Illinois governor makes union dues voluntary for some state workers

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - In a strike against public employee unions, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner on Monday signed an order eliminating union dues for some state employees who don't want to pay to support union activities.

Rauner, a Republican and political neophyte who came into office in January, has been vocal about his problems with public labor unions and their political power. The order, which would eliminate so-called "fair share dues," affects 6,500 state workers who have opted out of unions but still have to pay dues.

“Forced union dues are a critical cog in the corrupt bargain that is crushing taxpayers," Rauner said in a statement. "Government union bargaining and government union political activity are inexorably linked."

The action is likely to be challenged in court. The Rauner administration said dues would be placed in escrow during the legal process.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/09/us-usa-illinois-unions-idUSKBN0LD2LP20150209

---

BY MARY WISNIEWSKI
CHICAGO Mon Feb 9, 2015 6:58pm EST

[BumRushDaShow]

1. “Forced union dues are...crushing taxpayers,"

WTF?

Tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy are what are "crushing taxpayers" (see Kansas, Louisiana, and even here in PA).

As it is, the public unions already have restrictions that other unions don't have...

Here is an example about the consequences of elections.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. He Simply Makes Things Up As He Goes Along

Another fake "self-made" millionaire who thinks he's got it all figured out.

If Quinn hadn't been such a weenie during the campaign, he could have wiped the floor with Rauner.

This guy is going to turn out to be Illinois' Silverspoon Bush.

[RoccoRyg]

2. As an Illinois state employee

I will continue paying my dues if they are made optional. That money is for protection against corporate oligarchs like our beloved governor.

[Peregrine Took]

5. Well said, Rocco.

AFSCME should use these Raunerism's as a recruiting tool.

I say what is he up to?

I think he has his eyes on DC more than Springfield.

[Omaha Steve]

3. Chicago Teachers Union chief blasts Rauner, says union will not back down

(He says it is ok because he is not anti-union: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150208/news/150208897/)


http://www.trbimg.com/img-54d01772/turbine/ct-karen-lewis-chuy-garcia-jpg-20150202/750/750x422

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, center, chats with mayoral candidate Jesus "Chuy" Garcia before his talk at the City Club of Chicago on Jan. 20, 2015. Lewis spoke at the City Club on Feb. 2, 2015, criticizing Gov. Bruce Rauner and Mayor Rahm Emanuel. (E. Jason Wambsgans, Chicago Tribune)


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-karen-lewis-speech-met-20150202-story.html


By Juan Perez, Jr. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis pilloried Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday and promised the CTU would not back down from Springfield or City Hall as it prepares demands for a new contract.

"Bruce Rauner ran on a platform about nothing," Lewis said Monday at a City Club of Chicago luncheon. "He's wasted no time attacking the wages of working-class people, attacking their labor unions and threatening massive cuts to social service programs, which help the most vulnerable people in our state.

"That is the real Bruce Rauner. He's not some easygoing, blue-jeans-wearing, $20-dollar-watch-having good guy who's coming to save the day. He is (Wisconsin Gov.) Scott Walker on steroids."

Lewis offered a steady stream of wisecracks and improvised passages in which she derided standardized testing, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's longer school day and private partnerships in public education.

FULL story at link.

[msongs]

4. democratically elected, reflecting the views of a majority of voters. way to go Illinois nt

[starroute]

6. Too many people think it's fine to vote GOP when the Dems get too corrupt

That's the way it worked when I was a kid. Any Republican governor in a normally Democratic state would know to be on their best behavior and not do too much damage.

But now they've decided they can use their time in power to wreck everything in reach -- and the general voting public hasn't yet caught up with that fact.

[angrychair]

7. elections have consequences

I've been a AFSCME shop steward (not in IL) only for a hand full of months now but I have learned hard lessons about the hostility that senior management and some members express toward the union.
Management and state leadership is disconcerting because the only reason to dislike or slander the union is because you don't want to follow the rules and/or don't want to treat people fairly. Its as simple as that.

State employees that are anti-union have forgotten that their lunch breaks, sick leave and vacation time are all from the results of hard battles by union members. As a union member you have the power of a union and fellow brothers and sisters to stand with you if you need help with a job situation. You have the power of a collective bargaining agreement. In a non-union shop, you are faced with a situation where your management has all the power and you have none. Its as simple as that.

[Midnight Writer]

8. But Republicans believe Executive Orders are despotic

[polynomial]

9. George Bush said Americans are resilient

Now I understand more about what George Bush means when he said “Americans are resilient”.

For those Americans who disregard unions, or condemn them, or refuse to participate and improve them are reacting in desperate ways, but that way is against their own personal needs and ethics or values.

This action of resilience also shows how Americans can be convinced to ditch their first amendment. Over decades of lop sided rhetoric that makes it very compelling to keep that union dues because an increase in wages is not going to happen.

Especially, when thinking about getting benefits or an increase in wages, or good safe working conditions.

Think about it, the first amendment has all the basic fundamentals of what the unions are.

Being able to assemble peacefully, being able to list grievances and submit them to the government, being able to speak freely. Being able to publish your concerns.

These are basic Constitutional civil rights. For those who throw that first amendment away find out eventually those actions only leads to tyranny and fascism.

This governor just flinched in a Constitutional way showing that mathematical inner product or cross product in decades in abuse of Constitutional values.

Of course the governs can join think tanks that are tax exempt, or listen to lobbyist rather than you…any money the governor saves is money he will likely Taylor for his needs.

If our representatives did with honest ethical effort work for the American individual we would not need unions. Isn’t it insane that media Journalist have unions and they lie like hell…LOL

[dicksmc3]

10. Walker is in Illinois!!

Look it's Walker, No it's Rauner!! Way to go all you clowns that voted for this FOOL!!

[ProfessorGAC]

12. That's What I Said The Next Morning

I looked around and thought what a bunch of buffoons we have in this state. Well, that and the fact that only 30% bothered to vote.