* Press release…
The following is attributable to Dennis Murashko, General Counsel to Governor Bruce Rauner, regarding the administration filing an unfair labor practice against AFSCME Council 31 and seeking damages for the cost of delaying the implementation of the last, best and final offer:
“Upon the Labor Board’s unanimous decision that the parties are at impasse, the tolling agreement between the administration and AFSCME officially terminated. Despite this, AFSCME continues to argue the tolling agreement still applies and the administration should be enjoined from implementing our last, best and final offer.
“Continuing to stall, instead of working with us to implement our last, best and final offer that is substantially similar to the contracts agreed to by 18 other unions, only costs taxpayers more money – approximately $2 million every day this drags on. As a result, today our administration filed an unfair labor practice against AFSCME Council 31 and is seeking damages for the $2 million each day we are prevented from implementing a contract that is fair to taxpayers and employees alike.”
*** UPDATE 1 *** The ULP filing is here.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Anders Lindall at Council 31…
“The real waste of taxpayer money is Governor Rauner’s stubborn refusal to negotiate with our union for nearly a year. All that time AFSCME members have been working hard to serve their communities.
“This filing is a disgraceful attempt to intimidate union members from exercising their legal rights. The governor may wish to dictate not negotiate, but he is not above the law.
“Instead of bringing frivolous claims before his appointed labor board, Governor Rauner should return to bargaining in good faith and work with us toward an agreement that’s fair to all. If he refuses to do so, any resulting litigation and the threat of a disruptive strike are Bruce Rauner’s fault alone.”
- Highland, IL - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:24 pm:
1.) Show your math.
2.) Are you sure you didn’t walk away?
- Truthteller - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
Rauner must be spending $2 million on his union-busting attorneys at Laner Muchin. He would save the taxpayers if he quit with the frivolous claims. Has anyone FOIA’d the law firms invoices ?
- Almost the Weekend - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
Merry Christmas Pat Quinn!
- Union proud - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:29 pm:
Logisticaly and bureaucratically it would be pretty much impossible at this point to change the health care plans before the next benefit choice period anyways.
And yeah, show your math. Because that “3 billion” is predicated on no one retiring for life of contract and no one stepped out.
- Thoughts Matter - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:31 pm:
Look. Once AFSCME has exhausted all legal remedies, they are then allowed to strike. Nowhere does it say they have to pay him to afford themselves of either option. Does he want them to skip the courts and go directly to strike?
- working stiff - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:31 pm:
==instead of working with us==
wait, who’s making demands and refuses to work with anyone unless getting the what he wants?
rauner looking like the screaming kid on the floor screaming for not getting the candy
- Yiddishcowboy - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:31 pm:
C’mon, counselor! Sheesh! Those who are knowledgeable about the AFSCME contract and the contracts with other labor groups understand that *the* big difference between the contracts relates to health insurance and the cost thereof. Start telling the truth, if that’s possible for you guys. And, until such a time that you can be truthful, put a sock in it!
- working stiff - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:32 pm:
== Does he want them to skip the courts and go directly to strike? ==
he campaigned out it (strike)
- up2now - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:35 pm:
Glad to see that a spirit of reconciliation is prevailing and that we all will soon be singing “Kumbaya” together.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:37 pm:
–.. fair to taxpayers and employees alike.”–
How come state employees don’t pay taxes?
- Hottot - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:37 pm:
So afscme gives Rauner a contract proposal, he walks away from the table without responding, declares and past, then the labor board that he appoints agrees with him and says that he and afscme are an impasse, and no demands afscme pays 2 million dollars a day for not agreeing with him that he and they are an impasse. He is the biggest cry baby if I have ever heard one!
- Norseman - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:42 pm:
It’s time to resurrect an old word. Rauner is a grassbowl.
- northsider (the original) - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:43 pm:
Bad faith filings are sanctionable.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:47 pm:
How frivolous and calculated to make AFSCME spend more on needless litigation. I’m pretty sure the labor board can’t award sanctions and he knows it. Even rubber stamps break at some point.
- Thoughts Matter - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:48 pm:
Rich -
Didn’t you have a post last week where Rauner said not implementing the contract was costing the state $3 million per day? Now he says $2 million per day?
- jim - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:49 pm:
Looks like the validity of the motion depends on whether the tolling agreement has expired. don’t see anyone address that issue. just the usual bloviations.
“Upon the Labor Board’s unanimous decision that the parties are at impasse, the tolling agreement between the administration and AFSCME officially terminated. Despite this, AFSCME continues to argue the tolling agreement still applies and the administration should be enjoined from implementing our last, best and final offer.
- Unsolicited Advice - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:50 pm:
Wasnt the point of an impasse ruling that he can implement the contract over afscme’s objections, but afscme has the right to strike if he does? Why would he expect or need afscme’s help? Also, if the court order is still stoping him from implementing the contract why not challenge the court order? This is so odd.
- Anon - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
40% of labor households voted for Pat Quinn. Good work.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
@Truthteller - Maybe they’ll be able to pay outside counsel less after the state fillls the new labor attorney position posted this month?
- jim - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
the trial lawyers and unions will match that in the blink of an eye. they also have unlimited funds.
- Kyle Hillman - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
So they really want the #Rahmdump out of the news, don’t they. It is only 4, time to fit one more story drop.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:55 pm:
===will match that in the blink of an eye===
It’s too early in the day to be that drunk.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:55 pm:
Like Trump telling his followers that he’s going to make the Mexicans pay for the wall.
How is this good faith?
It’s not even perfidy
It’s the blind rage of the malignantly callous.
No regard for who it hurts.
No regard for the consequences of collapse.
“Round he throws his baleful eyes that witnessed huge affliction and dismay mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate”
Milton Paradise Lost
- Union Dues - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:55 pm:
The Labor Board is not the final authority.
- Rogue Roni - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:55 pm:
So that’s how the governor will fund Illinois in absence of a budget!
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:56 pm:
Isn’t there a court order that says the tolling agreement is still in force? How can the Labor Board overrule a court?
- A guy - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:58 pm:
==It’s too early in the day to be that drunk.==
And, he’s not the only guy at that bar in that shape. Oy.
- Politically Incorrect - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:58 pm:
I believe that Rauner had the opportunity to request a bond in court when the injunction was entered. He had his opportunity to argue this issue.
- Union Dues - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:01 pm:
I assume he should file this against the court…somehow.
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:05 pm:
Would he like them to deposit it in his campaign account?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:07 pm:
The Great Grinch has spoken! Merry Christmas!
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:09 pm:
Unfair Labor Practice for not implementing the LBF offer AFSCME is still legally appealing? Rauner is truly off the rails.
- Anon - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:11 pm:
At 7% simple interest the per Diem on $11 Billion is about $2.1 million.
Can we charge Rauner for the interest?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:14 pm:
–Unfair Labor Practice for not implementing the LBF offer AFSCME is still legally appealing? Rauner is truly off the rails.–
Yeah, I don’t get that, either.
Exercising your right of appeal to the courts is an “unfair labor practice?”
He gets some curious legal advice sometimes.
- IRLJ - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:14 pm:
This kind of filing amid post-Labor Board litigation is so facially frivolous that it smells like mere public relations.
- Deft Wing - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:18 pm:
AFSCME won’t strike & surely doesn’t want to cooperate in implementing the Administration’s last offer, so they went to court to … stall.
In turn, now the Administration has filed an Unfair Labor Practice. That ULP will go as far as AFSCME’s tepid appeal — nowhere.
But the lawyers will do well while the non-stop, all-in campaign for 2018 chugs right along.
So we got that going for us.
- DJJ - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:19 pm:
When are the good people of Illinois going to realize that the Gov. and his investment cronies are buying up Illinois.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:26 pm:
At this time, Mr. Rauner needs to held fiscally accountable for the State Budget impass, from 42 issues down to 2 issues.
How frivolous were his points in the first place. Now $50,000,000 deposited in to his political campaign. What happened to the promise to be a one term governor?
Go away…. go away
- Ractin - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:27 pm:
For clarity, Quinn apointed 3/5 of that board. Just saying.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:29 pm:
=== What happened to the promise to be a one term governor? ===
I’ve seen that accusation made on Twitter, but I cannot find where he’s ever actually said that. He’s always said he’d limit himself to two terms.
Stop believing #fakenews
- Chicagonk - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:30 pm:
AFSCME is always quick to file a lawsuit, so seeing them complain about one from Rauner is rich
- Anon - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:31 pm:
Monday morning quarterback time but signing that rolling agreement in the first place was a big mistake. Look at all the problems and wastes of time and money it caused. The strike should have happened or Rauner should have caved back then.
- Anon - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:32 pm:
Tolling, not rolling. ^
- Nick Name - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 4:44 pm:
“Change is hard.”
Ain’t it just, Gov. 1.4 percent. Ain’t it just.