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 “We have a lot of work left to turn around Illinois, but today’s
agreement is a step towards making us more competitive so we can
increase investment in the state and grow jobs,” Governor Rauner
said. “I want to thank the legislators involved in crafting this
agreement and urge the legislature to swiftly pass legislation and
send it to my desk.”
“For more than 30 years, governors and legislative leaders have
brought business and labor together to negotiate changes to
Unemployment Insurance for the benefit all in the state of
Illinois,” Illinois AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Tim Drea said.
“Because it is so vital to the economy and safety net for working
families, Unemployment Insurance negotiations are always difficult,
but all parties were committed to the process and an equitable
agreement was achieved.”
“On behalf of the employer community, we would like to thank our
counterparts in labor, the Rauner Administration and the
representatives of the four legislative caucuses who all played
valuable roles in reaching this agreement,” said Rob Karr, President
& CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. “While the
discussions were rigorous, they were always fair and ultimately
productive.”
Under the agreed framework an individual would be ineligible to
receive unemployment insurance benefits following separation with an
employer if a worker:
- Damaged an employer’s property through grossly negligent
conduct;
- Consumed alcohol, illegal or non-prescribed drugs during work
hours in violation of an employer’s policies;
- Provided false information in an employment application;
- Endangered the safety of himself/herself or co-workers through
grossly negligent conduct;
- Knowingly and repeatedly violated reasonable written attendance
policies of an employer;
- Refused to obey an employer’s reasonable and lawful instructions
unless the refusal is due to the lack of ability skills or training
of the worker or if the instruction would result in an unsafe act;
or
- Did not maintain required licenses, registrations and
certifications required by law for the specific job.
Under current law, a worker could still be eligible for
unemployment insurance benefits if any one of the above items
occurred in the workplace. For the first time ever, these
common-sense reforms will be implemented, creating a more fair and
stable unemployment insurance system.
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Additionally, the framework allows recently separated workers who are eligible
for Social Security to receive a full unemployment insurance benefit. Under
current law, 50 percent of the amount an older worker receives for Social
Security is subtracted from the potential unemployment insurance benefit.
Illinois and Minnesota are the only two states in the nation to allow this
practice. This reform will return $25 million to Illinois seniors.
Governor Rauner had made strengthening misconduct and abuse provisions central
components of his unemployment insurance reform proposal.
Today’s news follows a number of recent announcements the Administration has
made regarding its efforts to make government less expensive, more effective and
more efficient.
Earlier today, the Rauner Administration announced a bi-partisan agreement to
strengthen the Child Care Assistance Program. Last month, the Administration put
forward a plan to save taxpayers more than $200 million by better utilizing the
James R. Thompson Center property in Chicago as well as a breakthrough in the
long-delayed 10th street rail project in Springfield.
Additionally, a labor agreement with the Teamsters Union has been ratified, and
the administration has agreed to terms on new four-year collective bargaining
agreements with the International Union of Operating Engineers, the United
Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting
Industry, and the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers.
The Administration has also detailed ongoing agency-led reforms that are saving
taxpayers more than $100 million and improving customer service inside state
government.
“Our Administration will continue to partner with anyone who shares our
commitment to growing jobs in Illinois and delivering value for taxpayers,”
Governor Rauner said.
[Office of the Governor Bruce Rauner] |
