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 A recent Illinois Supreme Court order allows the American Federation of
State, County and Municipal Employees to continue to stall implementation of a
contract for state workers, and it will cost state taxpayers millions. For each
month the contract is not in effect, taxpayers pay an additional $35 million to
$40 million in health care cost alone.
Those burdensome costs led Gov. Bruce Rauner to file a motion asking the
Illinois Supreme Court to more quickly determine whether the state and AFSCME
are at impasse in their negotiations over a new contract.
The state labor board determined in November 2016 that contract negotiations
between the state and AFSCME were at impasse, or deadlock. That meant the
governor could implement his last, best offer to the union.
 But instead, AFSCME ran to multiple state courts, seeking a decision to overturn
the labor board’s impasse determination. The case currently sits before the
Fourth District Appellate Court, and it could be months before that court
decides whether the parties are at impasse.
In the meantime, the court has stayed the labor board’s decision, meaning the
governor cannot implement his contract offer. This means the state is forced to
continue paying AFSCME workers under the terms of the expired contract, which
includes monthly health care costs $35 million to $40 million higher than under
the state’s proposed contract.
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 Seeking a more timely resolution, Rauner filed a motion
requesting a direct appeal to the state Supreme Court. Instead of
waiting for the Fourth District to issue an opinion, the case would
be transferred immediately to the state’s highest court.
A quicker resolution of the appeals process potentially would
have saved the state millions of dollars and put an end to the
union’s stall tactics. But despite the fact both parties know the
state Supreme Court will ultimately decide the case, AFSCME opposed
Rauner’s motion for a direct appeal to the Supreme Court.
Obstructionist tactics were the theme of the union’s “negotiating”
strategy. According to an administrative law judge with the Illinois
Labor Relations Board, AFSCME’s approach to negotiations was
“atypical.” She added, “… the [u]nion’s conduct calls into question
its commitment to reaching an agreement through bargaining.”
Throughout negotiations, Rauner attempted to bring union costs more
in line with what Illinoisans can afford. But AFSCME refused to
compromise and instead continued to demand wage and benefit
increases that would cost the state an additional $3 billion.
The longer it takes for the impasse decision to move through the
courts, the longer Illinois taxpayers will be on the hook for
millions of dollars the state simply does not have.
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