Rauner vetoes fair arbitration bill

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner vetoed the fair arbitration bill, House Bill 580, on May 16. After walking away from negotiations with state employees, the governor seeks to impose his demands on our state's public service workers by blocking the legislation, which provides a responsible path to a fair contract.

AFSCME Council 31 executive director Roberta Lynch responds:

“Public service workers in state government keep us safe, protect kids, respond to emergencies and much more. They want to stay on the job to serve their communities, not be forced out on strike, and they deserve fair pay and health care they can afford. This bill seeks compromise and avoids a strike by allowing an independent, neutral third party to settle the differences between workers and management. It is the process already used for tens of thousands of fire fighters, police officers, correctional workers and others throughout Illinois.

“Beneath Governor Rauner’s false claims and wild exaggerations about the bill is this reality: The governor walked away from negotiations with our union in January and is seeking total power to unilaterally impose his demands, including forcing state and university employees to pay double their current costs for health care. Given that power, the governor could impose his demands and leave state employees no choice but to strike. That’s exactly what Rauner as a candidate vowed to do.

“Governor Rauner doesn’t like HB 580 because it would require him to be moderate and seek compromise. He wants his way or no way at all. Public service workers in state government want better for the millions of citizens we serve. That’s why new polls show voters support the fair arbitration bill by 3-1 margins even in Republican districts, and why we will urge all lawmakers of both parties to protect public services, ensure fairness and override the governor’s veto of HB 580.”

Call your state representative and urge him or her to override Gov. Rauner's veto of HB 580. Call 888-912-5959 or use the AFSCME click-to-call tool to take action.