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* From Council 31 in response to an earlier post today. All emphasis in original…
AFSCME Sets the Record Straight
The latest memo from Jason Barclay to “Agency Directors” is another faux document created solely to be “leaked” for public relations purposes. From the earliest days of the current set of contract negotiations, AFSCME has requested from the Rauner Administration data on the representation of minorities at all levels of government—and nearly six months later, the Administration has consistently refused to provide a single piece of the requested data.
There is no evidence at all that using seniority as a factor in promotions is a bar to advancement for minorities in the promotion process. In fact, data provided to our union by the previous administration demonstrates that minorities in union positions have a higher promotion rate than minorities in non-union positions. This is affirmed by numerous studies demonstrating the positive impact of union membership on the economic progress of minorities and by the thousands of minorities who are union members that have successfully moved up the ladder in Illinois state government.
Reliance on seniority has eliminated the favoritism and political cronyism that too often prevails in state government, allowing minorities to advance based on their experience and skills acquired to do the job.
It’s important to note that no provisions of the union contract have any bearing on hiring or promotion into leadership/management positions in state government. The Rauner Administration has complete control of hiring/promotions in all management level positions. Why hasn’t the Administration released its own hiring/promotion data for non-bargaining unit positions?
The Union has advocated for the development of the Upward Mobility Program in state government to allow employees to continue their education and advance to higher level positions. This program has been very well-utilized by minorities in state government and has helped many to earn degrees and promotions to higher-paying jobs. Yet in the current contract negotiations the Administration is trying to wipe out all funding for this program—and for all other forms of tuition reimbursement for employees in state government.
Discuss.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:34 pm
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It’s going to come down to finding 71 noses.
Unless this response moves a member of the GA to become one of the 71 that wasn’t before this release was issued…
… then it’s just rhetoric… until tomorrow.
The ball game is tomorrow, not chasing their tail today.
Ok, they responded. Got it.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:37 pm
Arguments on this issue don’t help either side
Comment by walker Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:40 pm
I’m not sure they’re setting the record straight as much as pointing out the problem with the Rauner administration’s veracity and motives. Points there were clearly made by many in the earlier post. The simple message is that the frat boys are throwing out another Red Herring.
If they’re so concerned about minority hiring, let them show us how they’ve done up to now. They won’t because the numbers would demonstrate a horrible failure to adhere to AA goals.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:41 pm
“that were clearly…”
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:41 pm
Well said Willy.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:43 pm
==AFSCME has requested from the Rauner Administration data on the representation of minorities at all levels of government==
It’s already out there. Send a FOIA to DHR. They have it.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:46 pm
Spent more time deflecting and pointing elsewhere than discussing its own record on this topic.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:47 pm
Priceless comment Louis. People have been making this point about your idol for months.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:50 pm
Louis
So they used the Rauner method.
Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:51 pm
Sorry Norseman u beat me to it.
Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:52 pm
If we travel back in time to all the way to the Sept. 17, 2014, Cap Fax, we’ll find Chairman Bruce Rauner’s explanation as to why GTCR had never hired an African-American professional.
“We weren’t finding the folks that, that, uh, you know, weren’t there.”
In Chicago.
Not finding the folks that weren’t there — is that Rauner or “Caine” from “Kung Fu?” It’s almost Zen.
Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:53 pm
“In fact, data provided to our union by the previous administration demonstrates that minorities in union positions have a higher promotion rate than minorities in non-union positions. This is affirmed by numerous studies demonstrating the positive impact of union membership on the economic progress of minorities and by the thousands of minorities who are union members that have successfully moved up the ladder in Illinois state government.”
@Louis: Reading is fundamental. Please read.
Comment by Politix Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:53 pm
Mason Born, great minds think alike
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:56 pm
Responses like this are a small but important part of getting the override of SB1229. We’ll find out tomorrow if it all worked…
Comment by AC Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:56 pm
I must say that between these leaked emails and the police report that was filed AFTER the missing sketches were returned, this administration keeps looking more ineffective by the hour.
Is this all they got? Not much superstar behavior here, is there?
Comment by Jordan Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 3:58 pm
Pure “time in seat” or how long you’ve been there as opposed to HOW WELL you do your job has been slowly strangling state government. Combine that with how difficult it is to enter the civil service system and it’s sometimes difficult to see how we ever perform better as a state. The union has had too much power for too long and promotes far too much mediocrity and relatively poor behavior (among a bunch of people that don’t otherwise tend to be that way). It’s time to negotiate some merit / pay-for-performance back into this system. Let the AV stand!
Comment by Tired Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 4:03 pm
- Louis G. Atsaves -
If you want that to stand, fine.
When others point out Rauner doing the very same thing, don’t be so quick to defend the governor.
Thanks.
(Tips cap to - Norseman -)
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 4:05 pm
=Is that Rauner or “Caine” from “Kung Fu?”=
Maybe Buckaroo Banzai: “No matter where you go, there you are.”
Comment by Crispy Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 4:06 pm
Tired, ask current merit comp members how well that’s worked out historically.
Comment by CharlieKratos Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 4:11 pm
Saying the union has no control over promotion into management and leadership positions would mean more if there were a significant number of such positions. When more than 90% of positions, including many supervisory positions, are union, their argument is weak.
Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 4:12 pm
Charlie - I’m not arguing that merit comp staff have been treated fairly. Far from it. But giving 90 plus percent of the workforce raises and step increases every year whether they do well or not and promoting them the same way is not even close to fair or productive for the state.
Comment by Tired Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 4:19 pm
The reason there is a 90+% of union employees is because past administrations basically starved out any non-union, non-management employees by pinning mandatory furloughs on them while denying them raises.
If the argument is that there aren’t enough non-Union supervisory positions to monitor the unionized employees, the same logic applies; even if there were more of this positions opened up, it’s doubtful anyone would move out of a situation where a raise is at least a possibilty with the union to a situation where you’re almost guaranteed a decade-long wage freeze.
Comment by Stuck on the 3rd Floor Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 4:25 pm
==I’m not arguing that merit comp staff have been treated fairly. Far from it.==
And have you noticed how much this administration has done to correct that problem? They could give pay-for-performance to 10% of their workforce without any negotiations, but they aren’t doing it. So why should the unions believe they’ll do the right thing if given free reign to treat the union employees any way they please?
Comment by Anon. Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 4:29 pm
Rich, I hope you enjoyed your day off.
Comment by Excessively Rabid Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 5:16 pm
I would not trust any statistics or data provided by the state as to how many minorities or people with disabilities work there. I have been told the surveys they have employees fill out are all voluntary. In addition, when applying for state employment it is voluntary to provide any information in reference to race and or disability.
Comment by ABC123 Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 5:21 pm
The message I hear is that the outcome is uncertain Let’s have the vote. Then what world are we in?.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 5:27 pm
I just don’t understand how a robber baron could love his union made Harley so much.
Comment by Jorge Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 9:06 pm
It’s gonna come down to passage of sb1229 or a strike. Tomorrow we will know.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 9:48 pm
Even if Rauner’s team loses tomorrow, there will still be thousands laid off.
Comment by Union Man Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 10:39 pm
===I just don’t understand how a robber baron could love his union made Harley so much.===
Vanity before politics.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 11:22 pm
I’m predicting there is a backroom deal between Rauner and Madigan where the vote will fail by couple votes in exchange for a toned down turnaround agenda and a tax increase agreement.
Comment by Check Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 11:25 pm
Ducky, if it was vanity he would ride an Indian.
Comment by Jorge Tuesday, Sep 1, 15 @ 11:44 pm
“I just don’t understand how a robber baron could love his union made Harley so much.”
He loves it like an actor loves his props and sets.
Comment by Shark Sandwich Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 5:31 am
Check, that’s not unreasonable.
But if the governor was willing to noegotiate, he could have made that deal months ago.
Either way, Rauner currently has the responsibility of managing a state government that is spending billions more than it is taking in, due to his refusal to engage on the budget.
That’s not going to chance no matter what happens on SB1229.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 6:33 am
“merit” - hilarious. Tired clearly has no clue hoow “merit comp” has run under both parties here.
Comment by alas Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 7:34 am
Some are predicting mass layoffs if SB 1229 is overridden. I don’t think so. What happens to the quarterback if he were to lay off all his frontline?
Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 7:49 am