Governor Bruce Rauner’s office this afternoon announced that he has vetoed a bill that would call for binding arbitration in the event of impasse between the administration and State of Illinois employee unions.
The leading Senate Democrat is willing to go along with pension reform that is estimated to save taxpayers $1 billion a year.
The Rauner administration didn’t intimidate employees or unilaterally change contract terms with the state’s largest public employees union when, over the summer, Central Management Services posted a website answering questions about the potential of a strike.
After several months of good faith negotiations, Governor Bruce Rauner has agreed to terms on new four-year collective bargaining agreements with the International Union of Operating Engineers, the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry, and the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers.
Union groups who gathered for Labor Day observances in Springfield Monday say the contract battle between Governor Bruce Rauner and AFSCME will be a pivotal moment in labor relations in the state.
It’s a big win for Governor Bruce Rauner, and a big loss for AFSCME.
