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In February, Rauner issued an executive order to eliminate
the so-called "fair share" fees for some 6,500 state workers who
are represented by a union but have chosen not to join.
He had also filed a lawsuit seeking to have the fees deemed
unconstitutional and wanted the money placed in an escrow
account during the legal process.
Associate Judge Christopher Kolker of St. Clair County Circuit
Court on Friday sided with unions who sued to overturn the order
and have the money freed before the case concluded, the Chicago
Tribune reported.
"We're pleased that all fair share agreements will now be
honored while our legal challenge is pending," Illinois AFL-CIO
President Michael Carrigan said in a statement to the Tribune.
A Rauner spokesman told the Tribune that the ruling was part of
an agreement between the parties that would free up money for
the unions, while ensuring the case would proceed in a timely
manner.
Rauner, a wealthy investment banker and political neophyte who
came into office in January, has been vocal about his problems
with public labor unions and their political power.
He has argued that reforms are necessary to heal the state's
financial problems. Illinois has a chronic structural budget
deficit as well as the lowest credit ratings and the
worst-funded pension system among the 50 states.
Unions say the fees are fair because employees who are not
members still benefit from union-negotiated and administered
contracts.
(Reporting by Mary Wisniewski; Writing by Curtis Skinner;
Editing by SImon Cameron-Moore)
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