State Workers Rally For A New Contract

By Kevin Robinson in News on Jun 24, 2008 1:00PM

Amidst the perpetual dick-wagging that goes on in Springfield over the state budget, State of Illinois employees are feeling the pinch. Thousands of state workers, members of AFSCME Council 31 rallied at the State Capitol Monday before marching to the Hilton hotel, where negotiations between the state and the union are being held. The governor's office refused to comment on negotiations, saying "it would be irresponsible on our part to negotiate this contract through the media.”

The union claims that the Blagojevich administration is insisting on huge concessions from state workers, including higher pension contributions and sharply increased health insurance premiums, deductibles and co-pays. In May state workers held informational pickets around the state over the negotiations impasse. And earlier this month, business and taxpayer organizations sent a letter to the governor demanding that he cut pension increases and hike employee contributions for health insurance. “We already pay a good dividend for health insurance and we also pay a good part for our own retirement and now they want to take more from us in this tough economy and it’s not right,” said a state worker from the Pontiac Correctional Center. “It’d be so tough for families already to have to pay more. We’re paying our fair share and then some.”

The current contract, which covers some 35,000 state workers expires June 30. After seven months of negotiations, they still haven't reached an agreement. The union says that a strike is still a possibility.

AP Photo