Rauner bites back at union leaders
Thursday, Jul 28, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As Tony Arnold reports, and as you’ve undoubtedly seen if you’ve been watching our live convention coverage posts, a long parade of union leaders has denounced Gov. Rauner at the daily Illinois delegation breakfasts this week, sometimes in a profane manner. The governor’s office responded…
These comments demonstrate the lack of judgment and reasonableness of the leaders who are marching our state workers toward a September 1 strike.
National union leaders could care less about Illinois’s state employees or our worst-in-the-nation economic situation.
These national union leaders want to stir up unrest in Illinois so they can use our workers to fundraise for their national organizations.
Apparently local labor leaders are willing to let their own members be used in that way and that is wrong.
- RNUG - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:22 pm:
There’s that made up September 1 date again …
Must think a September strike would be better for him than the unions.
- Trolling Troll - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:24 pm:
He is right. Anyone who resorts to name calling seriously lacks good judgement.
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:24 pm:
Memo to Rauner crew: The ‘divide and conquer’ tactics aren’t working and won’t work. In fact, it has united us like never before. Your silly little talking points are tired.
- Lou Brown - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:31 pm:
It’s “couldn’t care less.”
Geez.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:31 pm:
===these national union leaders want to stir up unrest in Illinois so they can use our workers to fundraise for their national organizations.===
Maybe. Or maybe the thinking is, if organized labor loses in Illinois, it can lose everywhere.
Rauner and the corporate interests he represents in this fight will be emboldened by victory. A defeat, on the other hand, will make the next member of the oligarchy think twice before pushing right-to-work somewhere else.
Illinois is the battleground. Rauner might be the only person surprised that national labor leaders are actively involved here.
He ought to be flattered.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:32 pm:
Could he elaborate on “Illinois’s” (poor editing) worst in the nation economic situation? What does that mean? Rauner sounds like Trump, spitting on Illinois all the time.
- X-prof - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:32 pm:
Sorry for not keeping up. Is Sept. 1 the date Bruce plans to force his strike?
- Honeybear - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:32 pm:
UGGGGGGGGhhhhh, the perfidy
- OneMan - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:37 pm:
== Maybe. Or maybe the thinking is, if organized labor loses in Illinois, it can lose everywhere. ==
47th Ward
IMHO that happened when Michigan went right to work.
- Norseman - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:37 pm:
Maybe he has the word that the Labor board will rubber stamp his contract by Aug. 31st. /s
- Wensicia - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:43 pm:
==the lack of judgment and reasonableness==
Back atcha’, governor, concerning your exposed emails and what you think about union teachers.
- Ghost - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:45 pm:
he makes a good point, its not like he is at the helm and has failed to solve anything; or that he took a state with a revenue surplus paying down its debt into the fnancial mess its in today
- Nick Name - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:46 pm:
Again with the September 1 horse hockey: a “fact” totally made up by Rauner general counsel Jason “we have heard” Barcley.
Jeez!
Oh, and it’s “couldN’T care less,” geniuses.
- burbanite - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:49 pm:
47th Ward is spot on.
- tired of politics - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:50 pm:
There will be no strike on September 1.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:51 pm:
If you could care less, you do care. Grammar superstars?
- The Captain - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 4:53 pm:
Rauner’s team feels the need to respond to comments made in another state to a room full of partisan politicos (not voters) that haven’t received much more than minimal attention back home.
Imagine if the Democrats and labor had a coordinated, persistent messaging campaign going on back here in Illinois aimed at voters at any point in the last two years? Team Rauner would take the bait, they always do. That would have been something.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 5:10 pm:
=worst in the nation economic situation==
A situation he has helped create with the gleeful grin of the Grinch.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 5:17 pm:
Your grammar lesson for today;)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=om7O0MFkmpw
- Henry Francis - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 5:19 pm:
What happens on September 2 and there is no strike?
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 5:20 pm:
Donna or Linda woulda caught that typo lol.
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 5:20 pm:
“These national union leaders want to stir up unrest in Illinois so they can use our workers to fundraise for their national organizations.”
That Jim Crow-era “outside agitator” talk sure hasn’t aged very well.
– MrJM
- Chicago 20 - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 5:22 pm:
- Anyone who resorts to name calling seriously lacks good judgement.
What is good judgement in today’s reality drama television news programming?
Should the union leader say, “I respectfully disagree with Governor Rauner on this issue”.
Would the press report that response?
Certainly not.
To be heard in today’s media emotional responses to factless baseless dogma is now a requirement.
- Bibe - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 5:26 pm:
What is this fundraising he thinks unions are doing? Selling some T Shirts? You think he’d know better how his enemy is structured and works by now.
- Joe M - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 5:43 pm:
Maybe he meant to say that Sept 1st there will be a lockout. At any rate he sure seems to have Sept 1st on his mind.
- Trolling Troll - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 5:45 pm:
Chicago 20
That was heavy snark. The guv has been calling MJM corrupt since before I can remember. I am squarely on your side.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 6:13 pm:
The key now is for unions to unite and not repeat 2014, when many union members voted for Rauner. I hope they are disabused now.
- Macbeth - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 6:17 pm:
The constant Sept 1 “threat” may be laying the groundwork for an end of August lock-out.
I know Rauner promised he wouldn’t. But I’m beginning to think that that’s exactly what’s about to happen.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 6:30 pm:
Thanks, Bruce, for knowing what’s best for me and keeping my pay frozen at Step 2 until who knows when. I didn’t need that money to make ends meet or anything. /s
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 6:41 pm:
Maybe he didn’t catch is own press shops work on Cloonen today. Hypocrite much governor?
Just say blah blah blah and we will know what you mean and it will save everyone some time.
- Present - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 7:15 pm:
Nope, saving my fundraising efforts for local.
- steward - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 7:53 pm:
Wow governor, good thing half the teachers are illiterate or they might take issue with what you said… /s
And there is that sept 1 date again. September 1st was never our idea. It’s when we thought the governor would impose terms. If the labor board doesn’t rule by September, he can’t impose terms. If he doesn’t impose terms, then there is no strike. We’re not the ones that want one. Rauner should come back to the table.
- Don Verdean - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 9:06 pm:
You’re right, Bruce. Those union bosses are trying to trick me. Even though you froze my pay I know you’re the one who cares about me. Maybe someday you’ll put it back if I’m good. /s
- City Zen - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 9:35 pm:
In perusing some of these national union leader compensation packages on the DOL website, it’s just more angry rich men yelling at another rich man.
Terry O’Sullivan $675,000
Jorge Ramirez $300,000
Lee Saunders $350,000
- triedtired - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 9:41 pm:
I worked for a large state agency for 36 yrs. I started in the union. I joined mgmt (non-union)and my experience with AFSCME forced me to retire. I spent almost all of my time on union grievances. I managed a large accounting dept and spent absolutely no time doing accounting related work. Most of the grievances were frivolous. AFSCME is completely out of control. I’m all in for Rauner taking on the unions.
- anon - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 9:52 pm:
It’s real simple. If you are a Union Member you better make sure you vote in November for the races that really count. Democrat for State Rep. and State Senator. Politics is local. Nothing more important than voting your pocket book.
- triedtired - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 9:58 pm:
I worked for a large state agency for 36 yrs. I started in AFSCME and went into (non-union) mgmt. after about 10 yrs, The last 10 yrs I spent almost all of my time on employee grievances-most never upheld and many frivolous. I was in an upper mgmt. accounting position and basically did no accounting work-only administrative personnel/grievance work. I didn’t get any raises either while these grievance-filing employees got theirs. That’s why I’m all in for Rauner’s union fight.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:04 pm:
“What happens on September 2 and there is no strike?”
Madigan, and the AFSCME he controls…
- Property of IDOC - Thursday, Jul 28, 16 @ 10:51 pm:
Triedtired @ 9:58
You mean the union forced you to move into a merit comp, upper menagement position; which came with no guarantee of pay raises, where you were directed to cover administrative duties… and now you’re mad at them, because that’s exactly what you got? Hmmm…
- Harvest76 - Friday, Jul 29, 16 @ 7:11 am:
Triedtired, let’s look at it from another point. I’m a steward I. A shop that has filed no grievances in 4 years. The reason? Good managers who work with the employees to solve problems. Maybe the problem is you? Also, your surprise that people who collectively negotiate a contract got raises and you didn’t really speaks to your general unawareness of theach power 9f numbers. You struck out on your own and got cut down. Tell us again how the Union did this to you?
- Politix - Friday, Jul 29, 16 @ 8:28 am:
Silly Rauner keeps bringing up this magical September 1 date when afscme members know that’s not happening.
We know there wouldn’t be a strike without a vote and we know we haven’t voted.
We know a admin judge hasn’t even made a decision on the impasse yet.
We know the Labor Relations Board would need to then accept or reject the judge’s decision.
We know that if they reject a decision that there is no impasse, there is an appeals process.
So keep dreamin, gov. And quit lying.
I’ve noticed this press shop feels compelled to put out a written statement reacting to everything and everyone. We don’t need his opinion on everything.
- Anon - Friday, Jul 29, 16 @ 11:54 am:
Now I’m wondering if he’ll renege on his no-lockout promise and boot us out August 31. I’ll give him credit for this much. He’s very good at keeping his employees in a constant state of anxiety.
- steward - Friday, Jul 29, 16 @ 12:34 pm:
” The last 10 yrs I spent almost all of my time on employee grievances-most never upheld and many frivolous. I was in an upper mgmt. accounting position and basically did no accounting work-only administrative personnel/grievance work.”
Stop violating our members rights and we’ll stop filing grievances.
Are there frivolous grievances? Sure. But a good steward can knock those out before it even gets to the 2nd level. I have no problem telling a member that I see no contractual violation.