* Press release…
The Rauner Administration has filed a direct appeal to the State Supreme Court in AFSCME’s case to block the administration from implementing its last, best and final offer. The following statement is attributable to General Counsel Dennis Murashko:
“After 67 days of negotiation, the Administration presented AFSCME with a contract that reflects our last, best, and final offer. This is as far as we can go, and it is time to implement it. Every day we don’t costs our taxpayers more than $2 million, which is why we are asking the Illinois Supreme Court to resolve this case quickly. The taxpayers deserve a contract substantially similar to the one ratified by 20 other unions and includes earning overtime after 40 hours, implementing merit pay, and using volunteers.”
*** UPDATE *** From AFSCME Council 31…
Instead of wasting more time and money in the courts, Governor Rauner should simply do his job and negotiate with our union. State workers are willing to do their part, but Bruce Rauner is so blinded by his anti-union animosity that he refuses to compromise.
Contrary to the misleading statements from the governor’s office, no other union has accepted Rauner’s extreme demands that would hike health costs by 100%, freeze wages for four years and remove safeguards against irresponsible privatization schemes.
Finding that AFSCME has a “reasonable likelihood” of prevailing on appeal, the 4th District Appellate Court blocked Rauner from rushing to impose those demands. Since the governor continues to choose confrontation over compromise, we are prepared to make our case before the Supreme Court.
- Fixer - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:14 pm:
“And subcontracting out to our hand picked vendors.”
Fixed that for you bud.
- RNUG - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:18 pm:
Might as well go directly there and save the time.
- Nero's Fiddle - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:18 pm:
Once again, the Governor is showing us what is nearest and dearest to his heart - destroying AFSCME and the other government unions, one by one.
Rauner’s starting to panic because he is running out of time.
Be careful what you wish for Governor, the Supreme Court may see through your plan to force an impasse and order you back to the bargaining table.
- Henry Francis - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:21 pm:
If this is such a good thing for Illinois, why are they waiting until everyone has a couple of pints of green beer in them before announcing this at 4:00 on a Friday?
- AC - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:21 pm:
Who can the governor bargain with in good faith?
- AC - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:25 pm:
==After 67 days of negotiation==
And over a year of the administration avoiding negotiating…
- illini - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:26 pm:
“After 67 days of negotiation,—”
And exactly when was the last time you have spoken with AFSCME. How many weeks or months has it been? Are you really showing good faith in negotiating?
- Dee Lay - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:26 pm:
“After 67 days of negotiation, the Administration presented AFSCME with a contract that reflects our last, best, and final offer.”
67 days? That’s it?
“This is as far as we can go, and it is time to implement it.”
Again, 67 days. It takes longer for a public bid process.
“Every day we don’t costs our taxpayers more than $2 million, which is why we are asking the Illinois Supreme Court to resolve this case quickly.”
Your math skills haven’t been the best….show your work.
“The taxpayers deserve a contract substantially similar to the one ratified by 20 other unions”
So, we’ve seen those contracts. Would you please define the word, “Substantially” please?
“and includes earning overtime after 40 hours, implementing merit pay, and using volunteers.”
Sounds like those things could have been bargained upon. Why don’t you try that for a few minutes?
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:27 pm:
Of course, it’s late on Friday. What would be a better time to announce this and cause more worry for state workers and ruin their weekend? The man is evil.
- A Jack - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:27 pm:
Well I hope they take up Lisa’s case first.
- Union Dues - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:27 pm:
Didn’t the Gov say the Supreme Court were incapable of making rational decisions?
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:28 pm:
“After 67 days of negotiation”
No budget in two years and no rush by the governor to pass one, but he’s burning to force the terrible contract on thousands of workers.
Contract negotiations took so much time because Rauner started out with tons of terrible proposals–just like the tons of TA items when he started his term. See the similarities, see the game.
- A Jack - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:32 pm:
I also hope they remember back when Rauner called them corrupt. And when they tried to educate Rauner on hard-working state employees.
Perhaps they will agree to hear this case in about two years.
- working stiff - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:35 pm:
==substantially similar==
yet substantially different
- working stiff - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:38 pm:
oh yeah, forgot about rauners statement about the judges. do you think they will remember?
Rauner: Illinois Supreme Court part of a ‘corrupt system’
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150407/news/150409036/
- Liberty - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:39 pm:
No Bruce, you cannot now claim “economic exigencies compel prompt action” http://www.afscme31.org/pdfs/4-16-0827-et-al.-Order-Mot13.PDF
- A State Employee Guy - Friday, Mar 17, 17 @ 4:49 pm:
67 days, you will remind yourselves, is significantly more days these two parties dedicated to bargaining than in any point in the past.