41 Comments - Perrid - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 3:32 pm: Hm. Maxwell’s summary, while not wrong, made it seem somewhat more demanding/hostile. And if AFSCME wants cheaper healthcare, the easiest thing to do is for the state to buy worse healthcare. During the impasse the union threw out a bunch of numbers, showing that union members pay more, in raw dollars, than employees in other states do for their healthcare. And those numbers were true, as far as I can tell. Yet if you look at the percentage of the premium for the worker/state, IL workers pay less. IL buys very, very expensive healthcare. - Anonymous - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 3:36 pm: wow….I’d say Maxwell really torpedoed afscme. That’s not at all what she said. What she actually said is quite reasonable. What did these stateworkers do to deserve this from seemingly everyone? - Anonymous - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 3:44 pm: I have to admit. This is not looking good for the union with this new administration. The impasse was the vehicle for Rauner to impose his contract on the union thereby busting it. Why on Earth would Pritzker do this? And I really really don’t think it’s to “put together a team” or “get his ducks in a row”. He has hired the same law firm that Rauner used. They certainly know how to bust a union. And Pritzker is retaining Rauner people right and left. This is a Rauner roboot. - Whatever - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 3:44 pm: ==What did these stateworkers do to deserve this from seemingly everyone?== The same thing Mike Madigan did — failed to obey the commands of a governor with a large advertising budget. So many people’s knowledge of Madigan and of AFSCME and the state employees it represents begins and ends with Rauner’s ads. - Anonymous - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 3:49 pm: Yes. Illinois must negotiate very high priced plans for their employees Has anyone stopped to think maybe it’s not that the employees pay too little toward expensive plans But maybe the state that negotiates. -And who know how that takes place. - It’s not the state employees that work with ins co and determines which companies are used and how much they are promised - Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 3:49 pm: === This is a Rauner roboot. === You need a nap. Stat. - Anonymous - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 3:52 pm: Maxwell always exaggerates interviews to get retweets. He should be a TMZ reporter. - Perrid - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 3:54 pm: Anonymous@3:49, I very much doubt there’s a lot of room to negotiate the price down. It’s very good coverage, which means expensive. I could be wrong though. And the union negotiated that very good health coverage. I don’t know if you ever looked at Rauner’s different plans, but he mapped out 4 tiers of health plans, with the cheapest “plan” being free to the worker (this is because it was terrible coverage, calling it “catastrophic” coverage would be generous). - no one - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 3:55 pm: But we will have the steps that he promised to give well before March 29th…righttttt? - Anonymous - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:00 pm: Perrid I was referring to the contracts the state makes with health ins companies. Like health alliance. Healthlink. Etc. how much does the state contract with them. I assumed then the union negotiate with state from there - Anyone Remember - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:00 pm: Perrid- =IL buys very, very expensive healthcare.= As a result of bi-partisan legislative pressure. https://capitolfax.com/wp-mobile.php?p=19549&more=1 - Perrid - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:09 pm: Anonymous, the union asks for things, like $0 deductibles and low out of pocket costs, which the state then has to go buy from BlueCross or Health Alliance. That’s my understanding, anyway. - RNUG - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:10 pm: == Yes. Illinois must negotiate very high priced plans for their employees == I can’t speak directly to the health insurance contracts, but I’ve always thought the State in general did only a so-so job in procuring services. Too many restrictions on bids. Often bids were too tailored. Rarely, if ever, are penalty clauses included … and even more rarely see the penalty clauses enforced. Have to think there is room for improvements. Dragging a name out of the past, the State really needs someone like Tristano to negoiate contracts. - Anon - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:12 pm: It is a red flag that JB kept Laner Muchin, the firm Bruce used to fight every step of the way to the tune of $6 million, to file these continuance motions. Not proof that we’re being sold out, but a red flag for sure. - Fixer - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:16 pm: Clickbait from Maxwell? I expected better. - RNUG - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:16 pm: Looks like my guess the other day was wrong. Since the State now has 60 days to decide to appeal, I’m going to assume there will be no changes to the payroll in terms of step placement until after the State drops a possible appeal or after the outcome of any State action. - Nick Name - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:16 pm: ===It is a red flag that JB kept Laner Muchin, the firm Bruce used=== And Quinn before him. Not sure it’s a partisan thing. - City Zen - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:18 pm: “In all fairness, we fairly want fair wages that are fair.” - MG85 - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:18 pm: ==What did these stateworkers do to deserve this from seemingly everyone?== In large part, what they are supposed to, and that’s the problem. It’s not a sexy, controversial headline that state employees do a fine job servicing this state. So when the bill comes due, the only thing that is focused on is the cost. It’s one of the reasons why I supported Madigan’s (and Madigan) tactic of not paying government employees without a budget, and then supported shutting down the government in its entirety to prove a big glaring point: Society is an unbearable place without government and those who make it happen. Lucky for those state employees, AFSCME had no problem siding with Rauner to block that attempt in court to keep the paychecks coming. - Huh? - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:30 pm: Isn’t the State self insured and hires companies like health alliance to manage what appears to be a group health care plan? - Grandson of Man - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:36 pm: It’s now being reported that scorching hot heat lamps have been found outside of AFSCME offices. - Anonymous - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:40 pm: Did we have an Illinois government shut down ever? If we did I never noticed it. The us government provides vital services, Illinois’ not so much. - Anonymous - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:42 pm: So what happens if Pritzker decides the Impasse case has merit and he wants to continue the appeal? - Oswego Willy - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:44 pm: ===Did we have an Illinois government shut down ever? If we did I never noticed it. The us government provides vital services, Illinois’ not so much.=== To be so detached that when Rauner held the state hostage, it was measured 1 in 13 were effected, or 1 million Illinoisans. No connection to social services? Don’t know a senior citizen? College student? Teacher? No connection to any level of education? You know towns, cities, counties did without because of Rauner… … whew… you even said it out loud. I feel bad for you. You should get out more. Meet a senior. See the schools in your area, maybe check in on a social service… - RNUG - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:44 pm: == Isn’t the State self insured and hires companies like health alliance to manage what appears to be a group health care plan? == No and yes. Only one employee insurance plan, Quality Care, is the State doing self insurance. It is a traditional fee for service plan. They used to hire Cigna to administer it, but I think that changed last year. The State has been running as much as 24 months behind on paying claims. All the other HMO or PPO plans are straight group insurance from the various providers. The State pays a monthly fee to Health Alliance or whoever, and that company is responsible for all claim payment. Note: prescription, eyeglasses, hearing aids, etc. are separate from the actual medical insurance. - RNUG - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:52 pm: == Did we have an Illinois government shut down ever? == Rauner is the example everyone will remember. Prior to Rauner, there were occasions in the past 40 years when a State Budget was not in place and various levels of a soft shutdown occurred. As I previously referenced, at least once that I remember the State actually issued the equivalent of IOU’s instead of paychecks (the local banks still honored the chits). My memory of the details of the shutdowns is kind of vague because I was considered critical staff and had to work regardless. I think it was only a few days at most. - Anonymous - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 4:52 pm: doesnt the state pay these health providers a set amount per month for each employee? If they did not negotiate a good price per month - that is out of the employees hands - They should not have to now pay more just because the administration is now having buyers remorse and doesn’t want to be stuck paying the bill they agreed to. - Generation X - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 5:05 pm: I think the Administration will deal fairly with the Union which will be a nice change of pace from Rauner. However, I think some members got way ahead of themselves in thinking that Pritzker would snap his fingers and make everything rosy. He has high level advisors who are not necessarily all in on the “We are One” movement. State finances are what they are and a lot of back pay and interest is owed. I’m not sure it is reasonable to expect raises and lower health care costs to go with it. There will be push back from governors Office - RNUG - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 5:12 pm: == I’m not sure it is reasonable to expect raises and lower health care costs to go with it. == Proper step placement, back pay, holding the line on health insurance, and, MAYBE, a very small raise in 2021 or 2022 is probably the most AFSCME should be hoping for in the next contract. - Goner - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 5:16 pm: Perrid, how does Maxwell’s framing it as a “wish list” make it seem “demanding/hostile?” The only hostility here is in the eagerness to trash reporters. I don’t see any exaggeration in the tweet and found the actual interview quite good. - Perrid - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 6:32 pm: @Goner, if you can’t see a difference between “We want health care we can afford” and “We want cheaper healthcare”, Or “We want a raise” and “Our pay hasn’t been increased in 4 years [meaning they’ve lost buying power] and we want a COLA” I can’t help you. Like I said, his summary wasn’t wrong but the nuance he left out was pretty important. Tone matters a lot in PR. - White Rat - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 8:37 pm: I really think that we are I for more if the same as the last 4 years. They may be quick to negotiate a contract up front but unl as he gets his gambling and control substance passed we are in quick sand again. I mean even the buyout there offering there not paying on and when you ask CMS they state they have no idea. - White Rat - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 8:40 pm: Why not but people in the right step and pay those who have lost out on there step raises - RNUG - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 9:23 pm: Just saw where WMAY is reporting people will be placed on the proper steps in April https://tinyurl.com/yat9p3d8 - RNUG - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 9:25 pm: Same WMAY story says backpay issue will be part of the next AFSCME contract - Hottot - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 9:59 pm: What the ILGOP head refuses to state is the longer the steps aren’t paid, the more money the state will end up owing. The first step to get out of a hole is to stop digging. It’s too bad the GOP doesn’t understand this. - Stuntman Bob's Brother - Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 11:59 pm: Giving up the right to outsource work would be nuts, cost competition with the private sector is a check on the unions’ ability to demand more and more each year. Not only should state services be continuously reviewed with respect to privatization, redundant and low-value services need to be eliminated wherever possible. 7000 taxing districts, right? - Question More - Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 4:43 am: It is provable that “Privatization” is nothing more than theft of valuable Public Assets. Just look at the Parking Meter Scandal in Chicago. Need more examples? - Perrid - Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 7:24 am: Stuntman Bob’s Brother, there’s more than a little daylight between “giving up the right to outsource work” and wanting “basic rules of the road for privatization so that public services can’t be outsourced for private profit” - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 8:50 am: Stuntman Bob, the State can outsource just about anything right now…..if it can be reasonable show to be cheaper. And we all know how that’s gone. Privatization contracts can end up costing double or triple in the meantime dumping highly trained and more affordable state employees. Thus the learning has been, train the current employees on a new system and avoid the total outsourcing. At DHS Maximus under Quinn was an absolute disaster. For the first two years of my casework career I spent a large part of my day mopping up the blood from that. Rauner tried to kill the contract which would then allow him to remove the privatization language of “less cost”. You have to remember. Pritzker is using the same contract negotiation law firm as Rauner. - City Zen - Tuesday, Jan 29, 19 @ 8:56 am: “basic rules of the road for privatization so that public services can’t be outsourced for private profit” Is it OK if they lose money? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.