Illinois Governor On the Attack
“These levels are unsustainable and unfair to working families, small businesses, and other taxpayers in Illinois. They limit our ability to grow our economy and to fund much needed social services.”
– Illinois Governor and multimillionaire private equity investor Bruce Rauner
Gov. Bruce Rauner has come out swinging against public employee unions by stating loud and clear that Illinois must curb government union powers and reduce spending on state employees’ salaries and benefits. Labor leaders have called the statements an attempt to “vilify” workers ahead of the Republican’s first major policy speech.
In a memo to legislators, Rauner pointed to rules for federal employees as the kind of “common-sense bipartisan reform” he’d like to see in Illinois, and asked lawmakers to review them in advance of his State of the State speech. Those rules say employees may collectively bargain over work conditions such as hours and assignments, but not over wages, benefits, and pensions. They also say workers can’t be forced to participate in a union and are prohibited from strikes or work slowdowns.
While he said he doesn’t plan to propose salary cuts for government employees, Rauner also repeated claims that state workers are paid more than their peers in the private sector and said lawmakers must “prevent any future imbalances and unfair practices.”
“These levels are unsustainable and unfair to working families, small businesses and other taxpayers in Illinois,” the multimillionaire private equity investor from Winnetka said. “They limit our ability to grow our economy and to fund much needed social services.”
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