The biggest labor union representing Illinois state workers was back in court Wednesday.
AFSCME wants a panel of appellate judges to order Governor Bruce Rauner’s administration back to the negotiating table.
The Rauner team says the two sides are at an impasse. But top AFSCME official Mike Newman says the union is still willing to negotiate.
“This case is really about taking away workers’ voice, and handing it over to a small group of corporate elites, among those being Bruce Rauner.”
Rauner has criticized past union contracts as a “corrupt bargain” and a bad deal for taxpayers. He's demanding significant changes in work rules, health insurance, and the power to outsource what have traditionally been state jobs.
AFSCME’s current state contract expired in summer 20-15. There’s no timeline for when the appellate court might issue a decision in the case.
