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Rauner uses legal maneuver to expedite impasse hearing

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Illinois

The administration of Gov. Bruce Rauner wants to speed up resolution of its case on whether an impasse exists in labor talks between the state and its largest employee union by bypassing a recommendation in the case by an administrative law judge.

The administration says a quicker resolution of the case will help the state save $35 million to $40 million a month in higher health insurance costs for workers. […]

“The governor has filed a request that we believe is totally without precedent,” AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall said Monday. “We’ve never seen anything like this before, to cut the administrative law judge out of the process and proceed to the full board. It’s just more evidence of the endless lengths this governor will go to impose his demands and not negotiate a fair agreement.” […]

AFSCME will have a chance to respond to the state in writing, but hasn’t done so yet. After that, it will be up to the five-member board to decide what to do with the request, said Melissa Mlynski, executive director of the Illinois Labor Relations Board. She declined further comment because the matter is pending.

* The administration’s full response…

The use of an administrative law judge, who does not make a final ruling, but merely issues a non-binding recommendation to the Labor Board, is optional under state labor laws.

Those labor laws, which AFSCME helped write, expressly contemplate an expedited proceeding where the Labor Board issues a final ruling without a recommendation by the administrative law judge.

We are asking for the Labor Board to consider those faster procedures in this case, because we continue to pay for AFSCME’s platinum plus health care plans. Each month these added health care benefits cost taxpayers an extra $35 to $40 million. With the nation’s largest bill backlog, budget deficit, and pension liability, Illinois can no longer afford to pay for one of the country’s richest benefits packages.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:31 am

Comments

Elections have consequences.

I’m sure Pat Quinn being defeated makes AFSCME feel better.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:37 am
“I’m sure Pat Quinn being defeated makes AFSCME feel better.”

To this I have nothing to add…

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:38 am
“Those labor laws, which AFSCME helped write…”

Most laws are written by lobbyists, Gov. 1.4%. But thanks for the shout-out.

“With the nation’s largest bill backlog, budget deficit, and pension liability…”

And who created that? Not AFSCME or state employees.

Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:38 am
==We’ve never seen anything like this before==

Never seen anything like AFSCME’s multiple veto override attempts that targeted this governor, either.

That attempted maneuver was not =nice=, and this attempt to expedite the process is not =nice=. imho, neither is helpful to reaching a compromise even though both are allowed procedurally.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:41 am
Again with the inference that state employees are not taxpayers. Again with trying to hide that the state only saves money by making the state employees pay more in premium health care deductibles, co-pays, and out of pockets. So 40 million savings divided by the employees and retirees comes out to how much per person? Whereas 40 million divided by 12 million Illinoisans is 3 bucks?

Why should state employees pay more for insurance when their premiums aren’t being forwarded to the insurance companies, and the claims haven’t been paid for 18 months?

Comment by Thoughts Matter Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:42 am
Another obstacle to throw in the path of impasse negotiations.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:43 am
Watch the career movements of the members of this panel. The governor knows something. He is moving extremely fast and reckless on a case which should be a no brainer for the union side. Which tells me this has been rigged for awhile.

Buckle in brothers and sisters it’s about to get rocky in a couple months.

Comment by steward Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:43 am
I thought Comptroller Mulder just told us we weren’t paying those healthcare bills. So why is this suddenly urgent?

Comment by northsider (the original) Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:44 am
The Governor is certainly confident that the Labor Board will side with him and those “savings” will be recognized. I wonder why that would be? Just as confident as he was that the arbitrator would side with AFSCME and the contract would cost so much more.

Comment by Small Town Girl Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:47 am
If the Labor Board grants this request and AFSCME loses, it may have an appealable issue in the Circuit Courts. Meanwhile, nobody gets a raise because of the rolling agreement. Thanks, Rauner.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:48 am
Tolling, not rolling.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:48 am
Is this a legal maneuver or just something else that will end up in court?

Comment by Tired of it all Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:48 am
Rauner wants a strike and he’s going to get one!

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:49 am
–Why should state employees pay more for insurance when their premiums aren’t being forwarded to the insurance companies, and the claims haven’t been paid for 18 months?–

I’m confused. If the state isn’t paying health insurance premiums now, where does Rauner get his $40 million monthly savings?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:51 am
Rauner really hates me. I’ll remember that in November.

Comment by State Worker THX 1138 Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:51 am
This is the set up for The Great Labor War. He’s got to get the timing correct. He needs a decision from the ILRB the first week of August. He owns those folks. He wants to disregard the Administrative Law judge entirely because he knows we smoked him, and I mean destroyed Rauners arguments in front of her. No, he wants to get it to the ILRB that he owns. They’ll give him the timing that he needs.

It’s all to blame everything on AFSCME.

We are made the sin eater.

No matter what happens, IT WILL COLLAPSE THE WORKFORCE. Somebody FOIA CMS to find out how few workers we’ve got left. Go ahead. I dare you. I’m not lying.

If Rauner is allowed to make this move, it’s all over for the state.

No workers, no State

Rauners superstars cannot run the state on technology or temps. The functions of this state are brought about by a skeleton crew of public servants, getting smaller by the day.

The workforce is on hospice. You want a total shutdown. I mean one that it will take years to restore any kind of functionality. It’s in Rauners hands

OR

He could simply return to the negotiating table and work out a contract.

Why not preserve the workforce? Why not negotiate and forge a contract like he did with all the other unions?

Why not Governor?

You know I’m not lying about the collapse.

The only reason why you won’t return to the table and negotiate a contract is because.

1) You want the collapse.

Your hubris will damn us

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:52 am
Oh and

2) You want to make AFSMCE the sin eater.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:52 am
Word -

My guess would be he’s using the amount they would be paying in premiums and self-insured claim payments …if they were paying. Maybe he’s even using the entire 18 months they are behind including amounts left from fiscal year 2015. Who knows, maybe it’s calculated like that $3b number he keeps pushing regarding the AFSMCE contract.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:57 am
The savings will come when rauner outsources large segments of the state workforce. He doesn’t care about health care savings. He wants to privatize your job. Read his proposed language in the subcontracting article. That is the ball game. If he gets impasse and imposes, you have two choices. Eat it and dust off your resume for the coming mass layoff. Or strike.

Comment by steward Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:59 am
“… we continue to pay for AFSCME’s platinum plus health care plans.”

State employees have their share of the premium taken from their checks on payday. Employees have to pay up front. State saves money by not paying claims.

And 1.4% says state employees have a platinum plan.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 12:03 pm
12:03 was me.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 12:04 pm
It’s a race between Rauner and the AG to see who crosses the work stoppage finish line first.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 12:05 pm
“With the nation’s largest…pension liability”

I realize this is I guess nuanced (though not really, but kind of giving the Gov’s office the benefit of the doubt), but it is demonstrably false that Illinois has the largest pension liability. We have the fifth largest pension liability.

We have the worst funded pension system, which is different than having the most liability. (And different than most unfunded liability as well, that honor goes to California.)

Comment by Juice Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 12:28 pm
AFSCME should agree to expedite…. let impasse be declared, wages drop from implementation. employee spending will drop etc. IMHO implementing his contract will cause the GOP dmg during the election, particuarly in university, prison annd other towns with large state employee populations. add in trump at the top of the ticket and this will crush gop canidates state wide.

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 12:29 pm
on a side note why does no media outlet call the gov in his made up rchest benefit package comment????

again state benefits are below State Farm, Memorial, St Johns, Springfield Clinic, Blue Cross etc…. or is he ifnoring bonuses and 100% employer funded retirment accounts from his calculations…..

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 12:33 pm
R could save money by renegotiating the contracts with the health care providers and pay the bills- case in point is markups on medical equipment are 200 and 300% — In some cases you can almost buy an item on line for the cost of the copay. Apria will be reimbursed for almost $600 for a cpap mask they sell for $168 on their web site. $600 means $120 copay for the insured instead of $33.

Comment by Liberty Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 12:36 pm
Nobody wants to pay more of their healthcare costs but I keep reading how Illinois state workers are paid well above those in Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, etc. Is AFSCME willing to adopt a 40 hour work week? Less raises? Allow more privatization of contracts? I’m not sure what the give and take needs to be but Illinois isn’t going to be capable of offering the best in pay and healthcare for the next 10 or 15 years. This is a result of many bad financial decisions that happened prior to Rauner being governor but the impasse doesn’t help. Hell, we cant even pay our education system properly.

Comment by Maximus Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 12:44 pm
An AFSCME member recently told that she and her co-workers are very afraid that they will soon be going on strike. Apart from foregoing pay checks, they fear that they will be without jobs when replacement workers take over their duties. Is this a real possibility?

Comment by Keyser Soze Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 12:50 pm
I would work 40 hour work weeks if I’m paid every two weeks, not bimonthly. Also, how is giving State employees the worst healthcare of any government employee going to help the economy and small businesses. If this goes through coupled with no raises for 4 years, alot less folks will have discretionary income to spend locally.

Comment by unionman 2 Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 12:52 pm
“Allow more privatization of contracts?”

Contract already allows subcontracting. What the governor wants is no limits. None. He would no longer have to prove the subcontracting saved money. He wants unlimited freedom to hire temps. He then intends to go into layoff mode. In his proposed changes the temps would stay during a layoff while the state workers would leave. Other changes would insure you hit the street instead of bumping into lower titles of what you used to do.

End game.

Comment by steward Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 12:54 pm
-Unionman2-

Every two weeks and bimonthly are effectively the same pay period. Because AFSCME workers are paid with tax dollars, those dollars you claim will be lost as discretionary income are essentially dollars taken from taxpayers (union members included) and redirected to wherever that worker lives. Who’s to say that a dollar spent in Springfield or Chicago is worth more to the economy and small business than a dollar spent in Rock Island or Joliet?

Comment by Sen. Blutarsky Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 1:00 pm
Odd, I went through the ILRB rules and regulations over lunch, and in regards to the Administrative Law Judge I see a lot of shalls and musts, but not one mention of optional.

Comment by HangingOn Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 1:01 pm
Also, I pay $240/month back to the state of Illinois for my retirement pension. No, this is not deferred comp. I wish. My bill to the state each month is $569.73. This is my retirement and insurance deductions. As a “consumer” what am I being charged for? Where are my payments going?

Comment by Jerrys Pizza Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 1:06 pm
==I would work 40 hour work weeks if I’m paid every two weeks, not bimonthly.==

I’ve read this before and I’m curious as to why it would matter. I mean, they could make daily direct deposits and at the pay by any measure would be the same, wouldn’t it?

Comment by AC Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 1:07 pm
-HangingOn- Did you do anything other than look for those three words and count the instances of their use? Elaboration on context of shalls and musts would be helpful.

Comment by And? Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 1:07 pm
What happens June 30 when there is no budget and no approps? Does the Comptroller still have the right to pay bills and issue checks, or is it some sort of moment of doom?

Comment by SouthernILGirl Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 1:14 pm
–An AFSCME member recently told that she and her co-workers are very afraid that they will soon be going on strike. Apart from foregoing pay checks, they fear that they will be without jobs when replacement workers take over their duties. Is this a real possibility? —

Tell your friend to expect scabs. But in a lawful strike they cannot fire you and you get your job back when it’s over. But really, do you think that they can actually get anything done? Do you think they will know how to do our jobs? There aren’t enough retirees to keep it going or to cross the picket line. They will find out very soon that the state is being flown into the mountain. In addition, a strike will open up a lot of positions as people get other jobs. The bigger worry is for our state. It will collapse the workforce. Things are going to go to pieces.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 1:15 pm
SouthernILGirl, pay does not stop unless L.Madigan pops that nuke.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 1:16 pm
The 40 hour work week argument is nonsense. Federal law requires lunch breaks. When I worked in the private sector, I got paid for lunch. When I worked in the public sector, I did not get paid for lunch. That’s all. If you want public employees to have a 40 hour work week, be prepared to pay for lunch. But you wont see any cost savings unless you’re willing to violate federal law and deny lunch breaks.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 1:18 pm
More demands for extreme cuts in health care. Doesn’t sound like bargaining in good faith to me.

Comment by GOP Extremist Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 1:20 pm
Calm down everyone. This is purely posturing… The Governor is giving it to The Speaker through AFSCME. It’s his bid for leverage. We are still months away, if not years, from a final determination. Relax and chill.

Comment by Triple fat Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 1:26 pm
We need to hold on until November and hope for favorable results. Then get the arbitration bill through.

Comment by Sector 7G Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 1:26 pm
It almost sounds like the Governor is already counting the savings and that the Labor Board is just a formality.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 1:32 pm
Triple Fat, ummm no, from multiple sources, ILRB will deliver the “Impasse” verdict in the first week of August putting a strike in mid September. I would also add that only one of four sources is the union one. Two are deep inside the administration. The final one is high up on the DEM side.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 1:33 pm
Hopefully, prayerfully, the AttyGen will do the right thing and stop my state paycheck at the same time Bruce gets his Impasse. Let it begin, I’m tired of living and dealing with this stressful uncertainty. If I had the words to persuade Lisa to intervene and interrupt pay, I would use them.

Comment by Baruch Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:01 pm
Also, the Governor’s staff and his political appointees get the same healthcare that AFSCME employees get. He’s twisting perception, or trying to.

Comment by Baruch Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:04 pm
Remember, the Governor said he loves unions.

Comment by Union Man Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:18 pm
Baruch
+1

Comment by State Worker THX 1138 Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:25 pm
Well said, Baruch. I’d rather have a shutdown that affects merit comps too than go on strike. I think LM will pop the nuke at the end of the month if there’s no full or stopgap budget. She can beat the Labor Board.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:27 pm
I’m willing to bet the judge is relieved he does not have to chime in on the ‘governor vs labor war’.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:44 pm
==Elaboration on context of shalls and musts would be helpful.==

Administrative Law Judge is is the rules 98 times. I can hardly list every instance here. But using Ctrl-F it was easy enough to find every instance and see how it was used. Go for it.

Comment by HangingOn Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:52 pm
Honeybear-
I believe the Circuit Court of Appeals will be available to us. Isn’t it?

Comment by Triple fat Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:55 pm
- steward @ 12:54 pm: ==Contract already allows subcontracting. What the governor wants is no limits. None. He would no longer have to prove the subcontracting saved money. He wants unlimited freedom to hire temps. He then intends to go into layoff mode. In his proposed changes the temps would stay during a layoff while the state workers would leave. Other changes would insure you hit the street instead of bumping into lower titles of what you used to do.

End game.==

Steward, you are right - ending all unions rights is Rauner’s end game.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 2:56 pm
==Also, the Governor’s staff and his political appointees get the same healthcare that AFSCME employees get. He’s twisting perception, or trying to. ==

Baruch is so right. Some news stories are even calling it “AFSCME’s insurance” and failing to point out that this is the state insurance for all state and state university employees, whether they are union or not. Even our beloved “CK” theoretically has this same state insurance that she so happily criticizes for her boss.

Comment by Joe M Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:02 pm
Oh…well…..you’re right….the 5th District court is ours….CRAPPPP!!! Triplefat, curse you! I thought I had this whole thing figured out….God Bless now I gots to go back to figurin’
My local is charged with defending that court. Although I have to admit, I don’t know what we file with them if the ILRB rules against us. I’m not a lawyer and have no idea. Maybe one of the wise ones will answer.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:05 pm
OK, give the state workers your crummy healthcare plan but issue a credit if they opt-out. I know state employees who have insurance through other means than the state, but do you think they get any money back? Nope. I know it will never happen, but fair’s fair.

Comment by State Worker THX 1138 Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:08 pm
–CK” theoretically has this same state insurance that she so happily criticizes for her boss.–

Oh that’s delicious. Hey CK you want you some Obamacare? That’s what you’re getting if Rauner wins. Bronze level baby, bronze level.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:08 pm
If two employees are married they get the double screws put to them. If you have state insurance available to you, you cannot be covered as another employees dependent.

Comment by Small Town Girl Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:10 pm
===Oh…well…..you’re right….the 5th District court is ours….CRAPPPP!!! Triplefat, curse you! I thought I had this whole thing figured out….God Bless now I gots to go back to figurin’
My local is charged with defending that court. Although I have to admit, I don’t know what we file with them if the ILRB rules against us. I’m not a lawyer and have no idea. Maybe one of the wise ones will answer.===

This is second-hand information but what I’ve been told is the court would review the case to determine whether the ILRB ruled correctly. HOWEVER, Rauner’s last/best would IMMEDIATELY go into effect unless AFSCME could get the court to issue an injunction until the appeal is heard.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:13 pm
–If two employees are married they get the double screws put to them.–

Yep, that’s the Honeybear family. Double Screws!

Nothing like being a two state employee family. We pay for that privilege.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:16 pm
–CK” theoretically has this same state insurance that she so happily criticizes for her boss.–

Unless Rauner works something out for the super stars they way he did for the Head of ISBE and his pension which was supposed to be Tier 2.

Comment by Small Town Girl Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:20 pm
AC–in regards to 37.5 vs. 40 hrs per week. Look at June for example. State workers pay period is June 1st thru the 15th. Just looking at work days (and not weekends), that is 11 days. 7.5 hours x 11 days= 82.5 hours, which is more than 80 hours (40 hrs per week and get paid every 2 weeks). You can do the same calculations for June 16th thru the 30th. Again, it’s 11 days or 82.5 hours.

Comment by Gr8dane Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:20 pm
Honeybear, will the unions still help the Dems win the state elections if they go on strike before November?

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:20 pm
Cubbie, I don’t see any reason an injunction wouldn’t be issued. If they hear the appeal, then they agree it unfairly injures the plaintiffs. They’ll have to grant an injunction to prevent further harm while they hear the case.

Comment by Me too Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:23 pm
“With the nation’s largest bill backlog, budget deficit, and pension liability”

That was exacerbated immensely by Rauner’s squeeze the beast/bust the unions or bust strategy.

“Illinois can no longer afford to pay for one of the country’s richest benefits packages.”

The info I saw has Illinois health insurance benefits around average or slightly above or below, compared with other states. The Rauner administration basically admits in one of its communications to state workers that health insurance costs will be 60/40–the worst or near the bottom, compared with other states.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:23 pm
I would never imply it mattered but are judges on the same healthcare plan as the rest of us?

Comment by Me too Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:24 pm
The sooner the Board issues its decision- the sooner Rauner can declare victory - drop the rest of his reform items and get going with the budget. This is a smart move

Comment by Sue Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:35 pm
== I would never imply it mattered but are judges on the same healthcare plan as the rest of us? ==

I believe they are.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:37 pm
$30 - $40 million a month for healthcare for the 40,000 union members, there is no way on this planet that those members are costing the “taxpayers” that much each month, Rauners numbers are sooooo inflated it’s not even funny.

Comment by I call Cow Patties Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:42 pm
HangingOn, do you have a Title and Part number for the rule?

Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 3:51 pm
==The sooner the Board issues its decision- the sooner Rauner can declare victory - drop the rest of his reform items and get going with the budget. This is a smart move==

Does anyone else really thing that Rauner would be content with just that victory?

Comment by Joe M Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:04 pm
Illinois Board of Higher Ed data shows there are over 31,000 full-time state university employees in Illinois. These people are also on the same health insurance as the 40,000+- state employees. Then add the family members to these numbers, and that leaves a lot of unhappy people if Rauner gets his way on state health insurance.

Comment by Joe M Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:14 pm
Mama, we won’t have much else to do except to exact our revenge on Raunerites. That’s probably 30,000 state workers (I imagine that’s the number we are down to now) hitting the pavement to attack every single Raunerite, except McCann. Talk about motivated canvassing.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:18 pm
“OK, give the state workers your crummy healthcare plan but issue a credit if they opt-out.”

To opt out, you have to demonstrate that you have other health insurance. For instance, the teamsters who opted out of the State health insurance and went to the teamsters insurance were able to show other health insurance. The only money/credit they got was that the employee share of the premium was no longer taken out of their pay checks.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:28 pm
=The savings will come when rauner outsources large segments of the state workforce. =

Is there evidence (beyond anecdotal) that outsourcing of core or baseline functions really saves the state, or any other organization money?
Remember that profits, campaign contributions, and damage control (see NorthStar lottery) must be figured into the outsourced price and costs. You also have to have knowledgeable, impartial public service
contract managers to make sure the contractor is performing.

Absent evidence, domestic outsourcing is more of a method to abdicate responsibility than to save money.

The only proven business case for outsourcing is to deal with temporary unusual workload (scope & scale).

Comment by Qui Tam Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:29 pm
== Absent evidence, domestic outsourcing is more of a method to abdicate responsibility than to save money. ==

Actually, outsourcing is a way to reward your campaign contributors.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:33 pm
“Is there evidence (beyond anecdotal) that outsourcing of core or baseline functions really saves the state, or any other organization money?”

Don’t have to give the contract worker a pension or benefits…

But really, it’s to shatter the integrity of the bargaining unit. Rauner doesn’t care about saving the state money or not. What he wants is for public unions to go away. And remember he predicted they would “within 4 years.”

Comment by steward Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:39 pm
Rauner is attempting to speed up the process because he knows AFSCME is building up a nice strike fund.

Comment by tired of politics Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:42 pm
===AFSCME is building up a nice strike fund===

As far as I know, the union has no strike fund. Never has.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:45 pm
From what I read in an email update from Roberta Lynch, strike fund would come from the International.

Comment by DHSJim Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:47 pm
===Rauner is attempting to speed up the process because he knows AFSCME is building up a nice strike fund.===

No, he’s trying to get an impasse declared to force a strike before L Madigan has pay for state workers stopped due to no appropriation. Strike vs. shutdown

Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 4:59 pm
Rich, AFSCME will have a strike fund if they vote to strike.

Comment by tired of politics Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 5:28 pm
The strike fund will not be limited to the International.

Comment by tired of politics Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 5:29 pm
Personally, if an impasse is declared and then an appeal is filed, the courts would laugh at Rauner that he is paying $1,600 per month for the Teamsters insurance for a 100% coverage plan, but wants to pay about $500 towards the AFSCME plan for less coverage. Basically he is not treating all state employees fairly. The courts would agree with the AFSCME state employees in that they are being discriminated against.

Comment by Crispy Critter Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 5:32 pm
As for the 40 hour work week; some of my friends work in manufacturing, 8 hour shift, 1/2 hr paid lunch; a 37.5 hour work week. But they are paid every week whereas state workers are paid twice a month.

Comment by Crispy Critter Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 5:41 pm
Great post Honeybear

== The only reason why you won’t return to the table and negotiate a contract is because.

1) You want the collapse. ==

Indeed. There was never intention for a budget, I can’t understand how many people refuse to see this.

Comment by Dale Cooper Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 6:21 pm
Crispy- you don’t seem to know much about labor law. Only question on appeal to the courts would be whether the Board properly found an impasse existed as of the date The State declared one. Courts have no jurisdiction to question the terms of the final offer and the terms implemented pursuant to the final offer.

Comment by Sue Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 6:31 pm
Here is my prediction. 1- Board declares impasse; 2- State implements final offer; 3 - union doesn’t strike but challenges Board decision in court. No idea how court rules since it’s a question of fact but the Union isn’t going to commit suicide by going out on strike opening food to hiring replacement employees

Comment by Sue Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 6:35 pm
Might be smart for Rauner to get an appropriation for state employee pay by the end of the month to block LM from stopping pay. That way he can impose terms and force strike. But then maybe MJM would derail the appropriation. Makes one’s head spin.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 6:57 pm
AFSCME will not strike over the terms of the contract. Employees will strike to protest an unfair labor practice committed by our employer. Under such a strike AFSCME members cannot be discharged or permanently displaced.

Comment by tired of politics Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 8:12 pm
kudos to steward - he’s right, why would a rich guy want to bust unions? -$$$ –guys like this, including trump….scare me

Comment by more of the obivious Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 8:14 pm
thanks @ - tired of politics -
state workers should not fear, rauner is full of intimidation …in the end, we will win - stay patient stay together

Comment by more of the obivious Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 8:17 pm
Anyone who thinks that a bunch of replacement workers off the streets can simply replace workers is naive to be sure. Many jobs require extensive training, knowledge regarding policy, college degrees ect. Who’s training these scabs. This will play out in courts first but a legal strike is a possibility and I think many workers have had enough. I think 5/17 rally showed alot of unity.

Comment by unionman 2 Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 8:18 pm
How would he pay scabs without an appropration?

Comment by illinois manufacturer Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 8:20 pm
Sue - No I am not a labor law expert. I just said personally it seems to be a discrimination, especially when people can be in basically the same type of job but different unions; yet 1 gets FREE healthcare for 100% coverage, the other will may be paying $500-600 per month for less coverage. This is the situation in my office. CMS put one of us in Teamsters, the other in AFSCME, yet we do the same job. Just seems somehow there is a discrimination there. Just saying.

Comment by Crispy Critter Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 8:25 pm
i agree with steward:
- - steward - Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:59 am:

The savings will come when rauner outsources large segments of the state workforce. He doesn’t care about health care savings. He wants to privatize your job. Read his proposed language in the subcontracting article. That is the ball game. If he gets impasse and imposes, you have two choices. Eat it and dust off your resume for the coming mass layoff. Or strike.

Comment by more of the obivious Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 8:27 pm
“… Many jobs require extensive training, knowledge regarding policy, college degrees ect. …”

Not to mention agreements with the federal government for full time state employees to manage specific functions or activities. I know of a couple IDOT/FHWA agreements that specifically exclude consultants or temporary employees.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 8:30 pm
more of the obvious, you are correct. It’s never been about money, it’s always been about privatization. Under our current contract Rauner could outsource our work if he could show a cost savings.

Comment by tired of politics Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 8:54 pm
Outsourcing jobs will not save money in the long run.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 10:53 pm
Tired of politics: do ya think sometimes too much information is revealed here….

Comment by Property of idoc Tuesday, Jun 14, 16 @ 11:00 pm
1. See graveyard 2. Whistle

Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:29 am