AFSCME responds to layoff threats

[September 09, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD -- The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union has responded to Gov. Quinn's plan announced yesterday to close several state facilities and lay off workers. AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Henry Bayer says that the state facility closures and layoffs announced by the governor would "plunge state government into crisis" and directly violate negotiated union agreements.

"This course of action would be in direct violation of negotiated agreements with our union," Bayer said. "Moreover, it would have a dire impact on the maintenance of public safety and the delivery of services of vital importance to the people of Illinois."

State law requires consideration on facility closures by the General Assembly's Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, which must issue an advisory opinion on the closure within 50 business days of when the administration files a formal recommendation for closure.

"Illinois state government is already an extremely lean operation," Bayer said. "Staffing levels have been cut to the bone over the past decade -- and Illinois now has the lowest per capita number of employees of any state in the country. Nearly every state agency is struggling to meet its mandates. Prisons are understaffed and severely overcrowded, operating at almost 150 percent of inmate capacity. Human service caseloads have soared past any reasonable standard. Veterans homes have long waiting lists for care.

"Closures and layoffs at such a time will plunge state government into chaos.

"The governor is apparently concerned that there is not sufficient appropriations authority to maintain services at their current level until the fiscal year ends next June. We agree that a supplemental appropriation is needed. But there is certainly not a funding crisis at this point in time. There is merely a crisis of will.

"Our state urgently needs leadership. Rather than disrupt vital services and add to Illinois' already alarmingly high unemployment rate, the governor should work with the General Assembly to forestall service cuts and layoffs. The necessary funding is available if the legislature takes action when it returns for the veto session. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability reports that revenue is coming in this year at higher than projected levels.

"We call on the governor and the legislative leaders to work together for the good of our state. This is not a time for partisanship or finger-pointing. It's a time to work together to ensure that essential services to maintain public safety and meet human needs can continue to be provided. AFSCME stands ready to be part of that effort."

Click here for information on what facilities would be closed, how many layoffs there would be and what impact that closure would have on services.

[Text from AFSCME Council 31]