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Rauner and AFSCME Still Far Apart on Contract Negotiations


Rauner and AFSCME Still Far Apart on Contract Negotiations (WICS)
Rauner and AFSCME Still Far Apart on Contract Negotiations (WICS)
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The battle, like so many lately, is not just about numbers.

Robert Dunn says, "The majority of them are making below $50,000 a year."

Mindy Ruckman of Illinois Policy Institute says, "They make about $10,000 more than the national average."

It's about deep differences in political thinking.

Senate President John Cullerton says, "Because of you, people in Illinois make more money than in non-union states. We think that's a good thing."

"Unfortunately the compensation demands being made by AFSCME, leaders, are out of touch with reality," said Governor Bruce Rauner.

Like the major battles at the statehouse, compromise has been hard to come by.

Governor Rauner and AFSCME have battled over a new contract for more than a year.

"Since last spring we've been bargaining in good faith with all of the public sector unions whose member serve in state government," Gov. Rauner said.

Joanna Webb-Gauvin of AFSCME says, "We would like to sit down and negotiate a fair settlement, something that's fair to everyone, but the Governor's refusing to even meet with us."

The Illinois Policy Institute, a conservative think tank, says their study is the first of its kind.

They say once the cost of living is factored in, the annual wage for Illinois state workers is higher than any other state in the country, which they attribute to one overlying factor.

Mindy Ruckman of the Illinois Policy Institute says, "Wages in Illinois are higher because AFSCME union representatives are simply demanding higher wages than they are in our surrounding states."

Here's Governor Rauner at the State of the State address on AFSCME's demands:

"Undeterred and unashamed, AFSCME is demanding $3 billion more in overall compensation."

But AFSCME says it's hard to negotiate with only one party at the table.

"The Governor is refusing to meet. The Governor has instead chosen a path of chaos and conflict and confrontation. We don't think that's good for the general public, we don't think it's good for public service," said Joanna Webb-Gauvin of AFSCME.

The 35,000 AFSCME union employees have been working without a contract since June 30 of last year. Since then, both sides agreed to not strike or walk away from negotiations.

As the standoff wears on, some state workers say the purpose of the negotiations is getting lost.

Robert Dunn, an AFSCME employee, tells NewsChannel 20, "My job is very important to me. I don't work just to support myself, my job is important because there are families that are being hurt along these paths."

Dunn works overnight hours for a state agency in Springfield.

His message for anyone who thinks state workers are overpaid: "Walk a mile in my shoes, they can see what I make for a living."

Robert and his wife live within their means in their mobile home that's paid for.

They manage their budget carefully, cutting out unnecessary costs after annual cost of living adjustments and raises for promotions went unpaid.

He showed us one of his pay stubs.

"That actually had overtime on it, maybe 4 hours, and then the bring-home pay was $1335. Times two, you're looking at $2670 per month. There are others out there who would love to have that dollar amount," said Dunn.

In an open letter to state employees last week, Governor Rauner wrote he wants to reward hard work and ingenuity, but says, "Our taxpayers cannot afford the added spending pressure of huge wage and health insurance increases" AFSCME is asking for.

Robert says he and others like him are willing to make sacrifices.

"I'd be more than willing to do my part because I have an investment here, but they've got an investment into me as well."

But while it's easy for both sides to say they want compromise, actually hammering out the details has proven much more difficult.

The governor this week said, "It's a reasonable deal, it's very straightforward. Anyone who thinks it's fair or reasonable to strip me of my ability to negotiate in good faith on behalf of taxpayers, and hand the process over to an unelected arbitrator is just wrong."

Impasse hearings between the two sides continue at the state labor relations board for the rest of the week.

Both sides will then submit post hearing briefs, or final statements, before the administrative law judge submits a ruling.

With so much at stake, appeals are expected from the losing side, and it could be months before we get a final contract.

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