 Quinn's office quickly said it would fight the ruling in court. The
Democratic governor says lawmakers haven't given him enough money to
operate state government without making major cuts."You can't
spend money you don't have," spokeswoman Brie Callahan said in a
statement.
Henry Bayer, executive director of the Illinois division of the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, urged
Quinn to rescind the threatened layoffs and closures.
"Failure to do so will not only harm the vital public services
state employees provide, it will expose the state to significant
damages for lost wages, benefits and other costs incurred as a
result of the governor's irresponsible actions," Bayer said.
Quinn and AFSCME agreed last year that the governor would not cut
any union jobs or close state facilities until July 2012 and, in
return, the union would come up with $400 million in cost-cutting
measures.
But Quinn announced last month that he'll cut 1,680 jobs on Nov.
1 and close a prison, a youth prison and five centers for people
with mental disabilities or illness unless the General Assembly
provides more money.
Quinn argues he isn't bound by his agreement with AFSCME because
it was "subject to appropriations" and lawmakers have not
appropriated enough money to live up to the deal.
Arbitrator Edwin Benn rejected Quinn's position.
"The state simply must keep those contractual promises. A party
is not excused from previous contractual obligations by claiming
that it presently can no longer afford to meet its obligations,"
Benn wrote.
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Benn also emphasized that layoffs when unemployment is so high
would be especially harmful.
He wrote: "Employees who gave concessions to ease the State's financial
difficulties and in return were promised by the State that they had
job security ... will, because of the State's violation of its
promises, be thrown into an economy with little chance of finding
comparable employment."
The arbitrator acknowledged, however, that his ruling is based
solely on the agreement between Quinn and the union. The legal and
constitutional issues raised by the governor are best settled by the
courts, he said.
Quinn and AFSCME are already battling in court over the same
arbitrator's ruling that Quinn was not allowed to cancel raises that
are promised in the union's state contract.
[Associated Press;
By CHRISTOPHER WILLS]
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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