’t really provide a rationale for why the administration first made this claim nearly two months ago.
Third, the point about the administration’s desire to bypass the ALJ to expedite the declaration of impasse kind of makes AFSCME’s point that the administration is simply trying to force the union to take a walk as soon as possible. (i.e., including that point as part of this conversation makes it sounds like it was the administrations goal for AFSCME to go out on strike Sept. 1, not the union’s desired outcome, since as mentioned, they argued against bypassing the ALJ.)
Fourth, guys, you’d have been better off just saying “we really really did not want AFSCME to go out on strike, so we used reverse psychology. And it worked! Hooray us! We’re all superstars!”
- AC - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 4:08 pm:
You may laugh about a strike tomorrow, but just wait until they broadcast the best hits of JT over the loudspeakers, and JT sings the oldies during scheduled breaks and lunch. I predict his rendition of Fernando will result in 100% of AFSCME members voting for a strike authorization by 10:15 AM at the latest.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 4:17 pm:
AC- Like the yodeling makes the Martians heads explode in their space helmets in Mars Attacks!
ACK! ACK!
- AC - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 4:22 pm:
Honeybear - Just don’t let the anyone know that I have have Slim Whitman ready for the next time the administration announces “we come in peace!”
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 4:48 pm:
AC I bet Pete Seeger would do the trick. Solidarity Forever! ACK ACK ACK ACK SPLAT!!!
- Harvest76 - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 4:55 pm:
Oh good, AFSCME can finally impose those 5000 dollar fines on members who refuse to strike that JT “heard” about. /s
- steward - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 4:58 pm:
“You may laugh about a strike tomorrow, but just wait until they broadcast the best hits of JT over the loudspeakers, and JT sings the oldies during scheduled breaks and lunch.”
Please stop scaring me…
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 5:05 pm:
The governor is betraying his own lies. He wants people to believe AFSCME is pushing for a strike. But then he admits the fact that there can’t be a strike until after The Labor Board makes its ruling. Rauner was trying to hurry that process and AFSCME wanted the process to proceed as laid out in the Tolling Agreement. So who is the one pushing for a confrontation? The governor’s actions speak louder than his words.
Not to mention that these rumors he is spreading are designed to scare people out of full membership (complete with links to move to fair-share). The people who are likely to fall for these scare tactics are the ones more likely to vote “no” in a strike vote. If they follow the governor’s link and switch to fair-share, they won’t be able to vote if the situation arises. He is trying to stack the deck in favor of a strike vote.
The governor wants a strike.
The union wants a contract.
- peon - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 5:53 pm:
This has got to be the worst ever attempt at political innuendo and starting a rumor I have ever seen. Why would someone throw away their credibility so cheaply ?
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 5:56 pm:
AC, I think Slim passed away a while ago
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 6:10 pm:
== Unlike what many of the public assume, government often has higher behavioral standards than private industry. ==
-walker- nailed it. State employees often do have to meet higher standards. To get / keep my state job, I had pass an IBI (at that time) and FBI background check. In addition, during most of my career, I had to file multiple disclosure and ethics statements every year. And, the last few years, the stupid online ethics test anyone with half a brain could pass.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 6:15 pm:
Oops loops at work again. Stick to your strike prep guns afscme and seiu.
- anon - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 6:17 pm:
The old ‘you (or your crew) start the rumor at 10 and at 2 “you are hearing / it has been said / people are saying” scheme, eh? No one ever accused Rauner/CMS of being creative did they?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 7:12 pm:
Just heard from a union steward that plans are being made for a strike. Employees voted to see if they would strike or cross the picket line.
- Harvest76 - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 7:47 pm:
–Just heard from a union steward that plans are being made for a strike. Employees voted to see if they would strike or cross the picket line.–
Completely untrue.
- State Worker THX 1138 - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 7:53 pm:
Darn. I was counting on having the day off tomorrow. The Guv has let me down. Again. /s
- Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 8:03 pm:
Now everyone who works for AFSCME should know how us steelworkers feel EVERY day under this administration (and others).
- foster brooks - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 8:19 pm:
whatever you do don’t agree to the bonus system,it turned out to be a disaster at idot
- RNUG - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 8:35 pm:
6:10pm was also I
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 9:00 pm:
Wednesday, Aug 31, 16 @ 8:03 pm:
What is your point? Are you happy about this
- Huh? - Thursday, Sep 1, 16 @ 7:33 am:
Well the key card worked to get in the building. No AFSCME pickets or inflatable rats at the driveway entrance.
The strike must be on double secret probation.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Sep 1, 16 @ 8:56 am:
“Well the key card worked to get in the building.”
As far as OODA Loops, if one tries to bamboozle enough, and lie by omission, as Raunernova does with those state worker videos and letters, one might step in it. It looks like Rauner stepped in his own “stuff.”
- Nick Name - Thursday, Sep 1, 16 @ 9:33 am:
Maybe Barclay could call Lindall and remind him that AFSCME is supposed to be on strike.
- steward - Thursday, Sep 1, 16 @ 9:41 am:
This has got to be one of the most disappointing days in rauner’s life. He so wanted his labor war to kick off around Labor Day. :’(
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 1, 16 @ 8:22 pm:
09/01/2016 7:20pm… Dear God, does this man have any idea of what’s going on in the world.
Just reading the statement, transcribed as delivered, it appeared to b