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* Somehow, I don’t think it actually happened this way…
But the amusing part was when Rauner said he told AFSCME he wanted to implement a four-year wage freeze but with salary increases based on “productivity and saving taxpayers’ money,” and then re-enacted the conversation.
“I said, ‘I’ll give you more pay but I’ll give you 5 cents for every dollar you save taxpayers,’” Rauner recounted.
“And the employees said, ‘Yeah, we love that.’ But the union bosses go, ‘No, no, no. We don’t do that. We do seniority. We don’t do incentive pay. We don’t do merit pay.’
“And I said, ‘Yes we do. We’re doing it now.’
“And they said, ‘No we’re not.’
“And I said, ‘Yes we are.’
“And they said, ‘Well, if you demand that, we’re going to strike.’
“So I said, ‘Well, I hope you don’t. I don’t want you to strike. But if you do we’re going to beat you. We’re going to keep the government running.
“And they said, ‘Whoa, no governor’s ever said that to us before. Every governor in Illinois history has always given us what we wanted, of both political parties.’ That’s a fact. That’s a tragic fact.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 11:56 am
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Brought to you by the same guy who says he’s winning. I’m sure his recollection is just as accurate.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 11:57 am
That’s a lie, that’s a tragic lie. There. Fixed it.
Comment by Trolling Troll Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:01 pm
Lol.
Comment by Austin Blvd Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:03 pm
“And then they asked me to show them how big my muscles are because they had never seen such big muscles! That’s also a fact. That’s also a tragic fact.”
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:05 pm
What color is the sky in your world, Bruce?
Comment by Archiesmom Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:06 pm
The tragedy of this all is Bruce Rauner believes everything he says about unions.
When you’re a zealot, and you want unions utterly destroyed, you believe anything you want to, including made-up exchanges and you pass them on as a fact, because… you just are so desperate for it to be true.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:08 pm
“You shoulda seen the size of that fish!”
Also,
“I coulda been a contender!”
Comment by Crispy Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:08 pm
And then the Governor woke up.
Comment by jls Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:09 pm
We had that conversation over the phone on election night …
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:10 pm
Let’s say this is actually in the ballpark of the conversation.
The fact of the matter is, the Governor does not personally participate in contract negotiations, at least as far as I’m aware. (and if someone from the administration or AFSCME know for sure that I am wrong, great). So it appears he a relaying a conversation in the first person singular as if he had it, when it never even occurred isn’t even paraphrasing. It’s just lying.
Comment by Juice Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:12 pm
“Then the union guys said, ‘Ya know, you’re the handsomest governor we’ve ever dealt with. Even handsomer than Jim Edgar.’”
“I said, ‘Shucks, I’m just a regular guy in a Carhartt jacket, like you.’”
“And they said, “No, no, no. You’re handsome. And smart, too. Why, we bet you’re smarter than Lincoln.’”
“After that, we all sat around and had milkshakes together. It happened just like that, so help me Donald Trump.”
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:13 pm
If they aren’t doing it already it’s time for anyone not devoted to the Gov. to record every interaction.
Comment by State Engineer Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:14 pm
Comical to say the least.
Comment by Wow Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:14 pm
Per the article the next line was:
“And then they said, ‘Uh-oh, we’ve never dealt with this. We don’t want to negotiate with you. You’re too tough. You’re too strong for the taxpayers. We want you out.’”
Rich, That’s possibly my favorite part! It seriously reads like some twisted, roleplay fantasy.
Comment by Learning the Ropes Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:15 pm
===“So I said, ‘Well, I hope you don’t. I don’t want you to strike. But if you do we’re going to beat you. We’re going to keep the government running.===
Hmm.
“…”So I said, ‘Well, I hope you don’t.”
An outright lie. Rauner wants Labor strife to get the public against Labor, state workers, and most of all, all Unions, including trades. If Kabor can’t see that as a whole, it’s too late already.
Continuing…
“… I don’t want you to strike.”
False, but repeating, zealot-like, preparing for this…
“…But if you do we’re going to beat you.”
AFSCME and Labor. It’s never, ever been about the contract, it’s about ending Labor, decimating Unions. Rauner is begging for this strike. Prodding it.
Continuing..,
“…We’re going to keep the government running.”
National Guard troops? I remember “ck” making it clear it’s possible. Retirees? Who… “Who” was calling former employees?
When the Commander-In-Chief of the Illinois National Guard will command the military to mobilize in the functions of Illinois government. That’s more than real, according to the Administration themselves.
Labor, all labor, come March 15th…
“Vote accordingly”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:17 pm
At least when Blago was in office you could trust the word of the Governor at least half of the time.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:17 pm
Oh, it gets better:
“And I said, ‘Sorry, I’m not a politician. I know how to run an operation and we’re going to run one that is fair and good. I want you well-paid. I want you to have a good career here, but we’re going to change the deal.”
So, to be clear, he thinks this, all of it, is running an organization. Induce layoffs at social service organizations? Jus’ part of runnin’ this big ol’ comapny we call the State.
Comment by illini97 Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:21 pm
“Somehow, I don’t think it actually happened this way…”
It did in his head where this conversation took place
Comment by Ferris Wheel Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:21 pm
The guy will say anything.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:23 pm
was this acted out by Kukla, Fran and Ollie?
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:24 pm
And then he smoked a cigarette and promptly fell asleep.
Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:26 pm
No G’s were dropped in the recounting of the conversation.
What does that tell you about the truth of the claim?
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:31 pm
Almost reads like a Funny or Die Skit
Comment by State Engineer Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:31 pm
That is an odd exchange of words.
But - in both a curious query and a point about the last referenced line - when was the last “bad” contract AFSCME agreed to and with whom was it negotiated? I have been following politics since Jim Edgar’s second term - when I was in high school and took an interest in civics - and at least since then no contract has been a raw deal for AFSCME.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:35 pm
Captain Ahab tells the Great White Whale that his time was up and he’s gonna bring him in. Well, we all know how that story ended don’t we Captain Rauner..
Comment by Mouthy Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:35 pm
Went on to say:
“…and then, the little girl looked into my open car window, and asked me if I was Mayor Daley!”
Comment by Newsclown Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:38 pm
“So I said, ‘Well, I hope you don’t. I don’t want you to strike.”
If this were true he could have signed 1229…
Comment by There is power in a union... Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:40 pm
The Governor is truly twisted. Does he or any of his staff realize how phony he comes off?
Comment by kimocat Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:40 pm
Dear Penthouse
I never thought I would ever be writing a letter to you, but you just won’t believe the amazing thing that happened to me just the other night.
I am just an average multi millionaire who isn’t out of shape, but I’m no longer young. I exercise regularly and I usually don’t go around in expensive suits. I just can’t seem to find a tie that fits my muscular neck.
So, anyway, I’m out travelin’ around and visitin’ some folks on my Harley. I like Harleys because I’m that kind of typical American male. I was wearing my leather vest and I must have attracted some attention, inadvertently.
These people come up to me and just are as friendly as if they knew me as someone who was very powerful and very rich. They encircled me and started asking me very interesting questions about how I keep in shape, and who does my hair.
Well Penthouse, the next thing you know - I’m completely getting a whole lot of smiles and compliments. Best of all - they were little union people, helpless and powerless. They all were begging me for my help!
“I want my freedom!”
“I don’t want my high wages!”
“I make too much money!”
“Could you please make our lives completely miserable?”
Needless to say, I was speechless. I never in my wildest imagination ever thought it could happen to me. After years of one-on-one conquests and uninvited roll overs, I was, at my age, finally getting some action like I’ve never experienced before!
But before I could really hook up with them, these old ugly union cranks busted through our love fest and shut me down!
The ugliest one, who is obviously not getting any said, ‘Uh-oh, we’ve never dealt with this. We don’t want to negotiate with you. You’re too tough. You’re too strong for the taxpayers. We want you out.’
It about broke my heart! I was ready to get down and satisfy my deepest longin’s and these ugly step-dudes right from AFSCME castin’ zipped me up like I was a minor at Woodstock.
It was amazin!
Sincerely,
Bruce Rauner,
Persistent Rascal
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:41 pm
Anders Lindall’s statement in Kacich’s column is also telling:
“No governor has ever attempted to impose his demands instead of negotiating to a settlement.”
Good to know our executives have just rolled over and not made any demands.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:44 pm
I flashed to a South Park episode where the kids retell stories all wrong. All that was missing was Rauner saying “Now that was a sticky situation! hahahaha”
And now I’m picturing Rauner talking in Cartman’s voice.
I need to go lie down…
Comment by HangingOn Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:47 pm
At one time CMS had a program in which you submitted ideas and if accepted, implemented, and saved the state money, you’d get a cut of the savings. Far as I know it still exists.
Of course the statement is made up. State workers don’t make widgets. They do their jobs or they don’t. To suggest merit pay on calculated savings to taxpayers is impossible to fathom. Now if you’re a pretty 25 year old 110 lb blond then you’ll like the concept of “merit” pay…
Comment by Mouthy Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:50 pm
And the next thing we know Madigan and Rauner are sipping chocolate milk around a fire, holding hands and singing Kum-By-Ah, just like in camp, and we’re all best buddies, just look at the selfies we took. THAT’S FACT. lol
Comment by CONFIDENT that nothing is getting done Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:56 pm
I think AFSCME should agree to a wage freeze… For the first year of the new contract. Heck, the first year is almost over anyway. Rauner saves some face and so does AFSCME. It’s a win-win.
Comment by Sarcastic Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:58 pm
“And they said, ‘No we’re not.’
“And I said, ‘I triple dog dare you.’
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 1:01 pm
Just a preachin’ to the choir… a shrinking choir.
Comment by Jimmy H Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 1:04 pm
Sarcastic - that isn’t on the table, and if Rauner wanted a deal with AFSCME, he’d have one.
Comment by AC Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 1:27 pm
==“No governor has ever attempted to impose his demands instead of negotiating to a settlement.”==
That’s why it’s called a negotiation. Offer, Counter-Offer, Wash, Rinse, Repeat.
Demands are only given by hostage-takers. Bruce is a hostage-taker.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 1:53 pm
Sorry, anonymous @ 1:01 was me.
Comment by Skeptic. Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 1:55 pm
@- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 12:41 pm:
Hilarious. And the sad thing is, your take on it is about 100% accurate.
Well played.
Comment by How Ironic Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 2:03 pm
Absolutely loved the above. You really should write a show. I’m eating lunch and nearly chocked on my sandwich.
Comment by BBG Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 2:14 pm
Nice 4th grade level prose. Maybe 3rd grade?
Comment by sal-says Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 2:19 pm
And scene. Thank you Mr. Rauner, we’ll let you know if you get the role of governor. Next!
Comment by Rod sez I'm porkd Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 2:31 pm
The budget is in the mail.
Comment by relocated Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 2:41 pm
What’s next with this guy “I was born in a log cabin I built myself”
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 2:43 pm
==But the union bosses go, ‘No, no, no. We don’t do that. We do seniority. We don’t do incentive pay. We don’t do merit pay.’
“And I said, ‘Yes we do. We’re doing it now.’==
“We” aren’t even doing merit pay for merit comp employees. 80 Ill. Admin. Code Section 310.450(d) provides for annual reviews and possible pay raises for merit comp employees, but has this little parenthetical at the end:
“(Effective July 1, 2009, annual merit increases and bonuses are suspended, and annual merit performance reviews continue.)”
So I have a hard time believing the governor believes in merit pay.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 2:45 pm
Rauner’s collection of fairy tales is now on sale in the mansion bookstore and includes such favorites as:
Rauner and AFSCME
Rauner and The Speaker
Rauner and the Senate President
Rauner and the Mayor
Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 2:47 pm
Kacich’s first line was close: “Gov. Bruce Rauner has an entertaining way of re-creating a conversation just the way he’d like it to be remembered.”
Shoulda been, “Gov. Rauner has a desperate way of re-creating a conversation just the way he’d like it to be remembered.”
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 2:54 pm
I miss the part where he told members of AFSCME
“YOU will never get another job anywhere, ever. I will bankrupt YOU with legal fees. I don’t know if YOU have a family or not, but if you do, you better think twice about this.”
Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 2:56 pm
The question I have, that Kasich unfortunately does not include in his article, is what exactly was the reaction of Douglas County republicans in the room? Did they all go “whoo boy, that’s one heck of a governor we have there! Takin it to em”?
Or, like any room full of moderately intelligent humans would do, did they give each other sideways looks and think to themselves “this guy is full of baloney”?
Comment by Lester Holt's Mustache Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 3:04 pm
Dad used to say all politicians lie. Welcome to the club, Mr. Rauner.
Comment by Emily Booth Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 3:38 pm
He actually does just make things up…it’s bizarre, really. Started on election night when he said he called the Speaker and Senate President…
Comment by Mary Sunshine Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 3:46 pm
VanillaMan — brilliant! I even sent this article and comment string to my Mom.
Comment by Molly Maguire Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 3:50 pm
I understand how Rauner and Dunkin hooked up. They both come from Fantasy Island.
Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 3:55 pm
“Then they said they’d agree to whatever I said but I told them to take some time to think about it.”
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 4:24 pm
Send in the clowns…don’t bother, he’s here.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 4:46 pm
I think was from a role playing session with Donna Arduin.
Comment by The_Equalizer Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 4:53 pm
“I only read VanillaMan for the articles…”
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 4:54 pm
This story reminds me of the Stephen Foster song “Beautiful Dreamer”. Unfortunately, I do not have a musical talent to rewrite the tune.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 5:19 pm
All I can say is thank God he doesn’t have his finger on the “button.”
Comment by Pelonski Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 5:39 pm
“At least when Blago was in office you could trust the word of the Governor at least half of the time.”
That’s because the FBI was recording it.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 6:49 pm
Would love to find the person or people at the other end of this supposed conversation to see what the difference are.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 7:32 pm
–Would love to find the person or people at the other end of this supposed conversation to see what the difference are. –
I’m quite certain that it’s the same guy on both ends of the conversation.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 7:35 pm
I would love to hear how people there reacted to his “recollections”.
Comment by btowntruth Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 8:26 pm
Question why hasn’t the Gov. Rauner Administration while negotiating with AFSCME for a new contract or not, at least start to take out of the union the rest of the public service administrators in upper, middle management,& supervisory positions. (options 2,3,6) Perhaps also, The executive series I & II and exec secretary. They should never have been placed in the union to begin with! This will probably reduce or even stop potential overtime abuses for some of these folks while more importantly set up an appropriate State Government management team as it once was? I realize some folks will say in the past they weren’t treated fairly as merit comp employees but I didn’t realize life had to always be fair. Been there and done that.
Comment by sidney Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 8:27 pm
===at least start to take out of the union the rest of the public service administrators in upper, middle management,& supervisory positions. (options 2,3,6) Perhaps also, The executive series I & II and exec secretary. They should never have been placed in the union to begin with!===
Please explain, step by step, how Gov. Rauner would go about this. Make sure you show your work.
Thank you.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 16, 16 @ 8:30 pm
To Oswego. Willy I was referring to life is not always being fair. I should have said been there and experienced it. I worked in government before unionization, from clerical to exempt upper management, reassigned to a lower title,from being in the union and taken back out. Over all it’s been good to me my Life’s career up or down but it seems today folks only care about what’s in it for me, an unfortunate attitude without compromise. I can’t answer your how to do question as I have no idea, but I think it’s an honest and realistic goal to bring management back to where they belong in State government .
Comment by sidney Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 7:08 am
“I only read VanillaMan for the articles…”
– MrJM
Touché!
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 7:39 am
===I can’t answer your how to do question as I have no idea, but I think it’s an honest and realistic goal to bring management back to where they belong in State government.===
If you decide to “wax poetic” about life not being fair, “k remember when…” or any other intangible line that says nothing to the specific, try not to…
===at least start to take out of the union the rest of the public service administrators in upper, middle management,& supervisory positions. (options 2,3,6) Perhaps also, The executive series I & II and exec secretary. They should never have been placed in the union to begin with!===
… where you seem, in a very point and specific way, know exactly what you think should happen, and have no idea what it means to “change” that.
===I was referring to life is not always being fair. I should have said been there and experienced it. ===
Even “being there” and “experienced it”, you explain, clearly, you don’t know what you’re saying in your “correction”
===Over all it’s been good to me my Life’s career up or down but it seems today folks only care about what’s in it for me, an unfortunate attitude without compromise.===
What goes that even mean? People need to make less? You think people make too much money? Are you going to take a pay cut of equal percentage? Ugh.
You acknowledged your error, which is great.
Thank you.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 7:46 am
Sidney - it will require an amendment to the law to get those people out of the union, since they qualify under existing law.
As for life being fair or not, it isn’t fair and never will be. But that isn’t the real issue for state government. The real issue is hiring and retaining competent people, which does require decent treatment.
The governor has no real incentive to create a workforce that will carry out the functions established by the laws. All the incentives are to hire friends or political allies. No governor ever lost an election (or probably even a single vote) because of an incompetent state workforce, so there is no incentive to just hire good workers. After the way Blago and Quinn treated merit comp employees, many agencies cannot fill the merit comp jobs. No one will leave the union to take the jobs, and the pay isn’t good enough to lure good people from the private sector. Rauner has done nothing to fix that. Throwing more positions out of the union would open up a pool of employees who could move in to the currently unfilled jobs, but then who will fill the new vacancies? So it isn’t much of a solution.
Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Feb 17, 16 @ 8:35 am