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* AP…
Union supporters plan to rally at the Illinois Capitol to protest Gov. Bruce Rauner’s calls to change collective bargaining policies.
A coalition of labor groups plans to march by the governor’s mansion Wednesday on their way to the state Capitol.
Rauner is in the midst of prolonged negotiations for a new labor contract with the largest union representing state workers, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
The march comes days after he vetoed a measure that would let an arbitrator settle state-employee wages and working conditions if union negotiations stalled.
* Press release…
Thousands of working people from across Illinois will hold a march and rally in Springfield today, Wednesday, May 18, to call on Governor Bruce Rauner and his legislative allies to drop their harmful demands and make Illinois work for all.
WHAT: Men and women representing labor, community, and religious organizations from across Illinois will march and rally to bring attention to the negative consequences Governor Rauner and his anti-worker agenda are having on their families and communities. Speakers will highlight how Gov. Rauner has held funding for critical services hostage until his destructive policy demands are met – demands that would drive down the wages of working people, strip their rights to negotiate together, and make it harder for injured workers to get needed care and compensation.
WHEN: Today, Wednesday, May 18, 2016
The march will begin at 11 a.m.
The rally is scheduled to begin at noonWHERE: The march will start at the corner of 5th and Washington streets in Springfield, Ill., and will proceed down 5th Street, past the Governor’s Mansion, up 4th Street, and to the Capitol via Capitol Ave. The rally will take place at the corner of 2nd Street and Capitol Ave.
WHO: Rally speakers will include:
· Workers whose livelihoods are under attack by Rauner’s malicious agenda
· Illinoisans who have been impacted by the Rauner-driven budget crisis, including people with disabilities, seniors, students and others
· Michael Carrigan, President of the Illinois AFL-CIO
· Jorge Ramirez, President of the Chicago Federation of Labor
· William McNary, Co-Director of Citizen Action/Illinois
· John Bouman, President of the Shriver Center on Poverty Law
· Pastor T. Ray McJunkins, Union Baptist Church of SpringfieldWHY: Governor Bruce Rauner is hurting Illinois, holding the state hostage in order to pass his own divisive agenda that is harmful to working people. Rauner and his allies need to drop their extreme demands and join with working families to make Illinois work for all.
Additional Info: The event is organized by Illinois Working Together and has been endorsed by:
· Action Now
· Alliance for Community Services
· Arise Chicago
· Brighton Park Neighborhood Council
· Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
· Chicago Jobs Council
· Citizen Action/Illinois
· Faith Coalition for the Common Good
· Grassroots Collaborative
· ICIRR
· Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans
· Illinois Main Street Alliance
· NAACP Illinois State Conference
· ONE Northside
· Quad Cities Interfaith
· Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
· SOAR (Steelworker Retirees)
· The Rainbow PUSH Coalition
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:20 am
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=Rauner is in the midst of prolonged negotiations for a new labor contract…=
Well, not so much. He’s not negotiating anything. “Take it or leave it” is not negotiation.
Comment by MSIX Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:23 am
But they won’t get a Bangladeshy t-shirt…
Comment by UISer Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:24 am
Are you going to tell us whether they are eligible for gift cards, or whether the unions are paying the members normal wages to protest? Whether or not the tv reporters think this is “organic?” That seemed to be pertinent and important info yesterday when the IPI held a rally.
Comment by m Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:25 am
Are you serious? No, the union is not paying people their wages to protest. Your on your own when you go to the rallies.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:30 am
===WHAT: Men and women representing labor, community, and religious organizations from across Illinois will march and rally to bring attention to the negative consequences Governor Rauner and his anti-worker agenda are having on their families and communities. Speakers will highlight how Gov. Rauner has held funding for critical services hostage until his destructive policy demands are met – demands that would drive down the wages of working people, strip their rights to negotiate together, and make it harder for injured workers to get needed care and compensation.===
…
Yep.
If you ask me… Labor, Social Service groups and Advocates and Democrats must unify under ONE idea… Rauber is hurting Illinois… and that idea is swell to rally around…
… “Voting Accordingly” in any AND all races where Raunerites feel the strong need to choose Rauner over their districts, the state, social services, universities, the most needy…
… that ONLY works if the very hard work begins with this rally, and the pure organizing to be the most impactful starts tomorrow until November.
It’s one thing to rally, and this is awesome… It’s another to have all three groups unify under ONE message and work, really honestly work, the precincts, the districts, the state, to get voters to help send that message too.
Get your ONE Crew together, then all work together, not for the credit, but for the result… and what “Vote Accordingly” can do.
Oswego Willy
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:33 am
Unions are not giving gift cards. Only the people trying to kill the middle class have to bribe the 30 people to show up. Oh BTW my union shirt is made in the USA thank you
Comment by Union thug Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:35 am
Pete Seeger once sang, “Which Side Are You on?” written by Mrs Florence Reece. Her husband, Sam, was a union organizer who narrowly escaped murder by company officials. It makes showing up for a rally, visiting legislators, making some phone calls and spending a few days canvassing seem easy by comparison, doesn’t it? If you would be impacted by weakening unions in Illinois, you need to ask yourself, which side you’re on.
Comment by AC Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:38 am
-Are you going to tell us whether they are eligible for gift cards, or whether the unions are paying the members normal wages to protest? Whether or not the tv reporters think this is “organic?” That seemed to be pertinent and important info yesterday when the IPI held a rally.-
Instead of being flippant, maybe you should do a little research first. By using your brain to compare the two ‘rallies’, you should have no trouble answering your own questions. Also, you may learn the difference between how to do a rally and how not to do one.
Comment by Anti-m Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:38 am
If i was up, around, and able this is one day I would go … to support Rauner that is… I heard there were two from my office that took personal days to go and support the Governor… good on you guys, i’ll be there in spirit…
Comment by Allen D Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:38 am
The idea of voting out current members only works if the person running has actual opposition. In my central Il area, the “Raunerites” are all running unopposed.
Comment by independent Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:39 am
If you are a state employee and are planning to attend thus rally, put in a leave request for vacation or personal business before you leave your office.
Honeybear - Give’m h€ll, fire as you bear and on the down roll.
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:41 am
Rallies are nice and they help to motivate the troops. They need to remember to keep that same motivation and work the precincts this fall especially in those vulnerable State Rep. districts around Spfld. If not, it is all for naught.
Comment by Tough Guy Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:43 am
A most useless expenditure of energy and resources. I won’t be attending.
Comment by Tito Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:44 am
This is what Rauner wants. I guarantee his press shop has been calling all the national outlets to come to Springfield. He’s probably pitching it as “Wisconsin 2.0.” this will ignite both bases, but give Rauner some national recognition amongst other Republicans along the beltway and Koch Brothers, etc.
Can somebody please record the brawl between all the Democrats who want to get to the microphone to address the crowd first and be the face of the anti-Rauner movement.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:49 am
I suspect there will be a lot fewer comments today. Just like on Columbus Day.
Comment by Robert the 1st Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:51 am
Willy +1
Give them an earful Honeybear!
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:52 am
Hey almost. They really got ignited at yesterdays rally huh…..
Comment by Union thug Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 9:53 am
m, you should do a better job of hiding your campaign IP address.
lol
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:00 am
- Almost the Weekend -
No. “Why?”
If it was a “strike rally” I’d be with you 1,000%…
This is social services, this is Labor, public and otherwise…
This IS a coalition pointing out the bigger picture, not a strike of one group, chanting and wailing one groups wants and desires.
Why do you think it was so important to Rauner to get Faith Groups’ support? Why are social service groups like Ounce facing millions in lost monies.
It’s far bigger than Wisconsin, different message too.
If it were just AFSCME, I’d be with you.
With respect.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:01 am
As a Precinct captain in Chicago I wish they would have done a lot more marching into the polling places 18 months ago and we wouldn’t be in this mess.
Comment by Chungas revenge Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:06 am
==I wish they would have done a lot more marching into the polling places 18 months ago==
Absent the invention of time travel, the past is fixed, but the future is something we can control. Sure, understanding past elections is important, but only to better understand and focus on the next one.
Comment by AC Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:19 am
@Anonymous
=Are you serious? No, the union is not paying people their wages to protest. Your on your own when you go to the rallies.=
I guess you’ve never spoken to those purple shirted SEIU “protest for pay” folks with SEIU, anonymous.
Bused in “rent a protestor” folks, usually about a hundred or so, are available for your “progressive” Dem march on short notice.
I suppose you think that all those union guys from Michigan who knock on doors in Illinois during campaign season are doing it for gratis too, huh?
Comment by Arizona Bob Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:19 am
Um, didn’t the Rauner administration reach an agreement with another labor union just a few days ago?
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:20 am
===Um, didn’t the Rauner administration reach an agreement with another labor union just a few days ago?===
Health insurance exactly the same as offered to AFSCME? I’m asking…
When you have the time after you tear down all the AFSCME posters that is…
Rauner is NOT a friend to Labor. Sorry - Louis G Atsaves -
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:22 am
=== Um, didn’t the Rauner administration reach an agreement with another labor union just a few days ago? ===
Gee, I guess Rauner kept on negotiating with these folks. He walked out on AFSCME a long time ago.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:23 am
“Um, didn’t the Rauner administration reach an agreement with another labor union just a few days ago?”
Nope. Go in the other thread and look at the list of unions and see it’s the same 5 teamsters and 12 trades he has been touting for a year.
Comment by steward Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:32 am
So asking AFSCME members to pay a reasonable premium that matches the benefits of their health care plan is “decimating” (your word) unions? Good golly, if that is the whole of your argument, good luck selling it to the general public. Especially the ones who have to buy their own.
Comment by Jack Kemp Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:33 am
Rich,
Perhaps you got the wrong IP address for m. The comment must have been sarcasm.
Comment by Niblets Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:42 am
===This is social services, this is Labor, public and otherwise…
This IS a coalition pointing out the bigger picture, not a strike of one group, chanting and wailing one groups wants and desires.
Why do you think it was so important to Rauner to get Faith Groups’ support? Why are social service groups like Ounce facing millions in lost monies.
It’s far bigger than Wisconsin, different message too.
If it were just AFSCME, I’d be with you.===
Read this Allen D and understand. Going to this rally to support the governor means you support all of the willful destruction to social services. This is much more than just a labor march.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:47 am
==As a Precinct captain in Chicago I wish they would have done a lot more marching into the polling places 18 months ago and we wouldn’t be in this mess.==
Agreed. I worked to get Pat Quinn re-elected two years ago, and throughout the campaign all I heard from afscme state workers in the Springfield area was “Pat Quinn wouldn’t give us our raises”. When I brought up other issues, almost every single response I got was “Rauner couldnt be any worse than Quinn”.
You got what you wanted. Man up, take the best - and shortest - contract you can possibly get from this governor before he drops the “last best offer”. Work as hard as you are able this year, and in 2018, to elect a governor who will bargain with you on reasonable terms. Following Roberta down the Wisconsin path of sideshows and circuses is only going to help get this governor, the one you accuse of not negotiating in good faith, re-elected. You can have a bad contract for two years, or possibly 6 to 10 years of bad contracts. Those are your only choices.
Comment by fka Lester Holt's Mustache Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 10:51 am
I continue to maintain that ending the budget crisis depends on pressuring suburban voters and legislators. Screeching by social service providers and unions doesn’t help that, regardless of how truthful or meritorious the screeching is - I think people just instinctively don’t trust rallies or the people behind them and that only changes in extreme situations and when the protests are frequent and consistent. And being on the wrong side of political reform gives Rauner and his allies some good-sounding responses to the “destructive policy demands” line. My suggestion would be more radio and cable tv ads targeted to suburban and more centrist downstate voters with less slogans and more logic/nuance (e.g., that the state looses free money the longer it’s without a budget). The union ads I hear on the radio are maddeningly vague.
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 11:32 am
From pix and video, it looks a little larger crowd than IPI’s $40 rally. /s
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 11:57 am
==So asking AFSCME members to pay a reasonable premium that matches the benefits of their health care plan is “decimating” (your word) unions==
It’s decimating some people. There’s nothing reasonable about doubling the cost of someone’s health insurance.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 11:58 am
===So asking AFSCME members to pay a reasonable premium that matches the benefits of their health care plan is “decimating” (your word) unions?===
Define “reasonable. Also, comparing “reasonable” to what AFSCME is being offered versus what others got can’t work, just to help ya.
===if that is the whole of your argument, good luck selling it to the general public. Especially the ones who have to buy their own.===
labor only… needs to sell it to the 2 in 5 that supported Rauner. That’s it. It’s the micro. Getting “2 in 5″ to “1 in 5″ or “1 in 6″ is what “happened” to save Sam McCann.
That’s the ball game, not convincing you.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 12:03 pm
“pay a reasonable premium” Define “Reasonable” and explain how “Double what you used to pay” fits within that definition.
Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 12:04 pm
“It’s decimating some people. There’s nothing reasonable about doubling the cost of someone’s health insurance.”
Especially since Rauner is so against the super-wealthy paying a higher state income tax than the vast majority of earners.
Especially also since Rauner and his few super-rich supporters don’t face financial damage from not being able to afford to pay their medical bills.
Tis a beautiful day today in Springfield.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 12:29 pm
There’s nothing reasonable about paying a bronze price for a platinum plan, either. They’re being offered the option to get what they pay for. Pay more to keep the plan or pay the same to get what it would get them anywhere else. Wow, someone usher me over to the fainting couch! I do believe I have the vapors!
Comment by Jack Kemp Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:09 pm
Jack:
Spin it anyway you like but no reasonable person would believe that doubling the cost of a person’s health insurance is reasonable. There’s nothing reasonable about paying the same amount for crappier insurance either.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:36 pm
“There’s nothing reasonable about paying a bronze price for a platinum plan, either.”
Rauner walked away from contract negotiations. If he was willing to keep negotiating, there could have been a compromise.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:45 pm
Jack:
With what I get paid, my child would qualify for AllKids if I wasn’t a state employee, and I would be paying about $20 more per month for myself for a Gold plan. So I’m going to end up paying more than a person in the private sector with the same pay and a Gold plan, but only getting a Bronze plan by the time this is over. So how does that make me having a better deal? Oh, wait. You’re using Rauner math, aren’t you. I think I’m the one who should have the vapors.
Comment by HangingOn Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:00 pm
“Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 1:09 pm:”
23% is the current percentage. Twice as much is not reasonable. Also, missing step increases is not reasonable.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:04 pm
Okay so Honeybear needs a nap after that. I have never gotten more jacked up. And OW it was a total success. I had my squad there. We met Katie Stuart and I talked strategy and coordination with a dozen. Great great rally. Labor is so United. So many sisters and brothers feeling the love and solidarity
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:11 pm
- Honeybear -
I’m proud of you all. A job well done today.
Ben Bradlee said it best in “All the Presidents Men”. I’ll paraphrase…
“Goif work. Rest up, 15 minutes, then get yourself back to work.”
Much respect. Build on today.
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:31 pm
Ugh. My phone knows I need to golf!
“Good work. Rest up, 15 minutes, then get yourself back to work.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:32 pm
-. So many sisters and brothers feeling the love and solidarity–
What’s next, Che berets and calling each other comrade ?
Comment by DGD Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 2:56 pm
–What’s next, Che berets and calling each other comrade ?–
LOL ha ha ha ha ha ROFL good one
Comment by Allen D Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 3:09 pm
It was a great time. Seeing several different unions together the trades,and public.
Comment by conservative union guy Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 6:55 pm
Che berets and calling each other comrade
That would be cool! You may call me Comrade Commissar Honeybear if you please.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 7:02 pm
“I’m proud of you all. A job well done today.”
Thank you. It was a great showing today and very encouraging to see other unions in large numbers. I believe it’s essential for labor to stay united and build more unity.
What the upshot will be, nobody can know. This is a perilous journey, having to navigate the treacherous waters of those who call public sector unions greedy but spend millions of dollars to fight them without flinching.
This also applies to private sector unions, who were there today to protest against repealing the prevailing wage and attacks on union rights.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, May 18, 16 @ 8:05 pm