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More on the step increases

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On his first full day in office, Gov. J.B. Pritzker tried to further distance his nascent administration from his predecessor’s, moving to enact certain pay increases state workers say they’re owed and didn’t receive under Republican Bruce Rauner.

In Rauner’s first weeks in office, he signed an executive order aimed at absolving state workers who don’t want to join a union from paying fees that support collective bargaining. That move led to a U.S. Supreme Court case that was seen as a blow to organized labor.

The Pritzker administration said Tuesday it would grant regular pay increases to workers that they haven’t received since 2015. And an executive order he signed prohibits the state from asking applicants about salary history, a practice that can hold down pay for women.

* Amanda Vinicky…

“With multiple unions representing workers across many agencies, it will take several weeks to provide an accurate picture of both cost and timing of the restoration,” Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said. “However, the governor firmly believes that workers who have served the state without step increases should be brought to their current step level as expeditiously as possible.” […]

Pritzker’s move Tuesday is prospective, meaning that state employees eligible for what are known as “step raises” will be paid more (“at their appropriate step for purposes of pay” is how Pritzker’s office describes it) going forward.

Still unresolved is back pay for step increases missed the past few years.

* NBC 5…

The move raised questions from critics about how the state will afford it. […]

It is estimated it will impact 15,000 AFSCME workers and cost about $415 million.

* Illinois Public Radio…

The state has estimated paying for the step increases could cost up to $500 million.

Lost in all of this is that the $500 million number includes missed step increases from prior years. And it’s the high-ball number. It could be less. From a recent report by Gov. Rauner’s budget office…

The state estimates a potential liability range of $170 million to $500 million. The highest estimate of liability has been included for this report.

* Tina Sfondeles…

AFSCME says there is no added payroll for step increases in a typical budget year because of attrition. But the union now has thousands who were paid at a lower rate for the past four years. The union applauded Pritzker’s announcement and said it hopes employees see a bump in their pay “right away.”

And as for a contract for the state’s largest government worker union, both AFSCME and Pritzker’s administration said talks will begin soon. AFSCME plans to meet with its state bargaining committee — which includes delegates from 75 local unions — at the end of January. When Rauner took office in January 2015, talks didn’t begin until late February, the union said.

So, if AFSCME is correct, Rauner’s 2015 move to stop step increases will cost the state a bundle over the long-term, but it would have barely been felt (if at all) in the short-term because of natural attrition. Wonderful.

…Adding… From comments…

Pritzker is not “giving” AFSCME employees anything. This was negotiated for, agreed to, unlawfully withheld by Rauner, fought for in arbitration, appealed and won by AFSCME, appealed by Rauner, denied by the Supreme Court, and finally not implemented despite ILRB order by the state.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:04 am

Comments

Y’know, we keep saying that we need to grow our way out of the budget problems, and one way to spur economic growth is to put more money in people’s pockets.

Like, I bet the Springfield bar and restaurant industry is pretty OK with this move.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:12 am
Please don’t forget the merit comp folks. Governor’s staff is raking it in, and the union employees are set for large raises. For a decade merit comp have received zilch.

Comment by Philo Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:16 am
Wouldn’t it drive fiscal conservatives nuts if JB announced spending cuts to offset the costs incurred by these step increases.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:16 am
A lot of state workers I know have moved on to other jobs because of the lack in promotions/step increases. This is good first step in following through on promises made to employees, but they need to authorize the backpay to truly make them whole (and before the interest costs get any higher).

Comment by Anon 88 Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:18 am
Blue Dem Dog, thinking of these as increases is debatable. Rauner rigged it so that he/the state paid less than was owed for several years, and now the bill for those 4 years has come due all at once (with interest no doubt). To be blunt, calling that an increase and demanding cuts to offset it shows you lack awareness of the issue.

Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:22 am
@Philo Not all union employees have automatic step increases. A lot of the IDOT union employees have had to deal with a rigged merit comp system that has left many employees hanging out to dry the last four years. Managers that are afraid of employee backlash give 100/100 reviews that result in the high bonus and makes it harder for the honest reviewers to get their employees any bonus at all. It has been a major morale killer.

Comment by Anon 88 Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:23 am
1% increase is 25 million. Steps are on average a 3.5% percent increase ($87 million). Only 60% of AFSCME workers receive steps ($52.5 million). 1/2 the fiscal year is over = FY19 cost max is $26.25 million

Comment by Red Dog Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:24 am
Wait, so let me understand this and please correct me if I am wrong…Rauner put off short-term costs in such a way that it will cost us more in the long run?

I have heard this story before and it is always Madigan’s fault.

Never mind the entire history of Illinois and governors and legislators from both parties.

But this fiasco was created by executive order.

I am sure LP et al will be holding Rauner accountable for the additional cost to..wait for it..taxpayers.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:31 am
Can’t the Comptroller settle this little argument? Pulling payroll numbers of union members, individuals and dollar amounts paid, at the start of Rauner’s Administration vs. pulling payroll of union members with the same information as of say, 1/1/19?

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:36 am
Perrid. Explain your new math to someone else. This is an increase in spending by the state. I think Rauner was wrong here, but regardless, its a new expenditure.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:36 am
== To be blunt, calling that an increase and demanding cuts to offset it shows you lack awareness of the issue.==

Perrid, everyone refers to these as increases. And Blue Dog didn’t demand anything. Calm down

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:42 am
Please don’t forget the merit comp folks.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:46 am
===certain pay increases state workers say they’re owed===

No, Tribune, the courts, including the state supreme court, says state workers are owed the increases. Sheesh.

Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:47 am
Anon 88, that’s good to hear. Less Tier 1 penaioners.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:51 am
There is also interest calculated on the back pay. So yes, Rauner cost the state much more than if he had paid in the first place.

Plus there will be a lot of overtime for the accountants that sort this mess out.

Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:56 am
==This is an increase in spending by the state.==

BDD, this isn’t a spending increase. It’s a past due bill for which the money should have already been budgeted.

If you don’t pay your credit card bill in June because you’re under the delusion that you shouldn’t have to, then are forced to pay that portion in December, you didn’t increase your spending.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:57 am
@Blue Dem Dog, you need to put new in quotes there friend. Because IL paid this before Rauner, Rauner tried and failed to slash it, and now we are paying it after Rauner, with interest.

My point is that the pearl clutchers who are pointing at this and screaming, “SEE WE TOLD YOU JB WAS BAD” *cough Schneider cough* are being disingenuous. The only reason this is a problem is that we didn’t pay it for 4 years, it’s not really new spending.

Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:07 pm
Yesterday the Chicago Teachers Union said the rich will have to pay more. The same logic could be said at the state level , according to the Democrats the rich aren’t paying enough. Since we now have a flat tax , in Illinois, we really don’t know the coming number on what it means to be rich and asked to pay more. Is it 85K, 120k, 150K, or 240K or some other number?

Comment by steve Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:12 pm
Bruce Rauner the gift that keeps on giving.

Comment by Flynn's Mom Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:14 pm
In 2011 the State of Illinois and AFSMCE signed a labor contract. In that contract are the tables of what certain certified positions get as wages at what year of service.
Human Services Caseworker
3969,4099,4230,4362,4556,4758,4954,5162,5368,5685,5913
These stated in monthly amounts.
Half my office has been stuck at 3969 for four years. (We had a huge hiring push in 2013/14 to catch up on the flood of Medicaid ACA apps and Food stamp increase)
It’s really no different than a restaurant owner withholding tips from the waitstaff.
Three courts confirmed that Rauner violated the 2011 contract that remained in effect the whole four years. That’s why he was trying so hard to invalidate the contract by declaring Impasse and imposing his LBF offer. He cheated us. They counts confirmed it and said our wages must be paid.
So here is the kernel of the issue
Does the State of Illinois now
Pay it’s bills
Honor it’s contracts
and
Obey the law?
Just like every Illinois citizen must do.
Rauner didn’t pay his employees all their wages
Rauner didn’t honor the contract
Ruaner flaunted the law and the judgement of the courts.
One Simple Question
Will Madigan and Cullerton
Continue to do Rauners
Illegal acts?

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:19 pm
I’m astonished of the language here. No mistake about it, Pritzker is not “giving” AFSCME employees anything. This was negotiated for, agreed to, unlawfully withheld by Rauner, fought for in arbitration, appealed and won by AFSCME, appealed by Rauner, denied by the Supreme Court, and finally not implemented despite ILRB order by the state.

The pain for the state continues to grow because Rauner refused to even place employees on their proper step. This a debt borrowed on the backs of AFSCME employees.

What we are all seeing is a governor complying with the law. Why are citizens and the GOP mad about the Governor of our state following the law? I’m confused.

Comment by MG85 Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:19 pm
Exactly MG85

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:25 pm
“How about a pay freeze?”
“Sure, just pay me what’s at the next step.”
“But the next step is higher.”
“Yes, but that amount in the next step isn’t increasing, so it’s a pay freeze.”
“But you’re advancing to it and it’s more than what you currently make.”
“Right, but that’s not a raise.”
“Doesn’t a raise imply a future state higher than the current state.”
“It can’t be. My salary is frozen. Now about that pension pick-up…”

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:26 pm
MG85, if I may… something something Madigan.

Comment by Fixer Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:27 pm
You gotta also understand
This is also a heck of a lot of
Income tax revenue
coming into the state coffers.
This all gets taxed.
So much so that I bet it will move the needle over at Revenue.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:28 pm
Anon 88, that’s good to hear. Less Tier 1 penaioners.”

The employees who mostly left were the one who started after the contract 2015. Imagine being a new employee and told year after year no increase sorry for over 4 years. Do you realize how hard it is for a manager to retain talent under those circumstances?

Just because someone works for the government does not mean that they do not deserve to be paid a living wage. Start the hate.

An as for merit workers I’m sorry you have no one to defend your rights. Been there and couldn’t afford to continue, its disheartening more so when upper management picked and chose the few who received raises.

Comment by Annoyance Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:29 pm
As I read various stories on this, I believe I noticed that there was downplaying and maybe avoidance of the fact that step restoration is not the hundreds of millions of dollars of step arrearages. Maybe the reporters wanted to drum up some controversy (union workers getting hundreds of millions of dollars when the state is broke).

It’s not just union members getting placed in their steps, it’s also the few freeloading non-members as well. If Bruce had his way, freeloaders and union members would have got ripped with harsh cuts and loss of rights. The payment of steps/placement on correct steps is based directly on legal actions taken by AFSCME.

Any notion that Rauner and his supporters are fiscal conservatives would be laughable if there wasn’t exploding debt. Rauner wanted to be Scott Walker and have his big union war and victory, but in losing he harmed so many and made debt skyrocket, like the steps back-pay with interest. He could have kept negotiating, like AFSCME implored, and worked towards modest concessions.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:30 pm
City Zen- it actually doesn’t matter what you want to call it.
A court of law determined, it violated the contract
An Appeals Court of law determined it violated the contract
And the Illinois Supreme Court refused to take the case validating the two lower courts.

Our wages must be paid
or The State of Illinois no longer follows the law.
Should we disobey the law City Zen?
I thought you folks were law and order oriented?
That’s why Rauner was a Raunerite
Not a Republican
Republicans follow the rule of law.
I guess that makes you a Rauner
One who doesn’t pay their bill
One who doesn’t honor contracts
One who doesn’t obey the law

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:49 pm
The state will shorted the pension systems by freezing steps. Those pension contributions will eventually be paid out of the back pay. But what was lost is the earnings from investments that those contributions had they been invested over the past four years. The state will have to make up those lost investment earnings from the general fund. So just another example of how Rauner took money from taxpayer pockets.

Also, what the state is supposed to contribute to pensions is based on agency payroll. And that number would have been short as well and will require increased state pension contributions to fill in the gap.

Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:51 pm
==AFSCME says there is no added payroll for step increases in a typical budget year because of attrition.==

This is only true if you are assuming that you do not replace the position that is becoming vacant.

Comment by Passive Agressive Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:53 pm
The rule of law is a bit of a stretch. There are many bad laws both past and present. Laws need to be changed, like pension and benefit protection of public workers.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:55 pm
Ok, thanks for the clarification Annoyance. Not good new though, the state should try to get as many people as possible and as fast as possible out of Tier 1.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 12:56 pm
Passive Agressive, not necessarily. New people start out on the bottom of the pay scale and work their way up, so replacing someone saves money on the payroll for many years.

Making up some numbers, someone who has been working for 20 years makes 85k and gets replaced with someone who makes 70k and ramps up (”steps” up) to 85k over the next decade.

Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:04 pm
A jack.
You also have to figure the increase to pensions. Retirement base is an average of highest consecutive months out of last 10 years. I’m sure backpay will come in 2 checks iff he gets a check cut before fiscal year end. Either way if someone gets a 10k check plus normal wages, their monthly average will go up accordingly. Those who are retired will have it calculated at SERS by hand. Those of us still working will get a month or 2 of high monthly pay to help our average

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:08 pm
Passive: A new hire typically starts out lower on the scale than the person he/she replaces.

City: Remember when Rauner said keeping the tax rate at 5% was a 67% tax increase? Yeah, that was horse manure too.

Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:12 pm
My Agency has closed 2 offices in the last year because all the employees retired and they couldn’t fill the positions. My office tried to hire for 2 federally mandated positions; we only had 1 qualified person apply. My manager is out of Springfield since my last 2 retired. He is in charge of 3 more offices now and after leaving our office today has to head to Chicago area and the state has to pay for hotel for him. 23 people retired since June 2018, they haven”t filled those positions.

Comment by HangingOn Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:13 pm
== For a decade merit comp have received zilch. ==

Longer than a decade; more like multiple decades. For most of the time that Merit Comp had been in place, it was artificially capped and limited, both in terms of percentage increase and number of employees allowed an increase. They capped it by dictating the number of “exceeds” allowed in each division and agency, and by also dictating there must be some fixed number of “needs improvement”. (You should have seen the behind the scenes fights to get those few “exceeds’.) Completely corrupted the evaluation system and made the actual written reviews pretty much meaningless.

MC only worked the way it was designed (to actually reward high performers) the first 2 or 3 years because the State paniced at the relatively large increases of 10% and 15% that were requested to make up for not receiving wage increases when the union positions previously did. Plus the MC system could (and sometimes was) be manipulated to reward the politically connected instead of the hard workers. And, yeah, I know those are good reasons to have a union, but we are talking management positions like SPSS and PSA (before a lot of PSA’s ended up in the union, rightly or wrongly).

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:14 pm
“the state should try to get as many people as possible and as fast as possible out of Tier 1.”

Just offer a good “early retirement incentive” to the Tier 1 population. They will leave in droves.

Comment by Me Again Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:15 pm
@Passive Agressive the person who leaves, probably through retirement, is likely at step 8 (the highest step) while the person who comes in is at step 1, so there is your savings through attrition.

Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:18 pm
-The rule of law is a bit of a stretch. There are many bad laws both past and present. Laws need to be changed, like pension and benefit protection of public workers.-

Nope, not at all. The law is the law. It must be obeyed, followed, complied with or else we don’t have rule of law.
Because you don’t like a law doesn’t mean it’s not valid. You as a citizen have the ability to lobby to change it and vote to change it.
Rauner in his law flaunting was defeated by vote.
The worst defeat of any sitting Illinois governor.
Raunerites tried to make public servants the
enemy
the problem
the cause of what ails Illinois.
He was repudiated by the voter.
I still get collection calls from when my kids orthodontist wasn’t getting paid by Delta Dental
Because Rauner didn’t pay my medical providers
I paid my premiums each month
automatically deducted
Yet
Rauner used that money to pay IT contractors during the budget impasse.
I was paying and paid my share of the ortho bill
on time.
But because Delta was two years behind
They went after me.
I just recently went to the dentist
Because I was afraid that I would need work and would be asked to pay for it upfront
like many of my coworkers.
A Public Aid Eligability Assistant in my office went for 3 months without two front teeth because she couldn’t afford to pay upfront for the work.
Think of the humiliation she bore
Because of Rauner.
Rauner stiffed Thousands of contractors
Not honoring their contracts with the state
All to try to destroy
in particular
AFSCME
That’s just sick

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:27 pm
=Wouldn’t it drive fiscal conservatives nuts if JB announced spending cuts to offset the costs incurred by these step increases.=

weed aint legal yet brother, what on earth makes you think JB would ever cut spending?

Comment by Iggy Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:38 pm
Honeybear - I don’t disagree, I just think most people have different opinions on what a salary freeze and raise are.

This is already playing out in the CPS negotiations. CTU opened with a 5% raise, but that’s probably only a portion of what the typical raise will be.

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:40 pm
RNUG is such a rock star.
And it is imperative that MC’s get raises or at least evaluated for a raise.
It’s a matter of saving what we’ve got left.
The state workforce
is
on
life support.
At this change over of administration
They should let go poor MC’s and promote
from within our best performers.
With good decent salaries.
Admittedly, I can see why it is galling to have
subordinate union workers
making more
than a MC with 3 times the experience.
I get it.
The solution is not to keep the MC’s down
But to bring them back up OVER
their subordinates.
Long long long overdue.
Then subordinates desire to be management/MC
and MC’s feel valued and add value.
Look I come from the Navy where evaluations mean something and have consequences.
Let’s do the opposite of Rauner.
Let’s no drive all wages down.
We’re not trying to make profit
We’re trying to serve people.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:40 pm
== Anon 88, that’s good to hear. Less Tier 1 penaioners. ==

Not necessarily. It is the short timers in the first 8 years or so of their careers, who get the step raises. Since Tier 2 started in 2011, it was mostly Tier 2 people that were affected.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:44 pm
JB’s executive order to get each state employee to their proper step (as if the “Rauner Freeze” had never happened) is the right thing to do. Each payroll system will have to manually figure the new step, employee by employee. This will take months, but at least the employees will see a large pay bump at some point this year.

After that, a similar process will be used determine the total backpay owed (with interest). The legislature will then need to appropriate the funds needed for this one-time payment. Part of this money will then flow into the various retirement systems.

In the end, Rauner’s bad acts against employees will have wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars versus what he should have done (just followed the contract).

Comment by Me Again Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:45 pm
RNUG, your description is spot on. I still remember being told how many of my PSAs could get an exceeds etc. I knew this would also impact my review. Being in management since the early 80s affected my salary and ultimately the amount of pension and social security benefit I receive. One of the reasons I left with the ERI was I knew the 3% AAI was going to be more than I would receive if I stayed working. Fast forward to today, I know Regional Administrators who earn $30000-$40000 a year less than some staff who are working as supervisors in an office. Time to address the MC pay inequity.

Comment by illinifan Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:45 pm
City Zen- There is no ambiguity or difference of opinion. It’s all spelled out in the contract. It can’t be violated or changed unilaterally
and
Rauner
did.
He lost in court. He lost the election.
It’s entirely settled
except as to
whether
Madigan/Cullerton
will now
Pay the bills
Honor the contracts
and Obey the law and judgement of the courts.

Stop gaslighting
You are objuscating a simple choice
Pay the bills or not
Honor contracts or not
Obey the law and judgement of the courts or not.

Rauner didn’t
I’m not asking you
I’m asking Madigan/Cullerton

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:49 pm
Me Again
Each agency had already done those calculations as ordered by the Administrative Law Judge of the ILRB.
The calcs are done.
Pritzker is rightfully and thankfully going to double check.
Who trusts Rauner?
(or his lickspittles at the agencies)
That’s why they said a few weeks not months.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:54 pm
Iggy. I think I agree with you. Dedicate all marijuana tax revenue to step increases.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 1:55 pm
Let’s unpack the Trib’s lede: “On his first full day in office, Gov. J.B. Pritzker tried to further distance his nascent administration from his predecessor’s, moving to enact certain pay increases state workers say they’re owed and didn’t receive under Republican Bruce Rauner.” “State workers say they are owed…” NO!!! Contractual raises agreed to by the State, illegally withheld by the Rauner Administration, and legally obligated to pay, according to court rulings. Of course state workers are aware of these facts and would, naturally, say they are owed the backpay. But the Trib lede is either ignorant or dishonest, take your pick!

Comment by formerpro Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 2:01 pm
Merit comp workers just recently received a 5% raise..

Comment by Nighthawk644 Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 2:02 pm
When Tier 1 employees leave, a lot of them begin collecting benefits. There is not necessarily any savings (depending on age/service demographics of those leaving)

Comment by The Original Name/Nickname/Anon Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 2:09 pm
“I just think most people have different opinions on what a salary freeze and raise are.” Had Rauner bargained in good faith, he probably would have gotten a multi-year pay freeze from AFSCME. I know as an AFSCME member, I would have agreed to that as a concession. But it was the other poison pills that made his LBF contact unacceptable. And since he walked away from the table, we’ll never know how it would have come out.

Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 2:23 pm
== They should let go poor MC’s ==

May not be that easy to just fire poorly performing MC’s. Most MC’s today are SPSA’s and most those are 4 year term appointments. Only a fraction are true “at will” employees that can be fired at any point. Doesn’t mean JB can’t transform upper middle management, just that it may take up to 4 years to easily replace the poor performers as they reach the end of their appointments.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 2:37 pm
This isn’t a giveaway by Pritzker. He’s simply implementing what the courts have said to do. And, this will save money in the long run because each day that passes union members are owed back pay for step increases plus 7% interest. He’s saving that 7% interest going forward.

Has the Republican platform really become one that supports not honoring contracts. Rauner was a pro at it, and not just in terms of employment contracts. Have the Republicans now adopted that stance?

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 2:41 pm
-Doesn’t mean JB can’t transform upper middle management-

That’s more of what I meant. Sorry. I do support better management. I did hear of a bunch of lean management stuff but the management I know and rather despise never took any of it seriously. It’s too bad. But I do think effort in transformation and performance metrics would be well worth it.
I get it. In a lot of ways we do need to get better.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 2:54 pm
@Knighthawk644: Huh? What 5% raise for MCs are you referring to? I’m not aware of such a thing. Please explain.

Comment by Yiddishcowboy Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 2:56 pm
The State can not afford it.

But it is the right thing to do.

Again, this State has real problems.

No more new or expanded programs is a must despite any political promises.

Limit overall government expenditures to no more than 2% a year. Any additional money to pay back bills.

Just some thoughts to just maybe get this state back in fiscal order over a 10 year period.

Comment by Nonbeleiver Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 3:02 pm
The state can’t afford it.

It is the right thing to do and contracts should be honored.

State must not increase spending by more than 2% each year fro the next five years. No new programs.

If this results inany extra money use it to pay back bills.

Just some thoughts.

Comment by Nonbeleiver Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 3:08 pm
== But I do think effort in transformation and performance metrics would be well worth it. ==

That is the way MC was supposed to work. Reality didn’t match theory. Maybe they can try to do it properly now.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 3:09 pm
No nonbeliever, the state can afford it.
What it could not afford is the Billion dollars in late fees and interest.
Totally unnecessary
What it could not afford is the destruction of higher education.
What it could not afford was the destruction of the private social service safety net.
What it could not afford was the obliteration of our state agencies that help the people of Illinois and the businesses of Illinois.
We need to pay for what we contracted for.
We pay our bills
We honor our contracts
We obey the law and judgement of the courts

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 3:23 pm
I look forward to the steps and the back pay but I will never be made “whole” because I have lost out on 4 years of mutual fund growth by not being able to put my step dollars into deferred comp. Thanks again Bruce.

Comment by Kayak Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 3:25 pm
How about someone toss a lien on GovJunk so he can pay the amounts withheld during his reign of terror?

Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 3:55 pm
@Honeybear.

You did notice that I said the contracts should be honored. Please calm down.

However, you do seem to be oblivious that the state can not afford to continue as it has in the
past.

Your litany of “What it could not afford” sounds ideal and I agree with some of it. But reality remains.

That is why I tried to put for at least a beginning of thoughts as a beginning of discussion on how to deal with the budget crisis.

And no, it does not include higher taxes which I think might be what you want as the answer. Please correct if me if I am wrong.

Comment by Nonbeleiver Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 4:12 pm
Just my opinion but I do think if MC do not get a raise (and I think it should average the percentage of union increase), then there will be another mass exodus that will not be filled by any competence.

Comment by I Miss Bentohs Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 4:16 pm
@knighthawk644 Uhhh…nope. I’m in senior management. No 5% raises.

And @Honeybear—thanks as always for telling it as it is. I have union staff who want to be promoted, and would be great management staff, but will not leave the union and take MC positions due to lack of raises. We have federally mandated positions that CMS pulled out of the union that we cannot fill.

Comment by MCStaff Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 4:27 pm
Honeybear,

Just because the Administrative Law Judge of the ILRB ordered the Rauner Administration to immediately compute steps/backpay/interest does not mean that Rauner actually ordered his many payroll system administrators to do it. As far as I can tell, Rauner gave no such orders, either before or after the election. J.B. Pritzker’s executive order is likely the first real order do it.

While determining the proper steps that staff should be on may not be that difficult, but it will need to be done for many thousands of staff and that will take time.

Computing backpay/interest person by person will be many times more difficult and will probably take months.

Comment by Me Again Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 4:47 pm
“J.B. Pritzker’s executive order is likely the first real order do it.”

Pritzker did not issue an EO for steps, per my search, and I think it’s misunderstood in at least one article. He stated he would place employees on their right steps.

The unions get their main strength not through politicians of any political party but from members and leaders. It’s imperative that unions are proactive in securing what’s legally owed to them, no matter what political party is in power.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 4:54 pm
Oh Nonbeliever, I think I know a heck of a lot more about the states financial state than you. You haven’t the slightest idea who I know, what departments and agencies they sit in, what they know, how the money gets moved around to pay for what.
That being said, yes we are in real financial trouble. And yes, we are going to have to raises taxes. No way around it.
But I don’t think the transition team needs or wants your ideas, just saying.
But the issue which I will not calm down about is that 14,000 of the state workforce were not paid their rightful wages for four years. This was confirmed by three courts. The wages for the work already done is owed by the State of Illinois.
Period
There is no “we can’t afford it” bullcrap.
Millions flow into the Willard Ice building each day. It’s not that we can’t afford it. It’s that it hasn’t been appropriated by the legislature. It was underreported to the legislature by Rauners agencies for the past four years…illegally. Now that we’ve won the legal battle. Now that we’ve voted Rauner out.
We have a choice to
pay our bills-which Rauner wasn’t doing.
honor our contracts-which Rauner wasn’t doing.
obey the law and judgment of the courts.
I feel very strongly
That squawking about not affording it
is more than tired talking points.
It’s about casting aspersions
on stateworkers themselves
It’s a passive aggressive way of
saying “you’re not worth it”
Buddy,
The hundreds of millions of dollars we spent on IT consultant contracts…that’s not worth it.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 4:55 pm
Me Again, I personally know the person at one of the larger state agencies who was tasked with it.
The calcs were done.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 4:57 pm
Honeybear,

Calcs for steps -or- calcs for backpay?

Comment by Me Again Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 5:34 pm
Well, the calculations for the backpay cannot be calculated until the steps are in place thus drawing the line in the sand on the contuination of additional monies being owed. Trick question?

Comment by Tony Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 7:04 pm
@Honeybear

Yes, I understand you want to raise taxes even though they were recently raised to 4.95%. I am not surprised by your opinion that we need to raise taxes again.

Now be more specific. How would you do this?

How would this specifically impact upon you?

Comment by Nonbeleiver Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 7:11 pm
Tony - Bingo (exclamation mark)

Comment by Me Again Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 7:37 pm
It’s a race to 10 billion in unpaid bills.

Comment by South Side Sam Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 8:47 pm
== It’s a race to 10 billion in unpaid bills. ==

Rauner already won that race …

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 10:03 pm
==Yes, I understand you want to raise taxes even though they were recently raised to 4.95%.==

I’m old enough to remember when the tax rate was 5% and Illinois’ liabilities were less than half of what they are today and trending downward. Then, Rauner got in office.

==we cant afford it==

Can we please retire this statement when speaking about state government? If the state of Illinois called into the Dave Ramsey show, he’d say, “you are on baby step 2 and you need to pay your debt. The only way you’re going to do that is by raising your income and slashing your budget to the bone.”

Well, Rauner and the GOP couldn’t ever find much government left they wanted to cut in 4 years, so raising revenues is all that is left.

Comment by MG85 Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 10:50 pm
….so raising revenues is all that is left. Wow. We are toast.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:13 pm
Tax complainers - if you can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen. I hear Florida and Texas are nice. We’ll be fine without you.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 16, 19 @ 11:58 pm
There are fossilized incompetent unionized managers with little formal education & no real world experience, collecting salaries close to 6 figures. They do little work, but are good at harassing competent and well educated subordinates–because they can. Rauner was right. These managers should be taken out of the union and held accountable.

Comment by Covert Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 4:35 am
==There are fossilized incompetent unionized managers with little formal education & no real world experience, collecting salaries close to 6 figures==

It’s easy to make allegations. It’s harder to prove them. If you’re so certain of such a thing, then show your work. Name names and present your evidence of incompetence.

Otherwise, your claim is as baseless as Rauner’s legacy.

Comment by MG85 Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 7:43 am
When the rightful steps is anyone’s guess depending upon how one interprets what Jordan Abudayyeh said,” it will take several weeks to provide an accurate picture on both the cost and timing of the restoration.” Her statement could be two part. First of course working the numbers and coming up with who and what is owed. Part two then the restoration. Which could be separate and involve but another delay due to the additional cost. I wish she would of been a bit more specific. Regardless I have been telling the rank and file at my agency it not going to happen sooner but later. But it’s a start.

Comment by Steward As Well.... Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 8:17 am
” backpay cannot be calculated until the steps are in place” They have these things called “Spreadsheets” where you can change one value and everything else calculates automatically. It’s amazing[exclamation point]

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 8:39 am
Skeptic, “backpay cannot be calculated until the steps are in place” They have these things called “Spreadsheets” where you can change one value and everything else calculates automatically. It’s amazing[exclamation point]. A statement that does nothing to make my original remarks any less accurate. But thanks for trying.

Comment by Tony Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:28 am
Tens of millions in Regular State employee positions funds (code 1120) lapse every year.

So just don’t begrudge employees what they were promised - and earned especially since the last couple of Governors have hollowed out government requiring a significant number of employees to take on double and triple workloads.

Enough debate about whether or not State Employees deserve to be paid *what they’re owed*.

Comment by Happy Retiree Thursday, Jan 17, 19 @ 10:43 am