AFSCME members don't want to strike, says spokesman Anders Lindall. But the union is laying the groundwork, just in case.
"We've got nearly 80 local unions of state employees and so they are having their conversations with their members, on the ground, where they live and work, to give them all the information and answer all their questions,” Lindall said.
Lindall says Governor Bruce Rauner is trying to unilaterally impose demands -- like pay cuts, and higher health insurance premiums -- on the thousands of state employees who are members of AFSCME.
The Rauner administration says the two sides are so far apart on negotiating a new contract, there's no point to further talks. Rauner is also asking the state labor relations board to rule on the matter in short order, bypassing an administrative judge.
The board's holding a hearing on that question today.
The governor says union members would accept his offer if their leadership would give them the chance.
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AFSCME has never gone on strike in the roughly 40 years Illinois has had collective bargaining.
The two sides have been at odds since Rauner was a candidate, and criticized "government union bosses."
Rauner’s comment today on the labor relations board ruling:
“While we are disappointed in the result, we voluntarily agreed to these impasse proceedings with AFSCME and will continue to respect and follow the Labor Board’s decisions throughout. This will hopefully also put an end to the reprehensible attacks that AFSCME has made against the independence and integrity of the administrative law judge and the Board.”
