A published report says Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration has been contacting retired state employees to determine if they're willing to come back on short-term contracts in case of a workers' strike.
A worker from Sangamon County told The (Springfield) State Journal Register he received a call asking about the possibility of working in the interim if there's a strike.
AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall says the union does not want a strike.
"We've been the union of state employees for more than 40 years in Illinois and we have never had a strike.
We've been the union of state employees for more than 40 years in Illinois and we have never had a strike. - AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall
A strike isn't in the interest of the people of the state. They want their public services to be reliable and provided to them."
Lindall says the retirees also have a lot at stake in the ongoing contract negotiations.
"For example, they're in the state health insurance plan. Retirees want affordable healthcare for themselves in their retirement and for their dependents. That's part of the negotiations."
Rauner's administration and AFSCME Council 31 have been negotiating a new agreement. An extension on the contract ending expires Friday.
Lindall says AFSCME has proposed letting an independent arbitrator settle the dispute.
