Did AFSCME gain members here after Janus?
Friday, Jul 13, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* SJ-R…
Two weeks ago, the Rauner administration, in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Janus case, set up a web site to inform unionized workers about how much they are paying in union dues and how they could drop out of union representation.
To date, the administration has not said how many workers who previously were full union members have decided to opt out of union representation as a result of the Janus ruling.
At the same time, the union that represents the bulk of state employees said that “hundreds” of people have joined the union as dues-paying members since the Janus decision. It said only a “handful” have quit. The union said it could not provide specific numbers.
You’d think the Rauner administration would be crowing if lots of folks dumped the union. By the same token, if AFSCME did gain “hundreds” of members, you’d think they’d have some figures to share. Maybe nobody has the numbers collected just yet…
Since the site was set up, however, the state has not said how many full dues-paying members have opted to drop their union membership. Instead, CMS said, it has been busy ensuring that fair share fees are no longer withheld from worker paychecks.
* Meanwhile, the Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Thomas John Paprocki, explains his support for the Janus decision, even though he has a lot of AFSCME members in his pews…
When the case reached the Supreme Court, the General Counsel for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Anthony Picarello, filed a “friend-of-the-court” brief, known by its name in Latin as an amicus curiae brief, in support of the union. When the case was decided against the union, Bishop Frank Dewane, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, expressed his disappointment with the Supreme Court’s decision, citing “the long-held view of so many bishops” in support of unions.
I respectfully disagree. Let me explain why.
The “long-held view of so many bishops” in support of unions is generally understood to go back to the time of Pope Leo XIII, who issued an encyclical letter in 1891 on the rights and duties of capital and labor, entitled Rerum novarum. While this encyclical voiced strong support for the rights of workers, particularly their right to form unions, this support was never unconditional. Rather, Pope Leo wrote (in paragraph 57) that unions “must pay special and chief attention to the duties of religion and morality, and that social betterment should have this chiefly in view; otherwise they would lose wholly their special character, and end by becoming little better than those societies which take no account whatever of religion. What advantage can it be to a working man to obtain by means of a society material well-being, if he endangers his soul for lack of spiritual food? ‘What doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?’ (Matthew 16:26).”
In this regard, then, unions should not expect the unquestioning support of the church when their objectives are contrary “to the duties of religion and morality.” Today, a number of unions actively promote abortion rights. Three of the nation’s biggest unions — including AFSCME — contributed $435,000 to the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, in 2014.
As a matter of policy, the delegates to the AFSCME International Convention, meeting in Chicago in 2014, complained that “health care laws have restricted the places where abortions can be performed” and voted to “oppose legislation that restricts a woman’s basic right to health care and reproductive rights,” by which they mean, of course, abortion. Forcing public employees to subsidize unions that promote such immoral policies and activities is just not right.
* Related…
* “Fraud”: Anti-worker Illinois Policy Institute caught again using phony photo
* Board to state: Figure out how to pay step increases
- SEIU bailer - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 12:24 pm:
Wait till after December when SEIU gets a 2% increase and then nothing for the last 2 years of the contract. You will seem them bail then. The dues will be the only increase they would see in the last 2 years of the contract
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 12:25 pm:
With the IPI and African-American, staunchly pro-union people in photos, it’s Dog Whistle City.
As far as messaging, thankfully it’s really bad, as in transparently phony. BTIA quality.
- Roman - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 12:29 pm:
The Bishop should be hesitant to start a game of financial and political connect-the-dots.
The “pro-Janus” folks were supported financially and politically by Bruce Rauner, the first governor in American history to sign a bill that dedicates taxpayer-provided Medicaid dollars to abortion. The Bishop is with Rauner on Janus. I guess that means he has blood on his hands.
- Honeybear - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 12:39 pm:
I imagine we took a small hit. But my local has been totally activated by Janus
And
ILRB approved our make whole resolution on the steps
If the union hadn’t spent millions
Fighting the Rauner wage theft
Which was confirmed in 3 courts
Wage theft
No different than a restaurant owner withholding tips and wages
15000 workers would just have to suck it up
Afscme fought for
And won our rightful wages back
That’s what a union does
And that’s why I only know of
One
Leaving
Good riddens freeloader
Everyone else is sticking to the union
Rauner caused the 415 million dollar hole
By stuffing public servants
By wage theft
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 12:45 pm:
- Roman - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 12:29 pm:
I am pro-union but the Union should not give our money to planned parenthood.
- City Zen - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 12:47 pm:
==if AFSCME did gain “hundreds” of members, you’d think they’d have some figures to share.==
They’ve got a long way to go to reach the numbers achieved during the Blago years.
- Thoughts Matter - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 12:57 pm:
SEIU bailer… which contract are you referring to? It was my understanding that by law ALL the public union contracts expire June 30, 2019. That coincides with the elections this fall and gives the incoming elected official the right to negotiate a contract as soon as practical.
- Jibba - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 12:58 pm:
So the dear bishop doesn’t care if you get enough to eat if you aren’t increasing your religious fervor? His lack of charity is noted.
- Honeybear - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 12:58 pm:
Now here’s the problem with the so called bishop whose stance is diametrically opposed to the Popes
(Notice he quotes Leo instead of Francis. I’d bet Father Paprocki gets reassigned soon. )
He makes the enormous assumption about individual AFSCME’s and their private beliefs
He rather see them economically devastated
Then let them democratically choose at their convention what to support.
He rather see those who find their voice in solidarity with union be voiceless.
And let’s talk about the spiritual nourishment that i know I get from union. Well….let’s just say I much rather act religious, follow the actions of Christ in compassion, justice, and love than talk about but do nothing to actually help people like you Paprocki. Actually I take it back.
You help the wealthy and Mammon
Matthew 6:19-21
Follow Holy Fathers example
- Macbeth - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 12:58 pm:
If I were Rauner, I’d offer folks a one-time cash incentive to opt-out of the union.
Sorta like: $1,000 and discounted health insurance if you’re not a union member.
Is that legal? Can he do that? Essentially bribe state employees to opt-out?
- Nick Name - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:00 pm:
===Three of the nation’s biggest unions — including AFSCME — contributed $435,000 to the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, in 2014.===
Maybe someone could explain to me (and to Paprocki) just how or why AFSCME has funds to donate directly to Planned Parenthood, when all its political budget is devoted to supporting candidates?
Second, Paprocki (again) lies by omission by implying that political activity is paid for out of union dues. It isn’t. It’s funded from VOLUNTARY donations from members, as is controlled by the PAC, AFACME People. Not AFSCME.
Third, if any AFSCME People money does go to PP, where does it go? To the health care side of PP, or the abortion side? Because PP is one of the nation’s largest providers of free and low-cost gynecological care to women who cannot get it anywhere else. I personally know a woman who is alive today thanks to the free screening she got from Planned Parenthood in college, and if AFSCME donations to PP helps save lives (because Paprocki and his ilk hate the ACA and the thought of free health care), then bravo for AFSCME.
Bishop Paprocki’s writings on this subject are misinformed, ideologically based, highly irresponsible, and frankly dishonest. He is a poor shepherd of his flock, and I hope he’s not surprised when Catholic AFSCME members in his diocese redirect their Sunday contributions to AFSCME People.
- Albany Park Patriot - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:04 pm:
The American bishops filed a brief supporting the unions. Paprocki is a weirdo outlier.
- Anon E. Moose - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:06 pm:
So is the Bishop voting for Sam McCann then?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:12 pm:
===So is the Bishop voting for Sam McCann then?===
It will be interesting in the fall if there is a… declaration of some sort, lol
- Gracchus - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:15 pm:
I am a catholic and a dues paying retiree. I contribute to the church on Sundays when I go to mass. The bishop, however, has convinced me that it is alright to be a freeloader. Therefore I am now a freeloading catholic parishioner. I am taking my Sunday contribution to the church and putting it toward the AFSCME PEOPLE program. The church will not get another dime from me until this bishop is gone.
- A Jack - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:23 pm:
Again, the AFSCME contract had a section where a fair share member could not pay on religious grounds, but instead give that money to an agreed upon charity.
The Janus decision had nothing to do with the Freedom of Religion, but the Freedom of Speech.
Planned Parenthood is about more than abortions and help reduce the number of children brought into the world by parents without the means of support of those children.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:30 pm:
Honeybear, didn’t you calculate that your pension will be about $46K when you retire(going up 3% annually compounded) along with a sweetheart health insurance plan?
- Centennial - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:37 pm:
I don’t agree with Paprocki, generally, but on the issue of AFCME donations to PP, he brings up a valid point. Even taking the abortion question out of it, I’m assuming AFCME negotiates health care benefits for all its members so they wouldn’t necessarily have a need for PP’s free health care screenings. So how does such sizeable donations to PP help members of AFCME? (Genuine question. I don’t get it.) Political donations to legislators that support collective bargaining and workers rights — I totally get. PP donations, not so much.
- Jibba - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:39 pm:
What doth it profit a bishop, if he gain the Supreme Court yet suffer the loss of his soul in a Faustian presidential vote?
- Anon-I-Guess - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:42 pm:
As we all know, Jesus often sided with the wealthy
- Honeybear - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:49 pm:
Anonymous , nope my pension right now is at about 22k a year after 20 years of service. I was in despair but I had forgotten social security ( if it’s still there)
Also 3% is for tier one folks I believe.
I’m tier two. I’m pretty sure I don’t get that.
I also don’t have sweatheart health insurance.
48 states have platinum level health insurance
One has gold
illinois has silver level
Rauner wants to stop it to bronze
The exact same as Medicaid
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:51 pm:
22 plus how much social security?
- SEIU bailer - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:52 pm:
Secretary of State contract has a 4 year signed last year
- Smalls - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:52 pm:
The reason no one is crowing about the numbers is they simply don’t know. I am sure many unions, such as AFSCME, have had hundreds of new people fill out dues authorization cards. But the flipside of that is that they also have a large number of people that have been paying full dues for years, but the unions can’t locate the old dues authorization cards. So they aren’t able to collect dues from them until they can get a new card signed, which may or may not happen. So yes they may be adding new dues paying members, but they are also losing dues paying members. It will take some time to sort out the net gain or loss.
- Smalls - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:54 pm:
Honeybear, if you have 20 years of service, you are not a tier two pension. Tier two pension only started for new hires after January 1, 2011.
- Nora - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:55 pm:
Honeybear- the union only won because liberals run everything around here, even the courts. The ILRB issued their ruling because the governor is a lame duck and everyone knows it. Even with the ruling, do the state employees think they are going to jump 4 steps and receive a check for 10-15 K? Not a chance, even when JB is elected. The State simply cannot afford it. Best chance is the step jump and forget backpay.
- A Jack - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:55 pm:
@Anonymous, Honeybear’s pension is nothing compared to some Republican GA members. If you are implying it’s a union perk, then you really don’t understand the pension laws at all.
- Honeybear - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 1:59 pm:
As to planned parenthood and Afscme
It is my understanding that support was authorized democratically by the passing of a resolution at our last international convention. Next week we will be having our next international convention in Boston. Our local is sending 4 elected delegates and they will vote on resolutions
Believe it or not Afscme is a democratically run institution
I have participated in many such votes. I’ve even written a resolution which was past at our last council biannual convention. Democratic process is something unions are actually totally invested in. Most people think we’re some kind of mob operation. And granted, sometimes I can feel that. But in reality on the whole we operate democratically. I’m not lying or trying to be perfidious.
- AnonAnon - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:01 pm:
Nora … So the state should not be held accountable for money legally due to employees (that was illegally taken from the employees for years). Just a “sorry we don’t have it” should be sufficient. The state employees should just smile and be thankful?
- #5 - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:03 pm:
Smalls, Honeybear said “after 20 years of service”, not “I have performed 20 years of service in this job.”
- #5 - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:06 pm:
Nora, I assume that you would forgo back pay you are legally owed?
- Thoughts Matter - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:06 pm:
Secretary of State contract has a 4 year signed last year
It was signed last year, two years into the contract term. Which is from July 2015 until June 2019. You got a one time bonus at that time, a 2% raise in Dec last tear, and another this upcoming December. Sorry to burst your bubble.
As to Honeybear… she may have been able to add her years in the military to her pension calculation.
- Honeybear - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:06 pm:
Smalls- no you didn’t get it. My statement said I’d get 22k after I complete twenty two years. I’ve served under five so far.
Anonymous- 22k plus none of your business. I will say it’s not going to be much. I’ve been an orchestral musician, caterer, and a chaplain.
I’ve always sucked at making money
Great person
Lousy breadwinner
- AnonAnon - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:07 pm:
Agreed ….honeybear is saying that her pension benefit will be x dollars after 20 years of service. SERS gives projections to employees, so she is probably just using that number
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:10 pm:
A Jack, you aren’t comparing apples and oranges, you are comparing apples and freight trains. But, I’m surprised you didn’t compare it to Democrat members of the GA!
- SEIU bailer - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:15 pm:
Thoughts matter
You are right but by the time they negotiate a new contract it will be another 2 years. They gave the raise to non-union as well as union employees
- Honeybear - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:17 pm:
Nora, I thought right wing folks liked law and order?
I guess you think it’s okay for a boss to withhold wages?
Job creators get to do what they want?
No laws for them, is that what your saying?
The 5th district court verdict- wage theft
The 4th district appellate court verdict wage theft
Illinois Supreme Court agreed. Wage theft
So a boss who steals their workers wages doesn’t have to pay it back if he already spent the money?
James 5:4
See you in church
- Smalls - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:17 pm:
#5, I honestly see it both ways. It does say “after 20 years of service.” But if you look before that, it says “my pension RIGHT NOW is at about 22k a year after 20 years of service.” (emphasis added)
So I take that to mean right now she has 20 years of service.
I guess only Honeybear can clarify.
- Thoughts Matter - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:22 pm:
I don’t think it will take two years the next time, unless we end up with no state budget again. It’s hard to negotiate a contract without a budget and while social services agencies and schools are closing their doors as a result.
- Honeybear - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:29 pm:
I’m Tier II with under 5 years of service
- A Jack - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:39 pm:
@Anonymous, how so? Can you really justify a non-union elected Republican getting a much larger pension for a part-time job than a public employee? And why not use a Republican? Just because they may speak against pensions, they are still entitled via the Illinois Constitution. Of course they could opt out….. but haven’t.
- jimbo26 - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:40 pm:
Paprocki continues to empty the Sunday pews (and the collection plate) with his anti-worker views. This is not his first anti-union statement.
- Smalls - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:40 pm:
Thank you Honeybear and #5 for correcting me.
- Gracchus - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:45 pm:
Nora, please read the ILRB ruling, page 3. It is quite clear that the back pay and the steps will be paid.
- Roman - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:52 pm:
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 12:45 pm:-
I don’t disagree with you…I’m just saying Paprocki’s guilt by association abortion game can be played through Rauner too.
- Deadbeat Conservative - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:53 pm:
Paprocki’s political activities on the on behalf of oligarchs makes him the poster-child for why churches should not be tax-exempt. He uses a straw-man of the working person’s impurity as justification for supporting his corproate overlords and laying down with shoot, pollute, and swindle party.
His and other theocratic organizations should stop freeloading and pay their fair share.
- City Zen - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:53 pm:
==Maybe someone could explain to me (and to Paprocki) just how or why AFSCME has funds to donate directly to Planned Parenthood…==
Bishop Paprocki is specifically referencing the $400,000 check the national HQ of AFSCME wrote to “Planned Parenthood Action Fund” for “Political Program Support”. It’s all on the DOL website. The other two big union donors are AFT and SEIU.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 3:06 pm:
Roman - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:52 pm
Thanks for the input. I agree. I am a practicing Catholic and very pro-Union. I was very unhappy with the Janus ruling. Of course, I worry for the next generation.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 3:10 pm:
Roman - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 2:52 pm
Thanks for the input. I agree. I am a practicing Catholic and very pro-Union.
- City Zen - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 3:46 pm:
==I am a practicing Catholic and very pro-Union…I worry for the next generation==
Of union members or practicing Catholics? Or both?
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 4:03 pm:
Judges, state police, and members of the General Assembly don’t pay into social security. Please realize that when figuring calculations.
- Name Withheld - Friday, Jul 13, 18 @ 4:08 pm:
I respectfully disagree with my Bishop.