More layoffs
Wednesday, Aug 5, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Erickson…
Despite a court ruling that allows workers to be paid even though there is no state budget, Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration is planning to lay off more than 120 employees on Sept. 30.
Layoff notices are being handed out this week to 33 conservation police officers, nine workers at the World Shooting Recreational Complex in Sparta, 54 staffers associated with the Illinois State Museum and four Sangamon County-based employees of the state’s coal promotion office.
In addition, 24 employees at the Illinois Commerce Commission, which regulates utilities, will receive pink slips as part of a reorganization. Other workers are sprinkled around various state agencies.
The layoff notices are the latest move in the ongoing budget impasse that has roiled state government. Until now, layoffs associated with the stalemate between Rauner and Democrats who control the General Assembly have been mostly limited to not-for-profit social service agencies that rely on state funds to stay afloat.
I’m hearing more are on the way.
* The union representing conservation police officers has created a map showing where the layoffs are. Click the pic for a larger version, but also check this out…
Since the beginning of 2015, IDNR has filled over 180 positions, including 161 Temporary and 29 Permanent. 59 of these have been since July 1st.
Interesting.
* The map…
- historic66 - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:03 am:
I’m glad Bruce is shaking up Springfield by eliminating conservation officers. That will change the culture of state government.
I’m not impressed.
- historic66 - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:05 am:
Oh, and shuttering the state museum. That will really get people demanding change.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:05 am:
I’m no longer on top of what is happening at the ICC, but what I had witnessed as of last week is union-busting and politics. There are many new Rauner hires filling new positions in their Chicago office, and firings and lay-offs of union people in Springfield. These are not budgetary moves because the lay-off numbers are easily matched by the number of new ICC hires coming in at higher salaries.
Claims that the budget is causing these lay-offs isn’t true. This is old fashioned politics.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:06 am:
Any idea how many merit comps who came in during Quinn are getting laid off? Or is it all union workers?
- Sue - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:06 am:
No one wants to see folks lose their jobs but like it or not- this is the future as every available dollar goes into retiree costs- CPS will face the same- Its too bad no one who has interviewed Forest Claypool has bothered to ask why is it that for the decade in which CPS received extra formula dollars under the deal Daley cut with the State, and for which CPS was to pay more into its pension fund, why did Daley declare a decade long pension holiday- Its a little rich for the City to complain about its sole responsibility for its teachers pension fund when the City failed to make any contribution whatsoever all the while the State was picking up more of the education costs on a per student basis
- Abe the Babe - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:09 am:
We don’t need those pesky utility regulators anyway. Always a drain on the bottom line.
ComEd knows best.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:10 am:
These layoffs are Rauner’s and all Rauner’s. He owns them despite his poor efforts to blame it on Madigan.
- Anon - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:11 am:
Can someone explain to me whats going on in the “Check this out” part?
- Sue - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:15 am:
Norseman- Please explain how any State layoff is Rauner’s fault when he inherited an out of balance budget and a decade of overspending and insufficient revenue?
- walker - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:15 am:
Layoffs are one thing. Better management is another. (Not saying anything about these specific moves.) Even after a rational budget agreement, some people will be let go.
Some ad hoc intel: Two of my friends who work in state agencies are impressed with the management smarts and willingness to listen exhibited by Rauner appointees at the top. Interestingly, both new bosses were experienced in state government with previous GOP ties.
I expected frustration and despair, and got hope instead.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:17 am:
==Please explain how any State layoff is Rauner’s fault==
He’s the one who is issuing the layoff notices. Please explain how that isn’t “his fault.” You can try to play this little blame game some of you like to play but none of you has explained how doing that accomplishes anything other than stoking your own partisans beliefs. Enough whining and more doing.
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:21 am:
This is certainty improving the business climate of Illinois. snark
- Ghost - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:21 am:
Sue Rauner has increased salaries for his people creating the highest payrol in State history. Also Rauner refuses to support the tax structure which actually balanced the budget. How is it not his fault if he does layoffs while stripping away revenue and creating record payroll for his people?
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:22 am:
Rauner has grounded the flight department, why no layoffs at the Division of Aeronautics?
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:22 am:
Oh, I forgot, the flight department remains ready for emergencies.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:25 am:
Governors own budgets, agencies, policies, hires, and in this case, layoffs…
The Press Shop trying to say “Speaker Madigan and the Legislators he controls…” is the reason for the layoffs…
How weak is Bruce Rauner and… why was Rauner elected if Gov. Rauner is unaware of the duties of the office, what the signature and decisions of a governor mean, and worse, oblivious to the fundamentals of the Executive of the state of Illinois.
- Sue - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:25 am:
Ghost- when you back out the Governor’s salary which he has declined- is the total salary budget higher then under Quinn for the Gov’s office?
- nixit71 - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:26 am:
@Sue-Excellent points. To take it a step further, in 10 years, Cook County will have 2 retirees for every worker. That means the normal (taxpayer) cost will grow higher and more quickly as the years pass. That’s only one county.
The taxpayers will continue to be diminished and impaired for decades to come with no relief or solutions in sight.
- Will - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:27 am:
What’s next, canceling deer season? If there aren’t enough staff to issue permits and regulate the harvest, is there any other option?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:34 am:
- Sue -,
This isn’t Sophmore’s dorm room.
The governor not taking a salary versus the staff, how about Arduin? Her monies offset the governor, right? And the Education appointments, the governor’s salary offsets that too…
How many times are we going to count Rauner’s “no salary” as the “savings” for any Rauner staff salary questions.
Let’s count Rauner’s salary once, and be done with all that wonderful fiscal savings…
- Pelonski - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:39 am:
Unfortunately, I expect this is just the start of multiple rounds of layoffs in most agencies. I don’t like to see it, but given the state of the budget, it is not unexpected.
Both sides are responsible since both parties in the GA agreed to the pension ramp which is a major factor in the budget problems. Rauner has made the problem worse by refusing to restore the income tax increase which was actually digging us out of the hole. Instead of focusing on blame, we shold focus on solutions that are acceptable to both parties.
- burbanite - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:45 am:
People seem confused, perhaps by switching the order of these statements it will be clearer:
“Since the beginning of 2015, IDNR has filled over 180 positions, including 161 Temporary and 29 Permanent. 59 of these have been since July 1st.”
“Layoff notices are being handed out this week to 33 conservation police officers, nine workers at the World Shooting Recreational Complex in Sparta, 54 staffers associated with the Illinois State Museum and four Sangamon County-based employees of the state’s coal promotion office.”
“In addition, 24 employees at the Illinois Commerce Commission, which regulates utilities, will receive pink slips as part of a reorganization.”
“- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:05 am:
I’m no longer on top of what is happening at the ICC, but what I had witnessed as of last week is union-busting and politics. There are many new Rauner hires filling new positions in their Chicago office, and firings and lay-offs of union people in Springfield. These are not budgetary moves because the lay-off numbers are easily matched by the number of new ICC hires coming in at higher salaries.”
Get it now?
- Phil - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:45 am:
The layoffs at ICC impact more than just how Com Ed (or Ameren) operates. There’s two or three pipeline companies that are seeking approval of projects to move crude oil from N. Dakota and Canada through Illinois towards other parts of the U.S. These are fairly complex projects. Would be nice to have competent staff at ICC to review the projects and ensure that they’re safe, necessary and meet other legal requirements.
- Slippin' Jimmy - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:46 am:
Springfield Command Staff= Zero Layoffs? LOL
- Willi P - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:46 am:
The income tax increase is only a band aid until something is done with current pensions that are protected under the state constitution.
- Tone - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:47 am:
Pelonski is on to something. The pension ramp up was always a stupid idea. Why not straight line the payments out further. Cut spending and headcount.
Then see where we are. Tax increases are the last resort.
IL cannot afford higher taxes, we are losing people and job growth is pathetic.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:50 am:
If you have never read the CPO monthly reports, they are a real eye-opener. These men and women not only protect our natural resources, they also encounter very dangerous situations, and are a valuable asset to the geographic areas they cover. Not to mention the collaborative support they provide to other local and state law enforcement units.
http://dnr.state.il.us/law3/report/index.htm
***
BTW- The region 3 Clinton office was the old Visitor’s Center for the Clinton Power Station. It leaked and had mold. They moved the staff to the Mascoutin ranger station site at Clinton Lake.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:55 am:
Sue, please explain how these layoffs are not Rauner’s. You through out hyperbole about an inherited out of balance budget and a decade of overspending and insufficient revenue, but you don’t explain why these layoffs and why now.
Didn’t your hero address the FY 15 shortfall? We’re now operating on a court ordered version of a continuing approp for personal services. They are paying based upon FY 15 levels. Your hero wanted this court action. So now he decides to layoff people who were part of FY 15 personal services and politically blame Madigan. That doesn’t make sense and if you weren’t so gaga over everything Rauner, you would know that.
- A Jack - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:04 am:
Later the Governor can say that Bambi’s mother was killed and it was all Madigan’s fault.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:08 am:
https://www.facebook.com/101691346567146/photos/pcb.817329241670016/817326981670242/?type=1&theater
All of these new CPOs are to be laid off in Sept. according to the map above.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:27 am:
If you’re a governor, the good thing about layoffs is that, after a suitable amount of time has passed, you can contract out for the same work or bring in new hires when no one is looking.
- Wow - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 11:37 am:
sad sad day!
- Cassandra - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 12:01 pm:
These employees presumably have layoff rights, as nearly all of the state workforce is unionized. Couldn’t some of them, by contract, bid into the jobs the Rauner admin is filling. The layoff regulations are, I am sure, complex, but there is the principle of last hired first fired in most union contracts-and the Rauner admin has been hiring. Also, there are cross-bidding rights across some agencies. Stewards, I’m sure, know all these regs.
There were layoff scares under Quinn too, probably under Blago, though I can’t recall. But few actually got laid off. Seems to be a traditional political maneuver in Illinois.
I still think this is saber-rattling.
- foster brooks - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 12:05 pm:
The deer poaching business will thrive
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 12:12 pm:
Cassandra-
What CPO jobs is Rauner bidding out/filling! We just graduated 13 new CPOs to help fill a backlog of critical openings. These new officers were to start their Field Training this month, and are now going to be laid off NEXT month.
Are you suggesting we throw away the tax dollars that were spent training these CPOs so that they can go and work for the ICC in Chicago?
Seriously! I guess the nose is more important than the face! http://grammarist.com/usage/cut-off-your-nose-to-spite-your-face/
- Mama - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 12:39 pm:
“Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration is planning to lay off more than 120 employees on Sept. 30.”
Rich, is the 120 lay-offs you are reporting in addition to the 94 lay-off notices reported by Doug Finke at SJ-R?
- Mama - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 12:45 pm:
- Sue - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:15 am:
You should read VM’s comment at 10:05.
- Mama - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 1:03 pm:
Out of the 33 Conservation positions eliminated by the governor, 25 of those positions are held by veterans. Did the state get money from the feds to hire those vets?
- The Dude Abides - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 1:16 pm:
They are reporting 171 layoffs total. 107 DNR, 17 IDOT, 24 ICC, Agriculture 8, DCEO 8 and 7 IEMA.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 1:16 pm:
How many of the 13 in the new class of CPOs were Vets?
Rauner needs to rework his websites- “We give our support to the men and women who have given theirs…”
http://work.illinois.gov/vetsopgm.htm
- Leave a Light on George - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 1:18 pm:
It was related to me that DNR was told not to hire the CPO class by Rauner’s folks but they went ahead and did so anyway in the last days of the Quinn administration. That supossedly put DNR law enforcement on top Gov. Rauner’s bad boy list. Hence, the large number of veteran officers on the lay off list to go along with the newbies.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 1:30 pm:
I’m sure Rich had this posted earlier in Cap Fax, but it’s worth a read again in light of today’s headlines:
http://thesouthern.com/news/opinion/editorial/winkeler/winkeler-rauner-budget-not-friendly-to-the-outdoors/article_7e9682b0-737d-5431-8859-a8e3eb36d964.html
- Nobody important - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 1:42 pm:
If Madigan and his super-majority democrats had not spent the state into the poor house, this would not be happening. Hope you all are happy. Your spend - happy ways are starting to hurt real people.
- Jack Stephens - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 1:43 pm:
Who cares that Bruce is not collecting a salary. That’s his problem….not the states.
- Mama - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 1:50 pm:
I have a feeling corporations think conservation officers are not business friendly. (They enforce the law). Rauner only cares about the things that benefit businesses.
- Concerned Hunter - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 1:51 pm:
Why does Region 3 only have one Game Warden laid off?
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 1:54 pm:
NI- “Hope you all are happy.”
Who is the “you” you refer to? Most everyone is tired of all these games, but why can’t Rauner stop punishing his “children” with these viscous time-outs? He’s got three more years to get what he wants. As it has been said before, why try to get it all done in less than a year? Other than the reflection in the mirror, who is he trying to impress? You can lose a few battles and still win the war (not that I support his Turnaround), and common sense should tell you that braking is better than foot to the floor when approaching cliffs.
- Leave a Light on George - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 2:16 pm:
“Why does Region 3 only have one Game Warden laid off?”
Only had 11 to start with.
- Lefty9 - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 2:18 pm:
Concerned hunter-
It is my understanding the reason for different areas having different number of layoffs is due to number of CPO’S in the regions. Regions with higher numbers of CPO’s have more layoffs and vice versa fewer numbers equals fewer layoffs
- Southern Illinois Hoopdee - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 2:51 pm:
Anon221, if you are referring to driving off a cliff, IL has been heading toward driving off the fiscal cliff for many years.
- outdoorsman - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 2:52 pm:
I would hope that anyone can understand you can’t regulate or protect ANYTHING with 80 officers, let alone an entire state and ALL its resources. What most of you fail to realize is that there are many facets to the job of a conservation police officer apart from hunting and fishing regulation. These officers are responsible for enforcing timber buying/selling/transportation, waterway/boating enforcement, state park/lands enforcement, water rescue/recovery, and endangered/exotic animal trade, to name a few. If you think that other state, local, or county agencies can pick up that kind of slack, you are sorely mistaken.
- Tennbowhunter - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 3:31 pm:
Does this mean I dont have to pay the $600.00 for permits & licenses to deer hunt in Illinois this year?
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 3:33 pm:
Southern Illinois Hoopdee-
But why stomp on the gas now? Has that method ever been effective in the long run? Wouldn’t it be better to accept the fact(s) that there are better ways and means to accomplish a turnaround? Just being elected governor does not make the rest of us his venture capitalist investors. He can smirk all the way to his bank accounts, but we’ll all be paying on his “limited” interest for years to come.
- vole - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 3:46 pm:
Rauner pressed his outdoorsman bona fides to the outdoors constituency during the campaign. Why he would now put this much more pain on the DNR which has already suffered more than its fair share of budget cuts under previous administrations?
The sad thing about all this is that Illinois overall is a prosperous state with a large population of high income earners. A progressive income tax would more than make up these budget deficits. So, why does the argument that Illinois does not have the money carry the day without any serious pushback?
So, let the DNR go to hell. The rich will continue to bid up the price of land for their private hunting parcels and push the locals out of lands they have hunted for generations. By god, lets hope some of the poor locals don’t get the inclination to do some serious poaching on some of Rauner’s rich buddys’ big buck enclaves while no CPOs are within a hundred miles. Because that would be so sad.
- Fed up! - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 4:07 pm:
I do believe Governor Rauner should reconsider laying off conservation. Not only are they protecting our wildlife, they are also protecting our citizens! I know iof several counties that have no COP see if several counties that are already without a CPO and poaching will be running rampant and meth making in isolated areas will again be on the rise if they know there won’t be patrols!
- jimbo26 - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 4:12 pm:
Notice the number of temp workers hired. Wonder if those are to replace workers if the Governor forces a strike?
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 4:18 pm:
A lot of agencies hire temp workers in the summer months. That might not be a factor in all this mess.
- vole - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 4:28 pm:
Temp workers most likely were hired as seasonal casuals at state park sites, biologist assistants, etc. Grass mowing, storm cleanup, trash pickup, painting, etc. There could probably have been more hired had there been permanent employees at some sites to supervise them.
I saw a local TV news feature about horse back rider complaining about the unkept, un mown conditions at Jubilee State Park. Considering the woman had the means to own a horse and to haul it around to a state park site, the irony was kind of rich. So, yeah, try to attract more businesses by degrading public resources.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 4:45 pm:
Any updates on the investigation of Quinn’s hires at DOT?
Seems like those would be some of the first ones demoted or laid off if they were found to be improperly hired or promoted.
- The Budman - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 4:50 pm:
We’re going to need a bigger boat to get the beer kegs out to the state duck blind this year!!
- vole - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 5:13 pm:
Budman,
Yeah, I see the CPO in Mason County, home of the Havana Ducks, was included in the layoff. Gotta be some grins down at the Brick tavern in Bath (home of the infamous Hamm family, wildlife outlaws) with this news.
- Nobody Sent - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 6:46 pm:
Vanilla Man is right. Long time non-political types have been cut from the ICC while new positions have been created for campaign workers and administration favored folks, often at higher salaries than what is customary at the ICC. ICC funding is separate from the GRF too.
- Rackgetter - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 6:50 pm:
I was going to buy a new bow from Scheels this year, but .270 rounds are cheaper, just ask the Hamms!! A .270 shoots fine from the truck. #hangthemhigh
- Cops Lives Matter - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 8:20 pm:
Compromising public safety by laying off men and women that put their lives on the line (many of which are veterans that put their lives on the line for this country) is not the answer to our state’s budget problems!! I hope Gov. Rauner realizes that and does not lay off our Conservation Police Officers!!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 8:56 pm:
The strange part is that these positions are not even funded through GRF money. Some of the officers will have recall and bumping rights. Also, since they are veterans, they will be first in line for a job. I am just trying to figure this out. Is he trying to appease to a more conservative base for hunters? Is he getting complaints about the officers in these counties during hunting seasons?
- Outdoorswomen of Illinois - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 9:00 pm:
I just don’t know what will happen to this area (Springfield) after all these CPOs are laid off. I spoke with my CPO the other day and he mentioned they were already shorthanded. According to this map, the Springfield area will only have two officers. How are two CPOs going to cover 8 counties?
- Dottie - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 9:09 pm:
Get rid of the 55 (democratic party) staff assistants that were improperly hired at IDOT. Most use their political ties to do nothing.
- Timmy DOT - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 9:20 pm:
Disappointing watching the improperly hired 55 at dot do nothing, complain about the govenor and they even campaigned against him. Its a no-brainer - Lay them off
- btowntruth - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 9:41 pm:
outdorsman and vole nailed it.
I don’t think our overnor (See how I dropped the G?) realizes how bad of a move this is.
- Mountainman - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 9:49 pm:
Bobcat season starts THIS year!! #killemall
- MyTwoCents - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:07 pm:
I would think most of the outdoor/conservation groups would be none to happy with this decision from the supposedly pro-conservation huntin’ governor. And let’s be real, the CPO layoffs are not a budget necessity. There are other options out there.
- Fosterz - Wednesday, Aug 5, 15 @ 10:17 pm:
Please reconsider laying off the Conservation officers. The state needs them. Certainly there are other ways to cut money than this. Please figure this out.
- Outlawaverider - Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 9:58 am:
I’m waiting until next year to transfer my title & get the $60.00 registration sticker for my ski boat!! No CPOs=no problem!
- Sabiki Unlimited - Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:49 am:
5-6″ crappie fillet just as easy as those 9-10″ ones in State reg lakes!!
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:02 am:
I can’t believe this state would treat our Veterans this way. I have a hard time believing Rauner knows how many Veterans he is laying off. I called his office to let him know how disappointed I am.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:03 pm:
No, laying off anyone, let alone veterans, does not paint a pretty picture of his infant and inexperienced administration.