Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the state's largest government employee union have agreed to another extension of their labor contract as negotiations continue on a new agreement.
Under the deal, the contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees that was initially scheduled to expire July 1 will remain in place until an impasse is reached or a new deal is struck. An earlier extension was scheduled to expire at the end of the month.
Both sides have agreed that a work stoppage, slowdown, strike or lockout will not happen unless they hit an impasse. Rauner and the union have been locked in a contentious fight over a new contract as the governor is trying to dramatically scale back benefits, which is viewed as another front in his battle to curb the influence of organized labor in Illinois.
If the governor's office declares negotiations have reached an impasse, it would allow the administration to try to impose the terms of its "best and final" offer. The union has the right to appeal that move to the Illinois Labor Relations Board.
If the board sides with the union, talks resume. If the board sides with the administration, it's up to union members to vote: Either go along with the governor's final offer or strike.
To try to avoid that situation, AFSCME enlisted Democratic lawmakers to push through legislation to allow for an alternative. Under the bill, either side could have turned to an arbitrator to hear the disagreements and offer a solution. Once arbitration hearings began, a strike or lockout would not have been allowed.
Rauner vetoed that measure, and an effort by Democrats to override the bill failed in the House last week by three votes. The roll call led House Speaker Michael Madigan to issue an unusual rebuke against two members he blamed for the failure: Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, who was on a trip in New York during the vote and Rep. Scott Drury of Highwood, who said he never committed to vote for the override.
Rauner, union agree to extend contract as negotiations continue - Chicago Tribune
No comments:
Post a Comment