Rauner, union agree to extend contract as negotiations continue
Source: Chicago Tribune
Monique Garcia
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the state's largest government employee union have agreed to another extension of their labor contract as negotiations continue on a new agreement.
Under the deal, the contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees that was initially scheduled to expire July 1 will remain in place until an impasse is reached or a new deal is struck. An earlier extension was scheduled to expire at the end of the month.
Both sides have agreed that a work stoppage, slowdown, strike or lockout will not happen unless they hit an impasse. Rauner and the union have been locked in a contentious fight over a new contract as the governor is trying to dramatically scale back benefits, which is viewed as another front in his battle to curb the influence of organized labor in Illinois.
If the governor's office declares negotiations have reached an impasse, it would allow the administration to try to impose the terms of its "best and final" offer. The union has the right to appeal that move to the Illinois Labor Relations Board.
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