Quinn's office said the state denied the $75 million in higher wages
to employees in 14 state agencies because the Legislature didn't
appropriate enough money."Funding these raises would mean that
these agencies would not be able to make payroll for the entire
year, disrupting core services for the people of Illinois, including
children, the elderly and those with special needs," Quinn
spokeswoman Annie Thompson said. "We will be appealing the
arbitrator's decision."
However, the governor's office was unable to say which court --
the state's court of appeals or a circuit court -- will receive the
appeal.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2011/Jul/20/images/ads/current/napa_bch1-3108.png)
Arbitrator Edwin Benn acknowledged the state's financial
troubles, but he said in the ruling that the state's contract with
the workers' union, the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees, Council 31, must be honored.
This "is a very simple case with a very simple bottom line ...
the state did not keep its promise. The state must now keep its
promise," Benn wrote.
"The words '...shall be increased by 2.00% ...' leave nothing to
the imagination. '(S)hall' is not discretionary," Benn wrote.
Henry Bayer, executive director for AFSCME, said Tuesday's
decision has implications beyond honoring the employees' pay
increases.
"This is a question of whether the fundamental right of working
people to bargain collectively will be upheld in Illinois," Bayer
said in a written statement. "We welcome this ruling, because it
makes clear that the governor cannot simply break a contract at
will."
[to top of second column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2010/Jan/07/images/ads/current/guzzardo_lda022609.png)
The original contract, approved by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, had
a 4 percent pay bump set to start July 1 of this year. Facing the
fiscal reality that fulfilling the agreement could result in layoffs
and furloughs, Quinn struck a deal with AFSCME last year to give a 2
percent increase starting July 1, 2011, then an additional 2 percent
increase Feb. 1, 2012. That would give the union members their 4
percent pay increase -- just seven months later than was originally
contracted.
Quinn's appeal will take a broader view of the situation when he
begins the process through the state's court system. The arbitrator
was limited to reviewing the language of the contract and could not
consider state statutes and the Illinois Constitution, both of which
Quinn's office invoked when arguing in the case.
If the court upholds Benn's opinion, the state will have to cover
the raises starting retroactively July 1.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By ANDREW THOMASON]
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2011/Jul/20/images/ads/current/business_directory_button.png)
![Library](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2008/Jan/02/images/ads/current/lpl%20small.gif) |