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* 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
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 9:38 am
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“It puts the whole burden of solving the pension crisis on the backs of public employees.”
I missed where the Nekritz bill rolls back the 5% income tax, refunds the ‘excess’ tax paid the last couple of years, and undoes all of the other cuts from state government.
I realize the unions need to counter the rhetoric from the other side, but I’d tired of the hoohaw from both sides on this one. Have the current and future pensioners not *also* benefited from lower taxes and higher services for the past 3 decades? Can we not get a *single* honest broker on the issue?
Comment by Chris Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 9:44 am
I am not going to beat a deceased equine but this is what I heard about last week …But I am encouraged by the poor fundraising results . I legislative is going just as poorly
Comment by RNUG Fan Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 9:46 am
Great to see Sen. Harmon working so hard for the people. At the least people who happen to be employed by the State.
The rest of us probably should look to somebody else for representation.
Comment by OdysseusVL Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 9:46 am
Must be another case of that close Dem-Labor Union alliance, that GOPers are always complaining about.
Comment by walkinfool Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 9:52 am
**I am not going to beat a deceased equine but this is what I heard about last week …But I am encouraged by the poor fundraising results . I legislative is going just as poorly**
I’m confused.
Comment by dave Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 9:58 am
The “management bill” would never have been necessary if Blagojevich and Quinn had treated supervisors just a tad bit better. The supervisors got no raises at all for many years, had to take mandatory unpaid furlough days, dealt with a shrinking staff, were placed on “fumigation” lists, and in many cases earned less than their subordinates.
This is why many jumped at the chance to join AFSCME. These problems have yet to be resolved and until they are, some of the best management talent in state government will be reluctant to take supervisory positions, and that will affect how well state government operates for many, many years.
Comment by Calhoun Native Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 10:01 am
I wonder how they come up with that $50,000 figure. In any case, I’m glad AFSCME is coming up with some numbers, because retirees really need to understand how much they will be losing over 10, 20, 30 years of retirement if a bill limiting cola is passed and survives appeal. But an independent analysis would be best.
Interesting that President Obama is getting a lot of pushback from his progressive base on the possible switch to a chained cola for Social Security recipients. The attack on cost of living increases attached to public pensions seems to be a cause du jour for politicians nationally this season.
Comment by cassandra Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 10:06 am
A good number of these people wouldn’t be in the union if not for the State treating management so poorly compared to the unionized members. The State is the type of boss that still gives unions some relevance.
Comment by Shemp Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 10:15 am
I’d like to see the numbers too Cassandra, but the bottom line is that the Magg decision regarding health insurance is going to be appealed, and regardless of the apparent legislative kumbaya on the COLA attack, when the courts throw that out, then what?
Comment by PublicServant Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 10:31 am
AFSCME got greedy by bringing in Leg. Leisons, Deputy Directors, etc. However, are you really a manager if you cannot dicipline, control your budget, or write an eval?
Evaluations and dicipline have to be approved and they took away any budgetary responsibility from managers.
Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 10:42 am
I have mixed feelings about the new law. Some low-level managers who got union membership didn’t act like union members in the way they treated their workers. We had one who was repeatedly hostile toward union members who filed grievances. It’s a conflict of interest to have supervisors in the union while at the same time enforcing management’s policy.
I’d also prefer to solve grievances at the lowest possible level, with an immediate supervisor. When these supervisors went in the union, grievances had to be kicked up a step to the office administrator.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 10:43 am
==The “management bill” would never have been necessary if Blagojevich and Quinn had treated supervisors just a tad bit better.==
Or even paid attention to the petitions to join the union. The Labor Relations Board didn’t let the legislative liaisons unionize or the vast majority of supervisors at whom this bill is aimed, nor did the courts. They filed their petitions, and the administration simply said, “OK.” Now the “cure” is to kick out the latecomers (without regard to whether some of them might better qualify to join the union than many who joined before 2009 and are exempted from being automatically kicked out) and to give the Governor the nearly unfettered discretion to kick out anyone else he chooses. I guess that a lot more people will be leaving now to collect their gold-plated, irreducible pensions and free health insurance for life.
Comment by Anon. Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 10:46 am
Odysseus: I guess that’s a pretty cool snarky comment, but it’s obvious you don’t haven’t been affected by this wage stagnation. I’ll bet you aren’t in a managerial position with the state and have gone several years without a pay increase, not even a oola…yeah, that’s what I thought…
Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 10:52 am
An interesting addition to this AFSCME roundup is the email (not reported here by Rich) that AFSCME sent out last week about several legislators apparently (a) angry at Quinn for the new contract and (b) even angrier that Quinn agreed to pay the (already-contracted) raises as part of the new contract.
My sense is that these folks — not named in the AFSCME email — wanted drastic cuts to current state worker salaries and, failing pay cuts, layoffs. Madigan hinted, of course, that agencies had the choice of paying raises or laying off staff — apparently to show AFSCME who’s (really) boss.
I’m bummed that AFSCME didn’t list the names of these folks.
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 11:15 am
“Allows the governor’s designations to be challenged before the Illinois State Labor Relations Board”
Translation: The law will stand.
Comment by Mouthy Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 11:41 am
According to the Eastern Daily News, last week state university presidents sent a letter about pensions to Gov. Quinn, along recommendations for a six-step IGPA plan to help solve the pension issue.
letter:
http://tinyurl.com/bmpfu79
plan:
http://tinyurl.com/cj4dkul
Comment by Joe M. Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 12:03 pm
Actually Loop Lady, I’m one of the people who keeps seeing my taxes go up while state workers get raises.
And I have to admit, I’m a bit tired of it. I’m tired of living in state that is consistently ranked at the bottom in everything from job creation to pensions. I’m tired of my taxes going up. I’m tired of walking into government offices and see people milling about and other just sitting at desks playing with cell phones. I’m tired of paying for jobs that should not exist.
If government work is so bad, the people can quit and get real jobs.
No raise in a few years? Join the club. Realize how the rest of us live. And we don’t have our own State Senator looking out for us.
Comment by Skeeter Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 12:13 pm
So, when exactly do the managers and supers get the boot off the union rolls?
Comment by Newsclown Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 12:39 pm
==If government work is so bad, the people can quit and get real jobs.==
That kind of nonsense irritates me to no end. I’m tired of people like you acting all high and mighty that a state job isn’t a “real” job. And, moreover, I’m really tired of the false argument about that baloney “join the rest of us” crap. EVERY PERSON I KNOW IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS CONTINUED TO GET RAISES AND BONUSES EVERY YEAR. I don’t know where some of you work in the private sector but perhaps you should consider a different line of work because the raises and bonuses are out there to be had. I’m tired of you, frankly, and the “public” like you who have such disdain for state workers. If you don’t like it get a state job. People like you who generalize so much show your ignorance to the Nth degree.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 1:14 pm
Skeeter: I will add that it is not the fault of State workers that IL fiscal house is in the crapper.
As much as we’d like to wave a magic wand after forgoing raises for seven years and declare the fiscal crisis at an end, please realize it just is not that simple.
The GA and elected Constitutional officers in the past twenty years are responsible for this quagmire.
The only responsibility I will take for this is voting for people who will not do the work required such as raising taxes, (like CA) cutting waste, (only Quinn has had the guts to do this) and rectify IL tax structure (fat chance) . I know we are an easy scapegoat, but the last time I checked, the stock market is roaring, and corporations seem to be doing ok, as are their managerial/executive staffs. Get real or go away.
Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 1:33 pm
and Skeeter? Most members of the GA are beholden to the IMA and/or the IL Chamber and other corporate interests so you do have folks looking out for private sector employers after all…
Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 1:36 pm
===>I’m one of the people who keeps seeing my taxes go up while state workers get raises==
I am the one who’s groceries, gas, utilities and other goods and services continue to go up while the PRIVATE sector gets raises PLUS I see the BONUSES that are given out at Christmas time.
I don’t know what business you are in, but in one way or another YOU are responsible for either taxes, goods or services for going up. Don’t blame it JUST on Government workers.
Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 1:39 pm
Skeeter, what if those horrible, horrible workers spent their days posting comments on Capitol Fax instead of playing with their phones? Would THAT be acceptable? Because I’ve seen quite a few comments from you today. Slow day at work?
Comment by ??? Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 2:40 pm
===>I’m tired of my taxes going up. ==
Perhaps you should take your argument up with CME. Their $100 million tax break could have mitigated your tax increase. Of course, with a population of 12.87 million, it would have only reduced the tax burden by $7.76 per person in a given year, but you gotta start somewhere. At least most state employees tend to work longer than 4 months for their lordly salaries.
You should also look at this short Crain’s article that talks (once again) about how public sector workers make less than the private sector (with some exceptions)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130406/ISSUE01/304069995/public-vs-private
Comment by Name Withheld Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 2:49 pm
????
I wasn’t going to bring that up.
But since you did bring that up, I tend to take a break. I don’t get paid for that time. Ten minutes reading comments here and tossing in my own thoughts is ten minutes I don’t get paid for.
How about all the government workers who seem to be so outraged? Are they on the clock today?
As I said, I wasn’t going to go down that route, but it is not an argument that helps your side.
Comment by Skeeter Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 2:58 pm
Skeeter, I can’t speak for all the “outraged” government workers and their Cap Fax commenting habits. But those you see on cell phones when you walk into a government office? They may be taking a break, just like you are.
Comment by ??? Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 3:09 pm
Well said Demoralized!
Comment by Norseman Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 4:04 pm
Skeeter to boss,
I just took a ten minutes break to post on Capital Fax about those greedy state employees so make sure you dock me ten minutes of pay.
Seems realistic to me.
Comment by tired of politics Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 4:18 pm
Joe M. @ 12:03 pm:
The 3% AAI is the same as the average CPI over that past 40+ and 80+ years. If the change was to the full CPI, not half of it, then I could get on board … otherwise it is a diminishment.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 4:21 pm
That, or maybe at the end of the day I put down the real number of hours worked.
It does seem like I hit a nerve. You all seem really intent on defending your buddies who spend the day messing around.
Comment by Skeeter Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 4:22 pm
I never supported having management personnel in the union. Many of them are very abusive to employees and pay power politics games with people’s lives. You all know the types I am talking about and the state of Illinois only seems to attract rotten managers. They are mostly miserable people who couldn’t manage their way out of a paper bag. All pumped up with big titles, no college degrees and no clue. I say throw more state employees out of the union. AFSCME is great, but they never should have supported growing their union this way. I am so sick of hearing how the SPSA’s and their ilk were treated so poorly. Most of them could never make that kind of money anywhere else but the state of Illinois, where incompetence rules. That’s why state employees cling so desperately to their jobs…it don’t get much better and don’t whine about your committment and overtime…welcome to the real work world. I say lets get rid of most middle and upper level managers altogether - you all know that most of them are highly expendable and questionable as to their value anyway!
Comment by Northern Light Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 6:28 pm
I read the University of Illinois proposal. It would not satisfy their civic club financed “law profs”
Besides the details of cost shift It replaces the COLA with a chained CPI like COLA …and a gradual increase of 2% ….Now its almost game
theory . If you worry about a return of inflation This good be a good deal…In deflation you are not as far ahead as the COLA
For the universities a lot more risk …For the state Fools not to take this offer
Cullerton can jump up and down and say he found billions more
Looks like a good deal for Teir 2s
Comment by RNUG Fan Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 6:51 pm
Northern Light -
Not at the state agency where I work. Far and away the most overpaid, shiftless employees are the so-called “front line workers” the union endlessly yammers about.
Comment by Algonquin J. Calhoun Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 7:06 pm
RNUG missed your comment to Joe M.
In SURS so of great interest. You are right half CPI -no way I would take more like 3/4 because I am really worried by the Feds actions.
But sine Poshard is on there it went into Quinns wastebasket anyhow
Comment by RNUG Fan Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 7:39 pm
That’s a pretty broad brush Northern Light and very far from my experience of nearly 40 years in State government.
Comment by Calhoun Native Monday, Apr 8, 13 @ 9:39 pm
Calhoun Native - you obviously have witnessed the exception to the rule in Illinois state government. It has been noted, by personnel studies to be a very dysfunctional system, discouraging excellence in service delivery and good candidates for employment. Most state workers would be lost in a normal business environment. Hence, their clamor for union protection to assure their continued employment in a system that rewards mediocrity.
Comment by Northern Light Wednesday, Apr 10, 13 @ 1:55 am