80 Comments - wordslinger - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 11:43 am: Is “Premier Staffing Services” working on the cuff? Does the governor have some double-secret-probation contingency fund in which he can use taxpayer money without an appropriation to pursue his political union-busting agenda? Geez, don’t you wish this guy would actually make some sort of effort on a positive agenda? - Sue - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 11:45 am: No way AFCSME calls a strike. The public won’t support them and probably would love to see costs reduced. Union’s only hope is that it can challenge the impasse declaration and postpone the final offer implementation. The Unin’s bigger concern should be the outcome of the Friedrich case on or about June 30. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, public Union membership will drop substantially and their ability to fund political campaigns electing Dems will really suffer - Anonymous - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 11:47 am: Cue the hysterics, just like the ones following the National Guard discussion last year. Contingency planning is something the state could have used more of these past few years, instead of reacting so often after the crisis occurs. - Johnnie F. - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 11:52 am: Did Lydia indicate that temporary employees would be paid for their services once Madigan (and the legislators he controls) agrees to the Rauner run-a-ground agenda. - Mama - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:04 pm: Johnnie F., Crossing the picket line is not a good idea. - Cassiopeia - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:04 pm: AFSCME raise proposal is ridiculous. They are not going to get much public support for that. Administration proposal does not seem that unreasonable. Sure the Health insurance increase seems like a lot on a percentage basis, but how much does it cost on an individual basis? - Demoralized - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:06 pm: ==Crossing the picket line is not a good idea.== I can tell you my wife will be crossing the picket line. We can’t afford her not working. And I’m aware of several others who will be doing that also. Which is why I don’t think a strike would be a very good idea. You’ll have people crossing the picket line and that will give the Governor big ammunition. He can say “look, even your members don’t like you.” - Politix - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:07 pm: It would be rather irresponsible not to have a contingency plan for public safety in the event of a strike. Non-issue. Very happy to finally see something in writing from AFSCME. The annual raise requests seem ridiculous in context of current climate, though it’s hard to see what concessions have been made on either side. I already pay $6,000/year in premiums for my “platinum” plan for fam of 4. Not really feelin’ a 67% increase. - Demoralized - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:07 pm: ==Sure the Health insurance increase seems like a lot on a percentage basis, but how much does it cost on an individual basis?== It’s double if you want to keep what you have. Maybe that’s reasonable to you. Doesn’t seem so reasonable to me. - burbanite - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:09 pm: Disagree with you Sue. Fair share employees are technically not Union members but the Union is obligated to provide them with representation. Full Union membership has increased under Rauner and I think it may increase depending on the SCOTUS ruling. If the SCOTUS rules for the complaining fair share employees, I will be interested to see if they wipe out the Unions obligation to represent the employee. I mean fair is fair, no money no service. - Politix - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:10 pm: “We can’t afford her not working.” Are you covered by the state’s health insurance? If so, there will be a lot of things you can’t afford if Rauner has his way. - Nick Name - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:10 pm: “AFSCME raise proposal is ridiculous. They are not going to get much public support for that.” It’s not submitted to the general public for a vote. “Administration proposal does not seem that unreasonable. Sure the Health insurance increase seems like a lot on a percentage basis, but how much does it cost on an individual basis?” Read the proposal. It’s all there. And for families with even minimal health problems, it could be ruinous. - Anon221 - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:12 pm: Can’t find a website for this company. Anybody trace the phone number?? and, I agree with the other posters, how is this going to be paid for??? Is this also part of the “You watch,” threat? - Federalist - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:17 pm: AFSCME is shooting itself. No way does the public support this type of raise. I will repeat, tie any increases to the SS increases. And tie such pay increases to health insurance in co-pays, deductibles out of pocket expenses. In other words a basic status quo type situation. Obviously some of the public are ‘resenters’ and haters of unions so it makes no difference. But I firmly believe that there would be overall support and it would put Rauner on the defensive - super Gus 123 - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:17 pm: Did this retired state police officer apply at the temp agency? If not why is CMS/others giving out personal information without authorization? - Norseman - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:19 pm: Interesting response. However, I didn’t AFSCME to tell me that Rauner’s folks were playing fast and loose with the facts. That’s SOP for them. Now I’m sure AFSCME is playing up there side, but on the trust meter Rauner fails miserably. I want to follow-up on Word’s point about the temp agency. I assume these folks, like so many in this Rauner era, are working on the cuff. The one thing for sure is that Rauner’s mode of operation is going to cost the state a ton in interest expense. I also wonder when a budget is finalized in 2019 (sorry couldn’t resist) whether we’ll discover a lot of improprieties in how this on the cuff operation was run. - Finally Out (and now very glad to be) - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:21 pm: Anon221–Did you try a search? Did a quick search and got hits on the first 3 entries. Problem is there are multiple companies with the same name so you’ll need more information to find out which one it is. - Politix - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:23 pm: “It’s not submitted to the general public for a vote.” This is a great point and I think a lot of people overestimate the power of public perception when it comes to union fights. Administrations more than unions are vulnerable in these situations. Consider this: there are 36,000 union members. That’s 36,000 households + their extended families. Add in all the teachers you know, and the nurses, the plumbers, the corrections officers and everyone else in public safety + their families. Do you think they will they be tsk tsking? No. - Robert the Bruce - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:23 pm: Very helpful side-by-side by AFSCME. The sides do seem quite far apart. Step increases plus pay increases 3 years out of 4 plus a pensionable bonus vs none of the above. - Sue - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:23 pm: Burbanite- membership in WS has dropped 70 percent. Willing to wait to see what happens but if your so sure the case won’t impact membership, then why have unions been fighting this so hard - Shanks - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:26 pm: I do not know many rthat I work with that would cross the picket line, I would imagine very few retirees would come back to work to stab those they worked with in the back. I can’t see anyone crossing the picket line, they cross the line is like agreeing to work for less. - Politix - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:29 pm: No one at my agency will be crossing the line. We have each others’ backs. - Kathryn - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:31 pm: Can someone explain to me how contractual workers at the Prescott Bloome building (Public Aid dept) are being paid without Illinois having a budget in place. They are employed by a private business One employee just sad he got a raise? Where is the money coming from? - A Jack - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:32 pm: When you cross that picket line, please remember that someday the strike will be over and you will probably not have a good working relationship with those that didn’t cross. - northsider - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:33 pm: Anon221 & Finally It’s Premiere Staffing Services According to their website they have a need for 200 office workers in and around Sangamon County starting Feb. 1 Scroll down their “Job Board”, it’s 3rd from last. http://www.premierstaffingsource.com/premier-20/ Also, they are a subsidiary of IMRG which calls itself a “domestic outsourcing resource”. - Honeybear - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:35 pm: Keep in mind the unions position is not it’s Last,Best,and Final. We were clearly still negotiating. Yes we were asking for increases. It’s a negotiation, you don’t give away the farm right up front. You keep giving up a little here a little there till you come to agreement. I know this is sounding defensive but I really don’t want to hear the trolls today. I’d personally be fine with no raises. Scale back the steps and give just a bit on healthcare. Do not mess with workplace issues. We can’t budge an inch there. NO SUBCONTRACTING!!!!! - Honeybear - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:38 pm: cassiopiea- the average cost per individual that they told us last night for healthcare is a 3100$ increase per year. - wapak - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:39 pm: I’ve heard of another person who took a test at Premier and was told the job would only be available if state workers go on strike. Not sure what the job was. As far as a strike goes, there are a large number of AFSCME members who won’t strike and will cross picket lines. Both sides here are being unrealistic but Rauner has managed to paint state workers as over paid and greedy and AFSCME has played into his hand by asking for wage increases. - Robert the 1st - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:40 pm: =Not really feelin’ a 67% increase.= Then pay the same as you do now for the “silver” plan Rauner is offering. I noticed that option was left out of the AFSCME memo. - Guzzlepot - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:42 pm: @Kathryn, that was my question as well. How is Premiere Staffing going to be paid without a budget and an appropriation? I am not nearly as knowledgeable as the other commenters, there must be something I am missing. - Mason born - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:43 pm: For everyone preaching strike and solidarity as well as preblaming those like Demoralized who state it isn’t an option to strike. Do you pay their bills? Can you tell them how long it will last? How about covering their COBRA co pays? Are you prepared to go without pay for months? What makes you think a gov who hasn’t moved one iota on a budget in 7+ months is going to tremble and fold because you strike? It’s big talk right now talk is cheap whether to strike or not is a very Hard personal choice not to be taken lightly. As a side note for those in the know should AFSCME strike and Rauner hold out is he bound to his last best final or can he modify it? - Anon221 - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:45 pm: Finally…- yep, several ways and couldn’t find it. Thanks northsider for the guidance. Just more my interest of what Rauner and Co. LLC is outsourcing. - Wake up - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:51 pm: Keep in mind with the increase in medical benefits and wage freezes, basically means you have agreed to lose money or work for less. Just like the “right to work” agenda would do for Illinois. With step increases, it keeps the turnover for that dept. low. If there is high turnover you will lose more money in the dept. plus, you will be short staffed until that person is trained and then they may quit. Lots of money going to be wasted on turnover of implemented. - GraduatedCollegeStudent - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:59 pm: ===Administration proposal does not seem that unreasonable. Sure the Health insurance increase seems like a lot on a percentage basis, but how much does it cost on an individual basis? === Not on an Illinois plan but I pay a 40% share now for my employer plan. The numbers work out so that I’m paying 20% of my GROSS pay just on health insurance. As for “why not the silver plan?” Presumably the silver plan has significantly higher copays, requires you to spend more, and covers less in general. At some point the coverage dictates the policy you sign up for. - A Jack - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:01 pm: Currently the state has 513 vacancies. Two hundred temp people wouldn’t even fill the existing vacancies, let alone have the skills to do any of the work while those with the knowledge are on strike. - Exactly - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:06 pm: I’m with Honeybear on this one. That memo is not our last best final offer. Most if not all of the people I work with understand that we will not be getting raises in this contract. That being said….once you state a position in negotiations, your next position has to be an advancement towards the other persons position in order for you to be “bargaining in good faith.” So until both sides’ offer comes closer to the no raises and pay a reasonable amount more for health insurance, you will continue to see memos like this that Rauner and his people will use to make it look like we all expect big raises, which we don’t. - efudd - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:13 pm: State Police are able to retire at 50 with 25 years of service, or 55 with 20 years… for a reason. They’ve seen and done things that would send most folks running home to cry in the fetal position. They’re burnt out, they’re done. And now this admin thinks it’s a good idea to re-hire them at an even older age? This guy couldn’t find a handle on a cup of coffee. - There is power in a union... - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:14 pm: If you’re gonna cross a picket line, do everyone a favor and look for another job. Picket lines are part of the deal when you take a job in a union shop. The deal is, the union will support and advocate for you in return for you walking out when there is a vote to walk out. Collective withholding of labor is the power behind all those pay and benefits you’ve been getting. Scabs have no honor. And don’t give me a hard luck story. Every single member has plenty of reasons not to cross. And most stand tall. This is the life we chose… And to the post, this has been going on for a year. Tons of retirees have gotten calls asking if they want to be put on a list for 70 day contracts. - Demoralized - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:23 pm: ==Then pay the same as you do now for the “silver” plan Rauner is offering.== Yeah. That’s what I want to do. Pay the same and get crappier coverage. - Cubs in '16 - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:24 pm: With social services being gutted maybe Diana has extra time on her hands… “Hi Joe, this is Diana, er…I mean Lydia from Premiere Staffing Services. Please call about a great opportunity I’m working on for the State of Illinois.” - Eugene - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:25 pm: Please remember that the AFSCME proposal is NOT their final offer. They have stated their willingness to move from that proposal, to continue negotiating. Also, Rauner has proposed 2% of payroll for political pay bonuses for their favored employees. So in terms of wage dollar costs, AFSCME and Rauner are not that far apart. The difference is that the Governor wants to choose a favored minority to get big raises (2% pf payroll applied to 25% of the workforce means an average 8% raise). And the criteria for “high performance” employees - they’ll tell us later, but it’s entirely at the administration’s discretion. - Demoralized - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:26 pm: ==Scabs have no honor.== If the unions strikes AND turns into a bunch of thugs by harassing people that cross the lines then that makes it 10 times worse. Again, you’ll play right into the Governor’s hands. Moral of the story: don’t strike. You can’t win. If you haven’t learned by now the Governor doesn’t care then I don’t know what to tell you. - There is power in a union... - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:31 pm: We’re supposed to just stand there and be polite to people stabbing us in the back? Scabs cause economic violence to every single worker in the bargaining unit. (And hurt themselves in the long run.) How can a scab even look their coworkers in the eye? Just look for another job. Most aren’t in unions. - Robert the 1st - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:34 pm: =Pay the same and get crappier coverage.= Sorry things aren’t all rainbows and unicorns right now. A few years ago AFSCME lobbied to raise everyone’s income taxes for the same level of crappy state services. What goes around comes around I suppose. - Demoralized - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:42 pm: ==We’re supposed to just stand there and be polite== I would hope that everyone acts civil if there is a strike and my guess is that most will. Nobody she works with is a bad person. But again, it’s up to you. Each person has to make their own decision. We’ve made ours. I hope none of us ever has to find out. - Bibe - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:43 pm: @ Robert the First I’m not sure what statement you were reading. The silver plan is in the AFSCME explanation. The actuaries have calculated the premiums and deductibles under that plan to be equivalent to the same doubling of costs as under the existing plan. If you think you can take the cheaper premiums and not get sick, the actuaries will take that into account in subsequent years when they tell you how much more you will pay the next year. - Secret Square - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:43 pm: “If the unions strikes AND turns into a bunch of thugs by harassing people that cross the lines” What about non-union, at-will employees working in the same office or building that union members may be picketing? - Honeybear - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:43 pm: Robert you personify the “malignant callousness”. - Demoralized - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:47 pm: ==What goes around comes around== Nice. We’ll all take note your compassion for the suffering of others. - Buzzie - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:48 pm: Post-strike relationships between strikers and picket line crossers are definitely poisoned. Also, post-strike, the “crossers” are equally disliked by their employers because they are identified as people who can’t be trusted since their future actions will considered to be only self-serving. - Robert the 1st - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:50 pm: =Robert you personify the “malignant callousness”.= Hilarious. I could say the same for any number of posters here constantly calling for tax hikes. 2 or 3% doesn’t seem like that much, but that’s 2 or 3% less going to someone’s 401k just hoping to retire by 70 so we can continue to fund pensions for state employees retiring as early as 50. - Jeep - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:50 pm: Her husband’s a state police retiree? Our union rep said state police officers are in a different union than AFSCME, plus for the public safety they’re essential personnel and not allowed to strike. However the rep said some of ISP administration staff are in AFSCME and they would be included in a strike. - pool boy - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:52 pm: Maybe AFSCME should bundle honeybears proposal @ 12:35 p.m. and send it to CMS. - Trolling Troll - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:54 pm: Let’s just day AFSCME is forced to strike. What big things that business rely on are coming up soon? State income taxes in March All trucking companies have to there IRA plates by June All statewide liquor license have to be renewed by May 1st. All vehicle registrations and license have to be renewed at some point NRA might get mad if there is no one to issue FOID cards or approve gun sales Just some things off the top of my head. So who will be doing all of those things? The superstars? - Demoralized - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:55 pm: Robert: So maybe you should have gotten a job with a better pension instead of whining about somebody else’s pension. Also, taxes are probably going up. ON EVERYONE. So, in addition to those health insurance premiums you are so gleefully cheering for, those same people ALSO have to pay those higher taxes. So there’s a second hit. So, no, everything isn’t rainbows and unicorns. Nobody has said it is. Difference between you and I is that I don’t cheer for somebody else to get hurt because it makes me feel better. - Secret Square - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:56 pm: “Picket lines are part of the deal when you take a job in a union shop. The deal is, the union will support and advocate for you in return for you walking out when there is a vote to walk out.” Which is why unions have strike funds to help members financially, right? I can see picket lines being “part of the deal” when you sign up to work in a union shop that has a history of going on strike — like, for instance, the steel mill in which my grandfather worked. His union generally went out on strike at least once per decade, and one of their strikes lasted 6 months. AFSCME, on the other hand, has never had a strike and I don’t think they ever seriously considered striking (because they didn’t have to) until the Quinn administration. So I would not be so quick to assume that anyone who took an AFSCME job with the State more than 5 years ago signed up knowing that “picket lines were part of the deal.” - Mason born - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 1:58 pm: Power What happens when the strike fails and your stuburness cost you co workers months of pay and the very hits your complaining about? What impetus does the gov have to fold? UAW and other unions succeed in strike largely because they cost the manufacturer market share. If Rich can’t buy a Cadillac and gm is on strike and can’t get one gm loses the chance of Rich becoming a Lincoln man. - Anonymous - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 2:01 pm: “- Sue - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 11:45 am: No way Rauner and Sue calls a lockout. The public won’t support them. There fixed it. - There is power in a union... - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 2:04 pm: Secret square, will county struck a couple years ago… - Secret Square - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 2:14 pm: OK, but I’m thinking primarily of the State AFSCME employees, plus, if Will County struck “a couple of years ago” that’s still within the 5-year period during which AFSCME strikes became, for lack of a better term, “thinkable”. - There is power in a union... - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 2:15 pm: Well you didn’t say that. You said Afscme never strikes. And they have. Recently. I believe it was November of 2013. - Demoralized - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 2:15 pm: I’m not sure why temp agencies would be contacting employees. I’m aware of contingency planning like this in the event of a work stoppage, but I’ve not heard of any action being taken on those plans. Seems kind of odd to me also that these calls would be coming from temp agencies. To my knowledge (and with the plans I’m aware of) temp agencies wouldn’t need to be involved (although their services could be used). You just call up a former employee and ask them if they want to work. If there’s a strike the rules go out the window in terms of staffing. - GraduatedCollegeStudent - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 2:18 pm: ===Hilarious. I could say the same for any number of posters here constantly calling for tax hikes. 2 or 3% doesn’t seem like that much, but that’s 2 or 3% less going to someone’s 401k just hoping to retire by 70 so we can continue to fund pensions for state employees retiring as early as 50. === I didn’t want to tell you this, but if you think that 401K money is going to be there when you’re 70, there’s a bridge in New York I’d like to sell you. So really it doesn’t matter if you put money (beyond the minimum) in that now or not. - Anonymous - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 2:19 pm: “- Honeybear - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 12:35 pm:” Your Union can not give up the Steps. My wife and I tend to agree with you 99.99% of the time. You are a smart lady but Step increases are needed and without them a lot of good people will leave including my wife. She took a big pay cut to go to The State and she wants to get her Step increases. She went for the pension and to give up on all of the travel. - Anonymous - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 2:20 pm: Much of what you see from afscme is laying ground work for the administrative law judge that may look at this issue to render opinion on impasse. Afscme is making it clear they are not at their last best offer. Afscme communicates with the legal process in mind as well as to their members and the public. From “facts are stubborn things”. - Anonymous - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 2:26 pm: “Facts” We have months and many twists and turns before a strike or accepting final offer at hand. afscme members should be taking this time to prepare though. Emergency funds should always be at the ready for whatever kind of emergency unfolds. - Honeybear - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 2:34 pm: Mason– Again if we get to even a strike vote our destruction as a state workforce is assured either way. It’s not like we can strike and win. There is no winning for anyone in a strike. At that point each union member must decide how they want to go. Striking will allow one the dignity of solidary. Many will try to find other work. Many will cross the line. Our state will begin an active economic collapse. If we accept Rauners terms the collapse will still happen just slower. People will be laid off within months and jobs outsourced some almost immediately. Regardless even letting Rauner win will collapse the state workforce. I’m sure at this point we are dead last in state workers per capita. If we get forced to a strike vote the damn will assuredly break. It’s just a matter of speed of collapse. State government is an incredibly complex organization. Rauners superstars in their hubris believed that they could remove the damn in a controlled way and control the waters of capital. The ONLY ways out I can see are 1) Another SB 1229 like bill that passes and is veto proof. Thus our contract will most likely be arbitrated. 2) ILRB rules that we are not at impasse and the appellate court confirms it. Thus we continue to negotiate for the remainder of Rauners term. 3) Through a combination of injunction and appellate court rulings the judiciary either forces back to the table for the remainder of Rauners term or it freezes the current contract in place just like our wages. 4. A miracle happens and Rauner follows the lead of Kasich in Ohio and ends his war on Labor. - Honeybear - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 2:44 pm: Anonymous 2:19 I suggested scaling back the steps not giving them up. My idea would be to keep them the same up to like step 5 out of the 8. Or have the steps start even higher and go to just a smidgeon for step 8. Hey I get it I’m on the lower rungs of the step ladder and I sure sure do want to move up on that ladder. I think those who have been here longer should just be happy with the pay they have. Was that clearer? Bigger at step 1 and almost nothing at 8. I actually think the old timers would go for that knowing that the young ones would survive. - Honeybear - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 2:48 pm: Bless you Pool Boy but I leave the negotiations in the capable hands of our bargaining committee. I am so thankful for them. God am I thankful. Thank you so much for your hard work. We know you are doing your best. - Anonymous - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 2:54 pm: AFSCME has no experience negotiating with anyone they have not bought and paid for. Should have hired professional negotiators. Does anyone know if AFSCME administrators will continue to except a salary during a strike? Will they get medical insurance? Everyday I here more and more excuses why people will have to cross the picket line. Whatever happens, Rauner wins big. AFSCME is out of their depth here. - Anonymous - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 3:05 pm: Honey ear Labor board will determine if in fact/law a hearing with administrative law judge is warranted. The all will then hold a hearing and render decision. This can be appealed. This thing has a long way to go and afscme has laid ground work all along to show that they are not at impasse. From ” facts”. - Ghost - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 3:14 pm: Illinois has an anyscab law on government. it prohibits hiring temp workers in the event of a lockout also public safety workers cant strike, but theycan get interest arb. so agscme could demnad to arb the doc folks etc if the state is at an impass. that arb might give some guidance to both sides l…. - burbanite - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 3:36 pm: Sue you completely misinterpreted my statement. Might want to read it again. I wasn’t talking about the effects on a unions revenue, I was talking about effects on its membership numbers and I struggle to believe SCOTUS would say they don’t have to pay, but the Union has to continue to provide fair share people with the benefits, but I don’t read minds. And sorry I have no idea what WS is. - Chicagonk - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 4:05 pm: If that offer isn’t AFSCME’s last and final offer, what are they waiting on? I don’t understand AFSCME’s leadership at all. - Politix - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 4:18 pm: “A few years ago AFSCME lobbied to raise everyone’s income taxes for the same level of crappy state service” It never ceases to amaze me the anger people have for AFSCME. It’s like, you really must not have enough to worry about if you’re THAT angry, showing that much aggression on a blog you know union workers will read. Illinois has the fourth smallest number of state workers per capita of any state in the union. When it comes to dollars and cents, we aren’t the problem. We could vote to dismantle ourselves and there’d still be no budget, Illinois’d still be in the red, and Rauner still wouldn’t be able to get a bill passed. Don’t be a banned word. - steve schnorf - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 4:33 pm: It may have changed in recent years but when I worked at BoB, only 50% or fewer AFSCME workers received a step increase in any given year - RNUG - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 4:36 pm: Someone asked why the temp agencies? A couple of thoughts come to mind. If it is the temp agency doing the hiring, then they are functioning as a body shop contractor and will be the ones actually paying the “employee”. It lets the “employees” get paid as long as the temp agency is willing to front the money and wait for repayment or the temp agency crafts the “employee” contract specifying payment only when and if the State pays. And now a special note about 2002 ERI retirees. Under the terms of that ERI, those retirees can come back to work for the State either on a “75 day” contract at the same pay rate as 2002 or they can go through a body shop. “2002″ retirees can not directly contract with the State for employment or they LOSE their pension and the State agency contracting with the retiree loses the funds assigned to that contract. Body shop hiring gets around the lower pay, 75 day limit, and rehiring restriction that group has. - Politix - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 4:42 pm: I haven’t had a step increase in at least 5 years. - Norseman - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 4:46 pm: === It lets the “employees” get paid as long as the temp agency is willing to front the money and wait for repayment or the temp agency crafts the “employee” contract specifying payment only when and if the State pays. === RNUG is on it. Demoralized may educate us, but I was never under the impression that the temp agencies contracted by CMS where that capitalized. In other words, I’m wondering how these agencies have the reserves to withstand a long impasse. Still wondering whether all the “i’s” have been appropriately dotted and the “t’s” legally crossed. - RNUG - Friday, Jan 22, 16 @ 4:57 pm: -Norseman- Figure $5K/month/employee. That’s a $1.4M monthly expense. If someone had, say $20M to just throw around for fun, that would pay for 14 months. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.