By Doug Finke of GateHouse Media Illinois
Posted Jul. 25, 2015 at 9:04 PM
SPRINGFIELD — The administration of Gov. Bruce Rauner has been contacting retired state employees to determine if they would be willing to return to work on short-term contracts in the event of a strike.The calls apparently have been made over the last several weeks as the Rauner administration and the largest state employee union, Council 31 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, have continued negotiations on a new labor agreement.David Scheina, 65, of rural Sangamon County said he got a call from an administrator at the Department of Children and Family Services about two weeks ago. He was not available to take the call, and the employee left a voice mail message.“The message asked me to call her back if I was interested in going to work should the possibility occur that the employees go out on strike,” Scheina said.Scheina said he did not return the call.“I was somewhat appalled by it,” he said. “I feel it was wrong, an employee on state time trying to line up retirees to cross a potential picket line that I didn’t see being suggested. I thought it wasn’t bargaining in good faith.”Scheina retired three years ago after a 25-year career in state government. Most of that time he worked at DCFS. He said that during his career he’s held positions that were both union and non-union.“I think it’s important that the retirees also understand that these negotiations have an impact on their future also,” Scheina added. “Our medical and dental and vision care benefits could still be on the table.”
