Twenty-four thousand home health care workers in IL could soon be getting a raise.
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The leaders met with Rauner for the first time since two working groups last week produced recommendations for a state budget in month 10 of the impasse.
Even as HB 580 remains pending, an examiner for the state’s Labor Relations Board is hearing evidence about whether the lengthy negotiations have reached an impasse. “That’s exactly what Rauner as a candidate vowed to do”, AFSCME’s state council Executive Director Roberta Lynch said in a statement.
In September 2015, the legislature narrowly upheld Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of legislation to strip the governor of his authority to negotiate on taxpayers’ behalf with unionized workers and transfer contract-making authority to an independent arbitrator.
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.
“He said he needs reforms, too, so I think we’re going to continue to have meetings to talk about the reforms that he wishes to propose as well”, Cullerton said, adding Rauner is in favor of a tax increase to pay for a balanced budget.
“It’s a shame that our negotiations have devolved to the point that we need to do something like this”, said Sen.
State workers in Illinois are the highest paid in the nation when considering the cost of living among states, according to the Illinois Policy Institute.
IL has been without a budget since July of past year.
“If we structure our state government to look like other states, we could save $2 billion per year”, Rauner said.
Todd Maisch, president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, said pro-growth solutions to boost the Illinois economy are required instead of bolstered spending in an already-unbalanced budget.
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Legislators have until May 31 to work out a deal or face a special summer session.
