Governor Bruce Rauner Monday vetoed House Bill 580.
The measure provides the option of a neutral, independent arbitrator to help settle union contracts for state employees without a strike or government shutdown.
Illinois' largest state workers union, AFSCME, supported the measure, hoping an arbitrator could settle the stalled contract talks with the Rauner administration.
In a written statement, Rauner indicated it's a bad idea to remove him from the process. "HB 580 replaces the Governor in collective bargaining negotiations with an unelected, labor-friendly arbitrator who can single-handedly impose the union’s $3 billion demand on the taxpayers, and do so over the objections of the Governor, the General Assembly, the Labor Board, and the majority of taxpayers themselves. One person would have the ability to determine over 25% of our annual budget for the next 3 years, forcing increased taxes and cuts to other vital state services to pay for it all."
The impasse in negotiations with AFSCME is currently being litigated before the Illinois Labor Relations Board. AFSCME filed its own unfair labor practice charge that is part of that litigation. The Board will decide if negotiations should continue or an impasse has been reached.
