* Gov. Pat Quinn signed the “management bill” on Friday…

He approved a measure that allows the governor to deny collective bargaining rights for up to 3,580 managers and supervisors.

The traditionally pro-labor Quinn has supported the idea, sponsored by fellow Democrats, since it got House approval in 2011 — while at the same time excoriating his Wisconsin Republican counterpart for pushing through a law that rolled back union bargaining rights.

The law applies to “managerial or supervisory” positions under the governor and other statewide offices — such as the secretary of state and attorney general — that are not currently represented by a union or those who have gained representation since December 2008.

Supporters of the measure argue that state executives can’t effectively run the government with so few managers loyal only to them. They say that 97 percent of the state workforce now wears the union label.

* AFSCME Council 31 explained the bill to its members late last week via e-mail…

Allows the governor to designate up to 3,580 positions as exempt from coverage under the state collective bargaining law based on extremely broad criteria;

Provides that up to 1,900 of those can be positions that had previously met the criteria for coverage under the collective bargaining law and are currently represented by a labor union;

Provides that those designations must be made within one year of the effective date of the legislation;

Allows the governor’s designations to be challenged before the Illinois State Labor Relations Board, but provides that such designations “shall presume to have been properly made”—making it extremely difficult to prevail in such challenges.

* The union also updated members on negotiations to water down the bill’s impact…

AFSCME has been following up on the commitment made by its sponsor, Senator Don Harmon, to attempt to minimize the negative impact that the bill will have on union-represented employees. Sen. Harmon is facilitating negotiations between the union and CMS in which AFSCME is seeking to secure an agreement that:

1. the governor will not remove all 1900 positions that the law permits;
2. no employee removed from the bargaining unit will suffer a reduction in pay;
3. employees designated to be removed will be offered the option of taking another bargaining unit position.

AFSCME will not give up this fight. We’ll continue to represent to the fullest extent possible under the Personnel Rules members who are removed from the bargaining unit. And wherever the facts warrant, we’ll challenge removals at the Labor Board.

* In other news, AFSCME warned its members about possible upcoming pension votes…

The assault on retirement security for state employees is going into high gear in the House of Representatives. Just before legislators went home for their “spring break,” the House passed HB 1165, with strong bipartisan support. HB 1165 was considered a “test bill” to see if enough legislators would vote to cut the pension cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for active and retired state employees.

The COLA plan they voted for is the same one that is included in HB 3411, the Nekritz/Cross bill. It would reduce the pension benefit of an average state employee by some $50,000 over the first ten years of retirement. HB 3411 would also raise the retirement age and increase employee contributions. It puts the whole burden of solving the pension crisis on the backs of public employees.

HB 3411 is now expected to be called for a vote when legislators return to Springfield [this] week. […]

We Are One Illinois has made clear that public employees recognize the severity of Illinois’ pension crisis and are prepared to do our part to help ensure the solvency of the state’s pension funds. The coalition stands ready to work collaboratively toward developing a fair and constitutional solution.

I haven’t been able to confirm whether the Nekritz bill will be called for a vote this week. Stay tuned.

* Related…

* State still shelling out millions to workers on paid administrative leave

* State Treasurer Optimistic About Pension Deal

* Analysis: Illinois pension fix faces political, legal hurdles

* VIDEO: Illinois Pension Commitment Shortchanged