 Once upon a time, Illinois state workers took better perks in exchange for lower
pay.
Today is different. The perks remain, but Illinois state workers are now the
highest-paid state workers in the nation after adjusting for cost of living.
Most are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees.
One of those perks will fall on Tuesday.
That day, many Illinois voters will head to the polls during their lunch break,
before work or after sunset. Some will have already cast their votes.
But on Election Day, AFSCME members have a full, paid holiday. Illinois is one
of only 12 states to offer this benefit to state workers every two years,
according to a 2016 report from the Council of State Governments.
Some Illinoisans might see this as a ploy to drive turnout for candidates who
vow to keep the gravy train flowing for state employees. That very well could
be. But a 2009 working paper from Princeton professor Henry Farber suggests it
might not make much of a difference. He found no evidence that states providing
an Election Day holiday for state employees significantly increased voter
participation.
“I conclude that having an election holiday, by itself, is not an effective
strategy to increase voter turnout,” Farber wrote.
A much better strategy to drive turnout among state workers might be to shower
them with promises of pay and benefits that are way out of line with the private
sector. That’s what Illinois politicians have done for decades. And that’s the
real problem with an Election Day holiday solely for state workers: It’s just
one of a plethora of privileges that ordinary private-sector taxpayers would be
foolish expect in their own careers.
Just look at the holiday schedule in the state’s now-expired contract with
AFSCME.
While the federal government provides 10 holidays, Illinois state workers get
those plus Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, the day after Thanksgiving and Election
Day. That’s 13 paid holidays, in addition to between 10 and 25 paid vacation
days.
Deciding to work on a holiday can yield big payouts for AFSCME members, with
holiday overtime pay ranging from double-time to double-time-and-a-half — in
cash.
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To be clear, nobody should be blaming state workers for reaping
these benefits. But these benefits need to be brought in line with
what the state can afford, and what workers who don’t take a
government paycheck deem fair.
Holidays are just the tip of the iceberg.
AFSCME members can take more than 15 different types of leaves of
absence. Many get overtime pay for anything beyond their 37.5-hour
workweek. They can arrive late to work 10 times in a month without
fear of discipline. They get platinum-level health care benefits at
bronze-level prices. (Those plans aren’t even available on the
state’s insurance exchange.) And don’t forget: free health insurance
for life after retirement.
Gov. Bruce Rauner and AFSCME have been in gridlock over a new
contract for months. But one week after Election Day, Illinoisans
might see some movement.
On Nov. 15, the Illinois Labor Relations Board will consider whether
Rauner and the union have reached impasse in negotiations. An
impasse ruling would mean the governor is allowed to implement his
last and best offer. Notably, that offer doesn’t touch AFSCME’s
current holiday structure, leaves of absence or disciplinary
procedures. It also adds performance bonuses and bereavement leave,
letting state employees take off work to grieve the death of a loved
one.
It does make AFSCME members pay more for their health insurance.
Considering the massive premium hikes Illinoisans are seeing on the
state’s insurance exchange, that seems like a reasonable request.
AFSCME may strike if it doesn’t like that deal.
Indeed, the union’s current demands suggest it’s operating in a
different reality; one in which the state is flush with cash and the
average private-sector worker has enjoyed rising paychecks and a
booming economy.
AFSCME is still demanding pay hikes, better health care coverage and
pension benefits in the new, four-year contract. Those demands would
cost state taxpayers $3 billion more than what the state is
offering, according to the governor’s office.
A paid holiday to go to the polls might not seem like a big deal.
But it’s a symptom of a larger problem. AFSCME members belong to a
special, protected class in Illinois. The other 99.9 percent of the
state’s workforce? Not so much.
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