Rauner files unfair labor charge against AFSCME; asks for $2M/day penalty
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration on Thursday filed an unfair labor practice charge against the union representing 38,000 state employees, seeking a whopping $2 million in damages a day as the two sides remain at odds.
The union shot back that the filing is a “disgraceful attempt to intimidate union members from exercising their legal rights” and blamed the litigation and “the threat of a disruptive strike” on Rauner.
The governor’s administration says the contract implementation delay by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 is costing the state $2 million in taxpayer money.
“Continuing to stall, instead of working with us to implement our last, best and final offer that is substantially similar to the contracts agreed to by 18 other unions, only costs taxpayers more money — approximately $2 million every day this drags on,” Rauner’s general counsel Dennis Murashko said in a statement. “As a result, today our administration filed an unfair labor practice against AFSCME Council 31 and is seeking damages for the $2 million each day we are prevented from implementing a contract that is fair to taxpayers and employees alike.”
Read more: http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/rauner-files-unfair-labor-charge-against-afscme/
Cross-posted in Omaha Steve's Labor Group.
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