Rauner Battling Unions On A Second Front: A New Contract
From the Chicago Tribune
As Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner remains locked in a stalemate with Democratic lawmakers over his pro-business, anti-union agenda, he's opened up a second front, battling the largest state employee union over a new contract.
For decades, such negotiations typically have centered on how much raises will be, how long the deal will last and whether workers will budge on benefits. Not so under Rauner, who has a list of two dozen demands ranging from reducing overtime and time off to slashing the state's contribution toward health care. Beyond that, Rauner wants the union to agree to let the state stop collecting dues and fees from workers on its behalf, a philosophical war that's playing out in court.
"I do want to fundamentally change the nature of the contract," Rauner said recently after a campaign-style event at an office park in Vernon Hills. "They've never had the type of change that I'm recommending."
The union, whose members have spent months in conference rooms with administration officials trying to hammer out a contract, says employees aren't the cause of the state's financial troubles and already have accepted higher health care costs in recent years. Viewing Rauner's demands as a threat to their existence, they've countered the governor's proposal with a request for pay raises, better health benefits and a boost in overtime pay for prison workers, according to an administration document obtained by the Chicago Tribune.
"The parties are very far apart," said Anders Lindall, spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, which has taken the lead on negotiations for contracts that cover roughly 40,000 state workers. Expecting a deal by month's end is "not realistic," he said.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Chicago Tribune
As Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner remains locked in a stalemate with Democratic lawmakers over his pro-business, anti-union agenda, he's opened up a second front, battling the largest state employee union over a new contract.
For decades, such negotiations typically have centered on how much raises will be, how long the deal will last and whether workers will budge on benefits. Not so under Rauner, who has a list of two dozen demands ranging from reducing overtime and time off to slashing the state's contribution toward health care. Beyond that, Rauner wants the union to agree to let the state stop collecting dues and fees from workers on its behalf, a philosophical war that's playing out in court.
"I do want to fundamentally change the nature of the contract," Rauner said recently after a campaign-style event at an office park in Vernon Hills. "They've never had the type of change that I'm recommending."
The union, whose members have spent months in conference rooms with administration officials trying to hammer out a contract, says employees aren't the cause of the state's financial troubles and already have accepted higher health care costs in recent years. Viewing Rauner's demands as a threat to their existence, they've countered the governor's proposal with a request for pay raises, better health benefits and a boost in overtime pay for prison workers, according to an administration document obtained by the Chicago Tribune.
"The parties are very far apart," said Anders Lindall, spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, which has taken the lead on negotiations for contracts that cover roughly 40,000 state workers. Expecting a deal by month's end is "not realistic," he said.
Read more in our daily News Update...