AFSCME hosts Illinois rallies
<p class="p1">The largest state employees union says it wants a fair contract that includes pay increases while the governor says he’s working toward a contract that’s fair to both state employees and taxpayers. </p><p class="p1">During a rally in Springfield Thursday, Dec. 10, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFSCME, Council 31 president Roberta Lynch said that the governor wants to break down the middle class and dismantle unions.</p><p class="p1">A rally also was held Wednesday night, Dec. 9, at the Operating Engineers Local 318 hall in Marion.</p><p class="p1">“We’re standing together...here with our friends, our families...I saw people who brought children here tonight, to say to this governor ‘you can’t repair a damaged economy by killing off the middle class',” Lynch said at the rally in Springfield.</p><p class="p1">Another high ranking union member who works for the Illinois Department of Corrections said the unions are at war.</p><p class="p1">Downers Grove Republican State Rep. Ron Sandack says previous contract negotiations have been very one sided and Gov. Bruce Rauner is working not just for a fair contract for state employees but also for taxpayers. Sandack says a fair contract is in the eyes of the beholder.</p><p class="p1">“Previous contracts weren’t fair to the state and I think this governor is trying to have a far more balanced approach so that it’s, yes, fair for workers but it’s also fair for the taxpayers” Sandack said.</p><p class="p1">Meanwhile, Rauner’s office countered the unions in a statement saying the status quo cannot continue and the administration continues to bargain in good faith to reach a new contract with AFSCME that include proposals similar to those reached by the Teamsters and trade unions. </p><p class="p1">Some of those provisions, according to the governor’s office, include a 40-hour work week, bonuses for performance and cost savings, provisions to improve the competitiveness of state services, and restrictions on overtime abuse. </p><p class="p1">Rauner’s office says they have seen very little progress and few concessions from AFSCME.</p><p class="p1">AFSCME Council 31 stated in a news release which was posted on its website that "thousands" of the union's "members and retirees, fellow union members, community groups, elected officials and faith leaders joined seven Rallies for Fairness across the state, sending Gov. Rauner a clear message: anti-worker agendas have no place in Illinois."</p><p class="p1">The union stated that all seven of the rallies "were packed with energetic crowds waving signs that said 'Serving Our Communities, Standing for Fairness' and 'Fair Budget, Fair Contract'."</p><p class="p1">Council 31 reported that AFSCME members in state government were joined by other AFSCME members who are university employees, city and county employees, and employees of community nonprofit agencies, as well as scores of AFSCME retirees. </p><p class="p1">Other unions also were reported to have been represented at the rallies, including the IFT, IEA, SEIU, Laborers, FOP, firefighters, nurses, building trades and more.</p><p class="p1">(Editor's note: portions of this article were written by Greg Bishop of the Illinois News Network.)</p><p class="p2"> </p>