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* UPDATED x1 * Rauner vetoes AFSCME bill

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* Veto message…

To the Honorable Members of
The Illinois House of Representatives,
99th General Assembly:

Today I veto House Bill 580. Nearly one year ago, the General Assembly passed an almost identical bill, Senate Bill 1229. I vetoed that bill because it was a dangerous, unprecedented attack on our taxpayers. HB 580 recycles the same dangerous proposal that I vetoed last fall.

Prior to the veto override vote on SB 1229 and within the last few days, newspaper editorial boards from all corners of the state – north to south, urban and rural, heavily Democrat and Republican districts, and those with large union and non-union readerships – wrote about the dangers of stripping taxpayers of their voice at the collective bargaining table.

The editors at The Southern wrote, “[n]othing like SB 1229 exists anywhere in the country. Nor should it. It’s an open assault on transparent representative government.” The Pantagraph in Bloomington wrote, “This is a terrible piece of legislation that should have never received much attention.” Just yesterday, the Dispatch-Argus rightly called HB 580 “worse than the original.” And The News-Gazette described HB 580 as “wrong on so many levels that it represents Exhibit A for the sloppy, irresponsible manner in which our failed state has been and continues to be run.”

HB 580 goes even further than SB 1229 did, sneaking in additional costly language under the guise of technical changes. For the reasons I explain in this message, our taxpayers rightly insist that HB 580 not become law.

We should be very clear about what prompted SB 1229 and now HB 580. A single union, AFSCME, made unaffordable and unsustainable salary and benefits demands during its collective bargaining negotiations, and then refused to meaningfully compromise. AFSCME’s leaders demanded salary increases of up to 29% over four years; a more expensive, platinum health care plan; and lavish overtime benefits, including time and a half after 37.5 hours of work each week and 2.5 times wages for some holidays. AFSCME is demanding that our taxpayers fund these additional benefits to the tune of $3 billion over the life of the contract. What’s worse, with HB 580, AFSCME wants to ensure that those taxpayers have no say in the matter.

Everyone knows that our taxpayers simply cannot afford these unreasonable demands. As a result, our negotiators emphatically rejected AFSCME’s most costly contract proposals. We offered solutions that are fair to both our taxpayers and our employees. Those proposals included performance bonuses of up to 8% of salary, greater choice of lower cost health care plans, and changes in work rules that would require the payment of overtime after 40 hours of work per week, which is standard and consistent with federal law, rather than 37.5 hours. We also proposed to eradicate underutilization and to promote the hiring and advancement of minorities in state government jobs by setting aside the current arbitrary barriers that stand in the way. AFSCME rejected all of these common sense proposals.

Unaccustomed to having to explain how the State could possibly pay for AFSCME’s unaffordable demands, union leaders sought to legislate away such inconvenient questions. AFSCME asked legislators to strip taxpayers of their rights under existing Illinois labor laws. Current law ensures that the Governor represents taxpayers’ interests at the bargaining table. Those rights are consistent with every state and municipal labor law in the country and the rights given to employers in the National Labor Relations Act, the federal law that governs all private sector labor negotiations, as well. AFSCME wants to squash those rights precisely because they stand in the way of AFSCME’s unreasonable demands.

HB 580 replaces the Governor in collective bargaining negotiations with an unelected, labor-friendly arbitrator who can single-handedly impose the union’s $3 billion demand on the taxpayers, and do so over the objections of the Governor, the General Assembly, the Labor Board, and the majority of taxpayers themselves. One person would have the ability to determine over 25% of our annual budget for the next 3 years, forcing increased taxes and cuts to other vital state services to pay for it all.

More than 30 years ago, AFSCME, and many others in the labor community, were instrumental in writing the collective bargaining laws across the country. In Illinois, AFSCME’s efforts led to the passage of the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, the very law by which these negotiations were conducted for almost a year. Now AFSCME seeks to rewrite its own handcrafted rules simply because our negotiators invoked those same rules to protect our taxpayers against AFSCME’s unaffordable financial demands.

The AFSCME bill is crafted to apply to only a single negotiation and a single Governor. AFSCME cannot identify any jurisdiction in the country – even the most labor-friendly – that has ever enacted this type of sweeping rewrite of its labor laws targeting a single negotiating session. Taxpayers, through their elected officials, have an important, longstanding role in public labor negotiations. My action today defends taxpayers who are being denied their voice at the bargaining table.

I urge the General Assembly to stand with taxpayers and sustain my veto. In responding to AFSCME pressure to override this veto, please keep the following two things in mind:

First, a year ago, you were told that SB 1229 was needed to protect all labor unions from a concerted attack on organized labor from a series of unreasonable bargaining demands being made by our administration. But since then, 12 different bargaining units representing the State’s electricians, plumbers, painters, machinists, carpenters, engineers, and many others have voluntarily negotiated and agreed to substantially the same proposals offered to AFSCME. Despite AFSCME’s heated rhetoric trying to portray our bargaining proposals as unreasonable, these 12 unions chose to join 5 Teamster units in acting reasonably and reaching fair agreements with our administration. State employees ratified many of those agreements by over 80%. Together, these 17 agreements now cover more than 5,000 state employees.

What makes these unions different from AFSCME is none of them insisted upon the same unrealistic financial demands that AFSCME’s leadership is still making to this day. Significantly, but not surprisingly, many of AFSCME’s own members do not support these demands either. Unlike their union leaders, these members want to be part of the solution, not exacerbate the problem. But AFSCME has refused to allow them to vote on these proposals. Before AFSCME asks members of the General Assembly to vote to override this veto, why not ask them to let their own members take a vote on the same proposals that were ratified by wide margins by 17 other unions? Given that opportunity, if AFSCME allows for a fair, democratic vote without undue influence by union leaders, I predict AFSCME members would ratify this contract by the same overwhelming margins that their coworkers have.

Second, as you are aware, the impasse in negotiations with AFSCME is currently being litigated before the Illinois Labor Relations Board. AFSCME filed its own unfair labor practice charge that is part of that litigation. The Board will decide if negotiations should continue or an impasse has been reached. The Board will decide if we have offered a plan that is fair to AFSCME members. The General Assembly has a long history of not intervening in active litigation. That is precisely the procedural status of the current proceedings between the two sides. If AFSCME’s attack on our bargaining proposals has merit, AFSCME has ample opportunity to make that case to the Board. If AFSCME succeeds, the Board can order both parties back to the bargaining table to negotiate a mutual agreement. There is absolutely no need for the General Assembly to be involved.

AFSCME did say that the Labor Relations Board proceedings are unfair and that you should intervene to stop these hearings before they resulted in a decision. But here, too, AFSCME’s leaders are being disingenuous. I have attached a copy of the Tolling Agreement, which is a contract voluntarily signed by AFSCME Executive Director Roberta Lynch herself. In fact, this is the third such agreement signed by AFSCME. This one was signed on September 9, 2015 – just days after the veto override vote on SB 1229.

As the Tolling Agreement clearly states, “if a dispute exists with respect to the existence of an impasse, the parties agree to submit the matter to the Illinois Labor Relations Board.” The agreement adds, “this agreement will remain in effect until the ILRB resolves the issue” and furthermore “that this agreement will remain in effect until impasse is reached.” Director Lynch signed this agreement freely and voluntarily, including those provisions that select the Labor Relations Board, and not an arbitrator, as the appropriate authority to resolve the present dispute. HB 580 dramatically changes the terms of the Tolling Agreement and would improperly alter the very dispute resolution procedures agreed to by the parties in that contract.

AFSCME also recently filed a separate lawsuit that asks a court to decide if the parties are in compliance with the terms of the Tolling Agreement. AFSCME admits in that lawsuit that the Tolling Agreement was entered freely and voluntarily and is a valid agreement. That is a significant concession that should end any further effort to turn HB 580 into law. AFSCME squarely acknowledges it signed a valid contract. AFSCME should be required to hold up its end of the deal.

But just as with its push for HB 580, AFSCME is also asking the court to rewrite the Tolling Agreement in a way that would permit AFSCME to sidestep the Labor Board process to which it has agreed. Because the issue of what the Tolling Agreement obligates the parties to do is now squarely presented not only before the Labor Board but also in court, the General Assembly has double the reason not to interfere.

The question now before the General Assembly is whether to intervene in ongoing litigation and alter the terms of a binding contract between the State and AFSCME – all at the expense of the taxpayers we represent. I urge you to resist the pressure to override HB 580 and instead stand with taxpayers by holding AFSCME to its own commitments under the Tolling Agreement.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 580, entitled “AN ACT concerning State government”, with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner
GOVERNOR

* AFSCME’s response…

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has vetoed the fair arbitration bill, House Bill 580. AFSCME Council 31 executive director Roberta Lynch responds:

“Public service workers in state government keep us safe, protect kids, respond to emergencies and much more. They want to stay on the job to serve their communities, not be forced out on strike, and they deserve fair pay and health care they can afford. This bill seeks compromise and avoids a strike by allowing an independent, neutral third party to settle the differences between workers and management. It is the process already used for tens of thousands of fire fighters, police officers, correctional workers and others throughout Illinois.

“Beneath Governor Rauner’s false claims and wild exaggerations about the bill is this reality: The governor walked away from negotiations with our union in January and is seeking total power to unilaterally impose his demands, including forcing state and university employees to pay double their current costs for health care. Given that power, the governor could impose his demands and leave state employees no choice but to strike. That’s exactly what Rauner as a candidate vowed to do.

“Governor Rauner doesn’t like HB 580 because it would require him to be moderate and seek compromise. He wants his way or no way at all. Public service workers in state government want better for the millions of citizens we serve. That’s why new polls show voters support the fair arbitration bill by 3-1 margins even in Republican districts, and why we will urge all lawmakers of both parties to protect public services, ensure fairness and override the governor’s veto of HB 580.”

*** UPDATE *** The governor has also penned an “open letter to state employees”…

For too many years, Illinoisans have been misled. Each of you in state government has been misled. Taxpayers who fund government have been misled. Recipients of public services, including our most vulnerable residents, have also been misled. The consequences are before us, and they are dire.

I ran for office to right these wrongs. I believe that solving our state’s crisis requires a simple first step — for someone to tell the truth. So here it is.

The truth is that Illinois is broke. Our taxpayers, who pay the highest property taxes in the nation, are maxed out and local governments continue to raise property taxes.

Expanding the size of government faster than middle-class paychecks are growing is a failing strategy. That is why I have no choice but to veto AFSCME’s arbitration bill, HB580.

It’s not because I don’t want to see you earn a better living today. I do. I veto HB580 because I want to protect the pension system that you are counting on for your retirement.

If I signed this bill, I would be subjecting all taxpayers to another $3 billion in higher taxes. That makes no sense when too many jobs have been leaving Illinois, and those hardworking Illinoisans that remain see their incomes falling.

We can make Illinois a state where our employees receive the pension benefits they were promised, where our budget is truly balanced through strong economic growth rather than destructive tax hikes, and where our state workers are not forced to work in decaying buildings with technology that is older than my children and furniture that is older than me.

I pledged on my first day in office to build a partnership with state employees, and that is exactly what we have done. Our 1970s computers are being replaced with next generation technology. With the General Assembly’s help, I pledged to put the Thompson Center up for sale and move employees to more modern space. We pushed for more flexible scheduling and ended Rod Blagojevich’s corrupt hiring system.

When Attorney General Madigan sought to shut off pay, Comptroller Munger and I defeated that misguided attack on state employees. And I have called on the General Assembly to honor Governor Quinn’s failed promise of wage increases from 2011. We must respect our commitments and not make new commitments that we cannot afford.

We also sought employees’ ideas for improvements and savings, prompting us to send out the first-ever state employee survey. The results were eye-opening.

You told me that promotions and compensation are not based on merit. You told me that agencies don’t reward creativity and innovation. I want to reward hard work and ingenuity. Unfortunately, union leadership is blocking many of these common sense ideas — ideas that you want. Rest assured, I heard your desire for these reforms loud and clear.

So my administration took action. We launched a truly meaningful merit pay program. We started a gainsharing program that will reward state employees for helping save taxpayers’ money. We implemented a “rapid results” system that removes obstacles to employee innovation and allows employees to personally change processes that impede good customer service.

But as I have noted, with a truly historic budget deficit and skyrocketing debt, our taxpayers cannot afford the added spending pressure of huge wage and health insurance increases. That is why I must veto HB580, ensuring that the legal process agreed to with AFSCME leaders and currently underway before the Labor Board, is allowed to proceed and fairly resolve any outstanding issues.

But I make this pledge: The State will honor its promises to you. We will continue to listen and build a workplace that values and rewards hard work, innovation, and creativity, all in a welcoming work environment. We will keep fighting to get you paid in full and on time. And we will continue to stand for fiscal discipline so that you and your families can again know you are, finally, being told the truth.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:19 pm

Comments

==I predict AFSCME members would ratify this contract by the same overwhelming margins that their coworkers have==

Does the Governor mean INA, or the Pro Tech Teamsters who were offered a different health insurance package than AFSCME along with limited changes to their contract language?

Comment by AC Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:26 pm
Predictable, but sad. If you believe, as the evidence shows, that he wants to bust unions, this was his play. He wants to force an impasse, to force a strike, to do with AFSCME members what Reagan did to the air controllers. In his utopia, the state workforce is privatized; state employees owned by those to whom Rauner sells their employment…
As Oswego Willy says, Vote Accordingly.

Comment by Independent Retired Lawyer Journalist Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:26 pm
SHOCKING!!!!!!!!!!

Nah. More of the same.

Comment by sal-says Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:27 pm
===Everyone knows that our taxpayers simply cannot afford these unreasonable demands.===

Ugh.

“Vote Accordingly” Labor.

===…platinum health care plan; and lavish overtime benefits,===

Platinum and lavish. Boy, that sounds like someone making AFSCME the lone bad actor.

===AFSCME is demanding that our taxpayers===

Dog. Whistle.

===What’s worse, with HB 580, AFSCME wants to ensure that those taxpayers have no say in the matter.===

Rauner knows he could win arbitration, if he were reasonable(?)

It’s critical to understand the obvious…

The idea of 2 in 5 voting for Raunerites in the GA should keep Labor awake a night.

AFSCME members are taxpayers too, Governor, you know that, but if you can destroy people by “us versus them”, that’s fine by you.

All state workers, take heed, Rauner does not like you. Don’t be fooled.

Elections have consequences, AFSCME. There’s one in November.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:28 pm
Geez, who wrote that veto message? Getting paid by the word or something?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:31 pm
==I predict AFSCME members would ratify this contract by the same overwhelming margins that their coworkers have==

Nope.

Comment by Wensicia Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:35 pm
Watch how the appointed Raunerite legislators in the Springfield area (Bourne, Butler and Jimenez) vote on the override where there are thousands of State employees and their families. Take that information to the poll with you in November folks.

Comment by Tough Guy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:37 pm
I’m not a fan of the Governor but he’s right on this one.

The voters decided they wanted him to be the one to negotiate. That’s consistent with the way it has been done in Illinois.

Voters made a choice. The choice has consequences.

Comment by Gooner Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:39 pm
==We can make Illinois a state where our employees receive the pension benefits they were promised, where our budget is truly balanced through strong economic growth rather than destructive tax hike==

Now THAT’s what you would call misleading.

Comment by Wensicia Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:40 pm
It must have taken all 60 days just to write that veto message.

Should make tomorrow’s brunch meeting all the more exciting.

And is it me, or is he daring the Attorney General to follow-through and challenge the court order?

Pass the popcorn. The legislative session in finally underway.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:40 pm
1) No one is shocked by the Veto

2) The Veto will not be overridden

3) This move “helps” May 18th.

4) “Yellow” and “NV” does not mean Raunerites are friends of Labor or Social Services. If you give Quarter to Raunerites that turned on you, I have no sympathy. Today is today is today.

5) Next time “Lesser of two evils” should be “easier” come November.

6) You lost in 2014, this is on you, AFSCME, so own it, and get your best deal, and realize this whole thing… is a consequence.

7) Two Vetoes should be reminded often.

8) Political Campaign Organizers and Message Flacks need to be in your stable now, because May 18th… reminds you “it’s not too early.

Good Luck.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:40 pm
Picked the wrong horse nothing to see here. After Dillard lost, they had six months to educate their members. Poor leadership and lack of execution have consequences. Man Quinn feels like decades not years ago. LOL

Comment by Almost the Weekend Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:41 pm
Rauner’s way or no way dressed up.

Comment by Anon Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:41 pm
I think Marx’s manifesto had less words. He really doesn’t like unions does he?

Comment by Longsummer Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:41 pm
To the Update…

Remember state workers…

The AFSCME posters…

THAT’S who is Gov. Rauner. Don’t. Be. Fooled.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:42 pm
The difference between the open letter and the “censored” posters are what exactly? Doesn’t look to be too much of a difference to me.

Comment by MyTwoCents Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:42 pm
It was somewhere around page 381 that I started to think maybe this veto message is getting a little obsessive.

Comment by The Captain Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:44 pm
“I predict AFSCME members would ratify this contract by the same overwhelming margins that their coworkers have.”

Funny, I’m hearing very few members say, “Pleae double what I pay for health insurance while freezing my pay” or “please make me easier to privatize.”

Comment by steward Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:44 pm
==“Yellow” and “NV” does not mean Raunerites are friends of Labor or Social Services.==

Actions speak so much more loudly than words. Unionized employees are about to be given a voters guide. Print out the voting record on the override of HB580, it’s the only thing union folks need this November, that and a good pair of walking shoes for canvassing. Don’t worry about your hobbies, set them aside, if you fail this fall you won’t be able to afford them anyway.

Comment by AC Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:48 pm
==The truth is that Illinois is broke. Our taxpayers, who pay the highest property taxes in the nation, are maxed out and local governments continue to raise property taxes.==

The State is broke because at Rauner’s request, the General Assembly let the 5% income tax rate sunset. Also, isn’t HB 580 about STATE employees - and not about local employees and property taxes?

Comment by Joe M Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:54 pm
===The truth is that Illinois is broke.===

Says the Governor “who” refuses to fund his state agencies, refuses to see any need to pay 800 Social Service providers the $350 million owed… The Governor “who” had a Social Service provider’s President in an Ad claiming “no social agenda” and then repays her organization, by not paying them the money owed.

What. A. Guy.

“Illinois is broke”?

Governor, you’re purposely hurting Illinois. Willfully. And more peole, they’re catchin’ on.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:58 pm
When INA voted against his contract offer, he went ballistic, but he thinks AFSCME members would ratify the same offer that INA members crushed? Interesting perspective.

Comment by The_Equalizer Monday, May 16, 16 @ 5:59 pm
Double my employee medical portion once, continue my service increases including the one that was missed, and I’ll turn my cheek to the COLA.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 16, 16 @ 6:04 pm
Whew, glad Bruce penned that open letter to state employees. His honesty should convince us all to accept his offer.
NOT!!!

Comment by tired of politics Monday, May 16, 16 @ 6:04 pm
Anyone noticed a welcoming work environment yet? The governor promises to give you one in that final paragraph of the open letter. He’s been in office 17 months now. I don’t feel very welcome, valued or appreciated. How about you pay our medical bills in a timely manner? Until you do that, I don’t believe a word of any promise you make.

Comment by thoughts matter Monday, May 16, 16 @ 6:11 pm
===I predict AFSCME members would ratify this contract by the same overwhelming margins that their coworkers have===

Might want to hire at least a “Maybe Man” or 2 next time Brucie. The detached-from-reality optimism is starting to back up in your office.

Comment by GraduatedCollegeStudent Monday, May 16, 16 @ 6:12 pm
Rereading it, maybe it was only 14 … one or two could just be considered different opinions

Comment by RNUG Monday, May 16, 16 @ 6:24 pm
Is there a word of truth in Rauner’s letter to state employees? He was lying about them in his campaign and he is lying to them now.

Comment by Truthteller Monday, May 16, 16 @ 6:37 pm
But Bruce Rauner and his friends are NOT broke. The deficit is structural. High property taxes in and around Chicago don’t excuse in adequate funding for social services and higher education. Given that the state income taxes in all adjoining states are HIGHER than Illinois save Indiana, there is taxing capacity. Sorry, Bruce tell the truth.

Comment by James Knell Monday, May 16, 16 @ 6:41 pm
Knew this was coming. “Meeting of leaders” is Rauner code for “I’m about to spew out more lies.”

Odd how raising income tax to 4.85% raises less than $3 billion, but ASFCME’s version of the contract is equal to a $3 billion tax hike. So is he saying we’d need to raise income tax to say, 5.25% just to cover this AFSCME contract?

Comment by MSIX Monday, May 16, 16 @ 6:44 pm
How could a guy who lives in the top 1% have even a scintilla of a clue of what is fair for an average middle class worker?

It is laughable that he makes “what other people make” his number one issue.

What’s the matter with him?

Comment by Austin Blvd Monday, May 16, 16 @ 6:48 pm
The $3B is over the life of the contract. Rauner has a bad habit of extrapolating costs over many years so he can get a number that has a bigger impact, but then pretending that expense will occur in every budget year. Just another way of lying but supplying partial information.

Comment by RNUG Monday, May 16, 16 @ 6:50 pm
Just another way of lying BY supplying partial information.

Comment by RNUG Monday, May 16, 16 @ 6:52 pm
Who writes this doublespeak for him? Goldberg?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 16, 16 @ 6:55 pm
===But I make this pledge: The State will honor its promises to you=

Promises to dramatically change in 3… 2… 1…

Comment by Wading in... Monday, May 16, 16 @ 7:06 pm
=If I signed this bill, I would be subjecting all taxpayers to another $3 billion in higher taxes.=

As I understand it, this is the cost of the total contract over its lifespan, correct? And Rauner’s “offer” would cost less, but still come close to this amount, right? Please correct me if I’m wrong.

So either way, keeping AFSCME on the job will run nearly or slightly over $3 billion for the life of the contract. So how is this a “tax hike” and why doesn’t anyone in the press question him on this? Or does his highness not lower himself to answer questions from the press?

Comment by MSIX Monday, May 16, 16 @ 7:07 pm
== why doesn’t anyone in the press question him on this? ==

Very few real, actual reporters left … the kind that always double-checked every statement.

Comment by RNUG Monday, May 16, 16 @ 7:13 pm
==The truth is that Illinois is broke. Our taxpayers, who pay the highest property taxes in the nation, are maxed out and local governments continue to raise property taxes.

Expanding the size of government faster than middle-class paychecks are growing is a failing strategy. That is why I have no choice but to veto AFSCME’s arbitration bill, HB580.==

The truth of the matter is that the AFSCME negotiations that are stalled involved state employees, and not one penny of their compensation comes from property taxes. But any excuse will do, I guess.

Comment by Whatever Monday, May 16, 16 @ 7:41 pm
== why doesn’t anyone in the press question him on this? ==

==Very few real, actual reporters left … the kind that always double-checked every statement.==

Also very few real, actual news organizations that are not owned by personal friends of this governor. Remember what happened to the last reporter who tried to aggressively double check the governors claims?

Comment by fka Lester Holt's Mustache Monday, May 16, 16 @ 7:42 pm
Typical corporate horsesh*t –

Comment by Liberty Monday, May 16, 16 @ 7:47 pm
“I predict AFSCME members would ratify this contract by the same overwhelming margins that their coworkers have.”

Niooooope.

Comment by Politix Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:02 pm
Predictably, Rauner flanks his veto message with a “bodyguard of lies”. Basically he hates unions with a passion and everything else is secondary.

If the legislature can come up with a few good souls, this can all be put to rest.

Question: “What is the real reason the Governor do afraid of arbitration?”

Answer: “The one thing that arbitration will never do is put an end to Unions once and for all. That is what he wants. That is why he ran for the governorship in the first place”.

Comment by Omega Man Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:02 pm
===The truth of the matter is that the AFSCME negotiations that are stalled involved state employees, and not one penny of their compensation comes from property taxes. But any excuse will do, I guess.===

Who pays property taxes? Illinois Taxpayers

Who pays income taxes that fund AFSCME salary and benefits that are being negotiated? Illinois Taxpayers

Just because it’s calculated using a separate formula and goes to different sources, the end result is the same. It’s money that isn’t in taxpayers’ bank accounts and goes to a state or local government.

All these different taxes from different sources add up to real money. Federal Income Tax, State Income Tax, FICA, Sales Tax, Property Tax, Licensing Fees, etc. I know state employees pay these taxes also, take a look at the AFSCME salary table and compare it to federal data on expected salaries, you’ll understand a lot of the frustration of voters outside of Sangamon County.

Comment by Huh??? Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:10 pm
Question: “What is the real reason the Governor IS afraid of arbitration?”

Comment by Omega Man Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:11 pm
Legislators - You have the power to end this. Just before the SB1229 vote, you were saying that we just needed to continue negotiating. AFSCME was negotiating in good faith when Rauner broke off the talks. AFSCME still stands ready to negotiate. You can get us back to the bargaining table with a single vote. What will your excuse be when we are in the middle of a strike?

Comment by Omega Man Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:17 pm
The emancipation proclamation contained 625 words

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:23 pm
“- Huh??? - Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:10 pm:”

You are not the real Huh. I know what you are doing Rauner.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:24 pm
1) he needs an editor.
2) his tone = fuel to a fire
3) lies, lies, lies

Comment by Square Pegs Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:25 pm
Groundhog Day.

Last year the GOP GA ( with one exception) voted against the SB1229 override because they believed Rauner’s pledge to negotiate in good faith. Here we are, back with HB580 because there is no contract.

Last year the GOP GA members voted as directed against K-12 school.funding, then Rauner stabbed them in the back by signing it. Now we are back this year with Rauner calling for a clean K-12 bill but nothing else.

The GOP GA members have the sole power to change this dynamic. Senators and Representatives, the voting public is watching … Vote Accordingly.

Comment by RNUG Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:33 pm
So the union will vote on whether to accept the offer. Once the process is complete, individual union members can decide whether they want to keep their job. Fortunately, nobody is forced to work for the state; there’s always the private sector, where everyone makes the big money.

Comment by Anony Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:34 pm
4) he’s so angry.

Comment by Square Pegs Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:36 pm
===The GOP GA members have the sole power to change this dynamic. Senators and Representatives, the voting public is watching … Vote Accordingly.===

Agreed, well said, - RNUG -, but I’ll borrow this from you and tweak it to say clearly that a structured roll call beyond 71 and 36 proposed to the Four Tops and the Governor that constitutes a budget, with revenue, devoid of poison pills… Boy that GOP GA would be a significant power in saving so many.

It’s a heavy lift, but compromises usually are.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:41 pm
We love Rauner too. Is that how telling the truth works?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:44 pm
“Voters made a choice. The choice has consequences.” @ 5:39. So you will respect future election consequences when these GOPers are run out of town on a rail?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:50 pm
Expanding …

“The State will honor its promises to you.” Yes, because the courts will make you do so. It won’t be a bankruptcy court where you are use to dumping and running.

Comment by RNUG Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:50 pm
Union members have the power to go to tell union leaders that the management offer is good enough, so that the state can focus on paying the hostages suffering ACTUAL damage (rather than a raise that isn’t high enough). Or how about saying that the taxpayers are already taxed enough? I know, crazy, radical thoughts. Let someone else pay. NIMBY NIMBY, NIMBY.

Comment by Anony Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:50 pm
- Anony -,

What about the medical insurance?

“I’ll hang up and listen to your answer”

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:54 pm
Re Rauner: The arsonist is claiming someone set a fire>

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:54 pm
- Oswego Willy - @ 8:41 pm:

Thanks. Forgot to credit you for the tag line.

Comment by RNUG Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:55 pm
- RNUG -

We’re all good, bud, as always. I actually just wanted to expound on the “path” for the GOP GA. They get those numbers up to 90 and 45, take off the targets, dump the poison pills, cobble off a list similar to the one Rich had up a few weeks ago, add the required, not the gift of, revenue, then there’s governing going on.

They all know that, you know that too. I’m not inventing (or reinventing?) the wheel.

Let’s see how these Budgeteer groups go.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:00 pm
Monday, May 16, 16 @ 8:54 pm:

And promised Step Increases

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:02 pm
Medical insurance is a mess in the private sector, too. Every member has the right to find another job if they don’t like the one they have.

Comment by Anony Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:02 pm
===Every member has the right to find another job if they don’t like the one they have.===

They do. Just as no one is required to join a union. There’s other jobs that aren’t union jobs.

So what’s your point?

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:05 pm
What was your point about medical insurance?

Comment by Anony Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:07 pm
The medical insurance, not the wages that make AFSCME’s contract different than others, like the Teamsters.

You’d know that if you knew the subject matter. You don’t.

You want to go after AFSCME, that’s fine, Rauner beat them in 2014, this is the consequence. But, your ignorance to what’s going on, that’s just silly behavior fuels by anger towards Labor. For that, I feel sorry for you.

Good luck.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:12 pm
The point was that Rauner DID give the other unions the equivalent or better than the platinum health care plan he refuses to continue AFSCME.

Comment by RNUG Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:13 pm
===The point was that Rauner DID give the other unions the equivalent or better than the platinum health care plan he refuses to continue AFSCME.===

Much better, crisper, and pointed. Thanks - RNUG -

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:16 pm
Continued great work by Gov. Keep it up!

Comment by Lomez Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:21 pm
I’ve been through some tough contract negotiations before, with an employer set on limiting costs, but the difference was they wanted a contract. We reached a settlement through compromise on contract language. Health care costs were kept in line by charging more for insurers who weren’t the lowest bidder. Education and training opportunities were expanded. We reached a deal on a contract that had a virtual pay freeze, but the employer was interested in reaching an agreement. It wasn’t in Illinois. My point? Pay, benefits and contract language are linked. No employer interested in a deal weakens contract language while weakening compensation. Rauner’s motives are made clear by a convoluted negotiating strategy. A tax increase that costs votes in exchange for damaging relationships with constituents, and reduced job security in exchange for less compensation only makes sense in Rauner’s brain.

Comment by AC Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:22 pm
- Lomez -,

What was so “great”?

Be specific.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:22 pm
As a sidenote,anyone else notice that Dunkin voted ‘No” on HB580?
At least once he’s bought he stays bought,huh?

Comment by btowntruth Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:24 pm
Oh, Willy….

Your personal insults are cute. There’s a process that will result in a contract between labor and management. Most on each side will think it isn’t good enough, each for their own reasons. That’s how the process usually works. Those who are mad that the insurance in their deal isn’t as good as someone else’s, can go find somewhere else to work. But they may find that the insurance offered in the private sector ain’t what used to be either.

Comment by Anony Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:24 pm
OW:
What you just said.
I want Lomez to be specific on this “continued great work” by Rauner.

Comment by btowntruth Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:25 pm
==The $3B is over the life of the contract. Rauner has a bad habit of extrapolating costs over many years so he can get a number that has a bigger impact, but then pretending that expense will occur in every budget year. Just another way of lying but supplying partial information.==

Veto message:

‘…fund these additional benefits to the tune of $3 billion over the life of the contract…’

Comment by Lomez Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:26 pm
===Those who are mad that the insurance in their deal isn’t as good as someone else’s, can go find somewhere else to work.===

You really are out of wgat’s goin’ on aren’t you?

Rauner’s process is listing “agreed to” contracts that don’t match, but then waxes poetic why AFSCME won’t take the “same deal as others”.

Willfully ignorant or blissfully unsware… choose one, please.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:36 pm
Willy, you seem angry. I’ve avoided personal insults with you, but you seem to use them to avoid back and forth discussion (gratuitous insults also are noted as violations of the code of conduct, so I’ll steer clear of playing along).

Comment by Anony Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:46 pm
This is very bad for any State Worker and for most of the people of Illinois no matter where they work.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:46 pm
- Anony -,

So… you already know the medical insurance thing doesn’t add up, or you really have nothing but distain for Unions? LOL

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:48 pm
Where are the bowel movement and Rauner tweets when you need them…..

Comment by Jorge Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:49 pm
I find it comical and scary that rich people have found a way to turn the middle class against the middle class. For all you non-union people out there that hate unions, be careful what you wish for. Unions are the reason you have any benefits in the workplace. Before unions, employers did whatever they wanted to employees and had no remorse. The governor has the same ambitions.

Comment by Ihatepolitics Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:51 pm
RNUG @ 7:13 pm +1

Comment by Norseman Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:54 pm
It looks like Anony showed up to a knife fight with a handful of woodchips. I know I’m out of my depth on this site a lot, but it seems to me that this is all about union negotiations, NOT the employment options of individual state workers and whether they can get a better deal in the private sector.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 16, 16 @ 9:57 pm
Bruce Rauner, friend of state workers. How dumb does he think we are? November 2014 you say, I see your point.

Comment by Skeptic Monday, May 16, 16 @ 10:44 pm
=== ‘…fund these additional benefits to the tune of $3 billion over the life of the contract…’ ===

You do realize that most of these “costs” are claw backs from existing benefits.

Comment by Norseman Monday, May 16, 16 @ 10:54 pm
This is more than just tough negotiations. This is Rauner’s chosen field of battle. He really believes Illinois is broken primarily because of the power of unions. His attacks are concentrated there. The rest of the TA items are gravy.

Comment by walker Monday, May 16, 16 @ 11:04 pm
And what was with that garbage about giving us a wider variety of lower cost options for health care? Is there anyone who does not know that lower cost options only mean that we pay more, either up front with higher premiums or later with greater copays or less reimbursement? Is he not even trying anymore to hide his distain for us and the intelligence of the general public? Is there not a reporter who cares about the truth anymore, rather than give a false equivalency between different sides of the political aisle? Rich excluded, of course.

Comment by Jibba Monday, May 16, 16 @ 11:19 pm
“Savings” in health care means that the employees pay more. “Savings” in pensions means that the employees get less. There are no magic beans to find savings in any other way, and no fat to trim. This truth seems to escape most of the public and the press.

Comment by Jibba Monday, May 16, 16 @ 11:26 pm
Can someone please upload the labor board charges along with the exhibits each one filed against one another? Has anyone actually been to the labor board hearings? I invite everyone to go, they are open to the public. Rauner’s letter reminds me of the movie Harvey…

Comment by Trey76 Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:00 am
The trades accepted the same healthcare reductions that Afscme was offered. The difference is that rauner offered the trades prevailing wages. Prevailing wages pretty much guarentee that the pay for the trades will go up to help offset the employee increases to healthcare.

Rauner wants Afscme to have stagnant pay AND pay more for health care. That is the difference between what Afscme has been offered, and what other unions have agreed to. When the nurses got offered something similar to what Afscme was offered, it was voted down by the membership.

Comment by steward Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 3:58 am
So can anyone tell me - how does one really get one of these state jobs ? .. What a Cush deal !

Comment by DunkinDoNUTS Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 5:15 am
“So can anyone tell me - how does one really get one of these state jobs ? .. What a Cush deal !”

Get an education beyond a HS diploma the state is interested in, FIND the opportunity, and apply. Same as any other it requires effort.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 7:22 am
I am tired of the demonization of those people who are members of a union, whether the union represent the trades, teachers or state employees.

People deserve to be able to earn a wage that allows them the ability to live a comfortable life in a clean safe neighborhood, pay their bills, educate their children and retire with dignity.

The ostentatious wealth of 1.4% insulates him from the everyday necessities of life that trouble those who must work for a living or are living on the edges of society without the means to adequately provide for their families or themselves.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 7:39 am
“- Huh? - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 7:39 am:”

You are the real Huh. Someone pretended to be you yesterday who was anti-Union and anti-State Workers.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 8:05 am
— DunkinDoNUTS - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 5:15 am:
So can anyone tell me - how does one really get one of these state jobs ? .. What a Cush deal !—

funny think is many only need a HS diploma and a year or so exp to get in the door to start… now for more detailed jobs that is not the case, you need college, 4 years, and 2-4 years exp but much of the exp and or college time can be waved for military time as well, not to mention military time gets you 5 points ahead of anyone who doesn’t have military time. Disabled military above 30% gets you 10 points ahead…

Comment by Allen D Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 8:12 am
— DunkinDoNUTS - Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 5:15 am:—

The sad thing is you have no choice but to join the union though…

Comment by Allen D Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 8:13 am
==The sad thing is you have no choice but to join the union though…==

You do have a choice. Nobody forces you to take a union job. Nobody forced you to take the job you have. If you don’t like the union then maybe you should have gotten another job.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 8:15 am
Ihatepolitics at 9:51 sees this clearly. It is a game of distraction. If the 1%-ers can have middle class people divided and at each others’ throats, it keeps any attention away from the lack of contribution on their part. Wake up folks.

Comment by a Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 8:19 am
In addition to the no raises and doubling of healthcare, the Rauner contract removes all job security by stripping bumping rights and allows the ability to outsource all services possible, many going to sole source vendors. Once the state can no longer provide an alternative workforce to perform vital functions, vendors will jack prices up significantly in subsequent contract years. The state will have to pay b/c it won’t have capacity to reinstate complicated state functions. But hey….Rauner will be long gone before the taxpayers get really soaked with all the corporate outsourcing he has planned. Also I believe Rauners contract attempts to force employees to accept a lesser pension benefit. Please tell me one new “get” AFSCME and state workers are receiving. It’s all concessions. That is not negotiations.

Comment by Johnnie F. Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 8:19 am
Two reasons he didn’t have a press conference to read the response to state employees: he didn’t want to get flustered by the press and there were 18 words ending with “g”

Comment by Gotta say it Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 8:21 am
==The trades accepted the same healthcare reductions that Afscme was offered==

Steward - the Protech 916 Teamsters aren’t in the trades, but they were offered the same health insurance package as the trades.

“Employees covered by this Agreement may opt
out of such coverage for group health insurance and may opt into the Teamsters & Employers Welfare Trust of Illinois (hereinafter collectively referred to as “TEWTI”) Fund. Members of the bargaining unit must opt into coverage by the TEWTI, within 30 days of the Health Care plan’s commencement or 30 days from commencement of employment.”

Premiums paid by the state appear to be 87%.

Source:

http://www.illinois.gov/cms/Employees/Personnel/Pages/PersonnelLaborRelations.aspx

Comment by AC Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 8:24 am
I am a State employee who works for a State university and I have NOT been paid in full. The furloughs I have taken due to inadequate state funds have resulted in a loss of over 12% of my salary while I am expected to do my job and that of those who we had to lay off (again due to inadequate state funds). I don’t feel like you’ve been fighting to get me paid at all, Governor. You proposed funding for my institution be cut by a third. Perhaps if you had used your superstar veto pen and reduction vetoed the higher ed budget passed last May to reduce those universities most “bloated” then maybe I would not have had to work time and a half for a salary cut. That you would even loosely claim to be fighting for me and my family makes me feel nauseous.

Comment by TownGown Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 8:27 am
Can someone compare Rauner’s past health insurance plans to this “platinum health care plan” for state employees. I avoid going to the doctor because the state isn’t paying claims and the charges end up going to collections unless I pay them. This guy is so disingenuous it makes me nauseous.

Comment by James Knell Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 8:58 am
AC I never said the teamsters are the same as the trade contracts. I said the opposite. Teamster contracts were done separately as part of a deal between coli and Rauner. And yes teamsters can opt into teamster care. Which is why the teamster deals are different than the Afscme deal. My point was that the trade deals were different from the Afscme deal for a different reason than the teamster deals.

Teamsters = accept merit pay and subcontracting but have different healthcare.
Trades = Afscme healthcare but get prevailing wage to help pay for it.
Afscme = eat all of it and chew up and down until the paste tastes good.
Nurses = Rejected what Afscme was offered.
SEIU HCII = Bargaining over fundamentally different things.

Troopers and all others that can currently have binding arbitration = Rauner dragging his feet until negotiations are over with all other unions then say, “But all of them agreed to XYZ.”

Comment by steward Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 9:00 am
DunkinDoNuts, what Allen says is totally not true. Most jobs with the state require a degree now. Most of the people I work with have Masters degrees and we work in East St. Louis, IL. And we’ve told Allen D this time and time again you do not have to join the union. You do have to pay a fairshare fee. I don’t think Allen D is who he says he is.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 9:14 am
Steward - you may not see this, but we are in agreement and I think your summary of what was offered is accurate.

Comment by AC Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 10:31 am
AC I pretty much always find myself in agreement with what you write. I pretty much lurk unless I find some technical aspect of the contract or personnel code that I feel would be helpful to show nuance on. But text isn’t always the best format for that. And I don’t pretend to be the best at it.

Comment by steward Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 10:44 am
The current Illinois is deeply flawed and needs to be amended. It allows a governor to ask a board of individuals he appoints and reappointed to six-figure jobs to make decisions favorable to him. That is a classic conflict of interest. The setup is OK when the matters the board is hearing are from local governments, but not when it involves the guy who has the ability to reappoint them to their lucrative postions. And, it gives a governor the perverse incentive to refuse to negotiate in favor of biased process that will allow him to impose a contract, which is exactly what has happened. I won’t vote for any legislator who doesn’t vote to fix this obvious oversight in the law.

Comment by Neveranonymous Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 11:46 am
If Mr. Rauner wants to start somewhere with reform, why not reduce the pension benefit and health care of ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS.

It would be a good start…. do as I say, not as I do.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 1:19 pm
Some years ago, we have to pay, almost the same amount of our federal taxes, for our retirement. We were already paying for it, but since Springfield spent our retirement account on something else, they’d blamed the state employees for the lost and now the state employees are paying for that. That retirement charge that we get now, could pay for my family’s groceries for 2 weeks. I see Springfield lies to all us the time, espically to the public. Since the public doesn’t want to know what is going on, it is easier for Springfield to tell you anything,then the public believes our leaders will do the best for us. They only do the best for them and cover it up and put the blame on the state employess. You can even see this on the news. They are great on covering up or hiding the truth. If the public really knew about all what is going on, they would storm Springfield. I don’t believe a billionare, who really didn’t live in this state, just owned a house, really cared about us. Look at his past businesses and his ties with other wealthy people. He is only in this for the money for someone. Honestly, if you was a billionare, would you want to be governor in a different state? I would living it up and don’t issues. So why would he want the headache of being Governor, what is is motive? He relies on people being neive.

Comment by Justworried Tuesday, May 17, 16 @ 5:06 pm